The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-17
City Officials Are All Doing Bust
ness at the New City
Hall To-day.
Health Department Has a Serious
Complaint to Make-Addition-
al Elevator Needed.

The various city offices were opened
for business in the new city hall this
morning and every city official was de-
lighted to think that at last he had his
department installed and that moving
day" had at last passed into history.
Every official was glad to leave the
cramped dingy quarters in the old city
hall and take his place in the spacious
new building. Some Of the departments
were bothered by not having all the fur
niture needed, but this will be received
in few days.
While the assignment Of quarters in the
new building, taken as a whole, Is salts
factory, yet there Is some complaint. One
of the most strenuous objections Is that
of the health department. This depart
ment is located on the first floor, above
the Third avenue entrance to the build
ing. This Is a ground floor entrance, and
it is necessary to climb a fight Of stairs
to reach the health offices. The arrange
ment will prove unsatisfactory In caring
for patients suffering from contagious dis
eases, as it is necessary to take them up
the stairs and through the halls before
reaching the detention room.
1t was the original intention to have
this department on the ground floor in
quarters now occupied by the fire depart
ment. AS the fire department was the
| first city department to move into the
new building, it secured the corner rooms
the floor above.
Another protest comes from the build
ing inspector. His offices are on the Sec
ond floor and face the court. - This makes
the rooms dark, and, except in the mid
/ die of the day, when the sun is shining
brightly, the employees are compelled to
work by artificial light. AS there is con-
| siderable draughting and using of small
| figures and letters in this department,
the need of good, light rooms is seriously
| felt.
In regard to the amount of room given
to each department., there is no complaint
heard. except that the gas inspector 8
laboratory is rather small, but Chief In
! spector Roberts says that with proper
furnishings he can make it convenient
An Elevator Needed.
Another thing greatly needed which
seems to have been overlooked is an ele-
vator near the Third avenue entrance.
Experience will show that for city bust
| ness, the Third avenue entrance is best
| and yet there Is no way of reaching the
| upper floors from that entrance except
by climbing the stairs, or by walking
nearly half way around the building. An
elevator at this entrance would prove
popular and may be found a necessity.
When the plans were first submitted tt
the commissioners, it was found that there
were no stairs for the Third avenue side
of the building. Objection was made an6
the stairs were installed. There is am
pie room for an elevator within this stair
way. .,.
City Treasurer c. S. Hubert, whose Of
fees are on the first floor Immediately ad
joining those of the mayor, is delighted
| He has large rooms facing Third avenue
we'll lighted, and when all the furniture i
received they will afford ample .accommo
dations. A, large vault adjoins the mali
office and affords plenty of room for tn,
new burglar proof SAFE
The water deartment, which has occu
pied cramped quarters in the old build
Ing, now has ample room and some of tn
employees said this morning, 1--WE cal
stretch ourselves without humping on
elbows The department is on the sec
ond floor in the corner at Eth street an,
Third avenue S. Part of the furniture
in and when the remainder is installed
there will be plenty of room.
The city engineer has beautiful suit
on the second floor facing Fourth stree
and Third avenue s.. Mr.. Sublette's pri
vate office IS in the corner. The sewe
department Is on the Third avenue sid
and the streets and bridge department oc
| cupies a room facing Fourth street. Tn
rooms are we'll lighted.
Police Department Corner. -
, floor just to the right of the Third avenu
entrance. The rooms are not well adapt
, ed to the use intended. They are beneat
t the level of the street and are dark an
dreary The officers are on duty at a
times.
Few objections were heard among othe
Y ! Off ciaIS