Evening star., 1903-11-25
THE D|STRf|CE:M
Building Progressing Rapidly
Toward Completion.
HANDSOME STRUCTURE
TOWERS ABOVE OTHER BUILD
INGs IN NEIGHBoRHooD.
Located at Wharf Near the Foot Of
Seventh Street-Modern
Equipment.


foot of 7th street within the past two or
three weeks have had their attention at
tracted by a large frame building in pro-
cess of erection, which, towering high above
all the other buildings in the neighborhood,
gives promise, even in it's embryonic state,
of being handsome structure and an orna-
ment to the river front section of the city.
This building is to be the new morgue Of
the District its location having been finally
fixed after several years of controversy
among the residents of various sections OF
the city, where, from time to time, 1t had
been proposed to locate it.
The new morgue is a two-story structure,
with sharp-peaked roof. 1t looks more
like 1t was designed for a church building
than for morgue, as It's main entrance is
gothic in shape and its three windows on
the second floor also gothic, and at the
peak of the roof on the front Is small
tower which could well contain bell To
call congregation to divine worship. III
fronts 33 feet on Water street, and Is about
20 feet deep. while from the wharf on which
it is built to the peak Of the roof 1t Is "A
feet in height.
The building is located on new wharf.
which was put up early last summer, and
orly about 10 feet of it's front Is on solid
ground. AS stated. the building is two
story structure. Entering the main door
a large vestibule leading into a hall. This
vestibule Is to have floor of a marble
terrazzo of white, black and brown chips,
with a red border six inches wide.
The Witness Room.
On the left of the entrance hall is the
witness room. 12x15 feet in size, which is
to be fitted up for the accommodation OF
witnesses at inquests. At the far end or
the hall the visitor passes through door,
way into the inquest room. This Is one OF
the largest rooms in the building, being Il
feet long by 31k feet wide and Is lighted by
three large windows each side. At It's
southern end is raised platform for the
coroner, and in front of the platform will
be arranged chairs for the jury and wit
nesses and seats for the spectators. This
room is connected with the witness room by
a doorway, so that witnesses can be quickly
summoned and dismissed.
Directly in the rear of and entered by
door from the inquest room is located the
room in which the bodies of the untOrtu-
mates will be kept.
This room is thirty feet six inches wide
by sixteen feet long, and is to be fitted up
in the most modern manner. 1t Will be-
provided with ten Ice boxes, five on each
side the room at its southern end. These
boxes will all be six feet three inches long
by two feet wide, with the exception of
two, which will be two feet ten inches wide
and can be used for two bodies when neces-
sary. They will be built after approved
sanitary plans and will stand about three
feet from the floor. The room is to have a
concrete floor, which is to slope toward the
center into trap leading into drain to
the sewer. Or it's north side is the door
way through which bodies will be brought
into the room. This doorway is protected
one-half feet deep. At one corner of the
room elevator will be located, which
will be used in raising bodies taken out of
the water by the harbor police from the
te oh 1fJn,. 10 r1a1rf
also for taking bodies to a room in the
second story where autopsies are to be
held. -s
Eight roomy lockers are also to be built
in this room for the use of attaches of the
morgue who have to handle the bodies.
Receiving Room and Lookup.
The receiving room Is lighted by door
way on the north and three windows on
the south side. In the rear of the receiving
room, in a one-story shed, will be located
the morgue wagon room, stalls for the
horses and room for the storage of fuel.
A cell in which prisoners can be kept pend
ing an inquest is located on the ground
floor in front of the building to the right of
the main entrance hall. Its barred window
looks out upon Water street.
In front Of this cell room is stairway Of
twenty-one steps leading to the second
floor, and which lands the visitor in wide
hall directly in front of a room 12x13 feet
as his private office.
In the rear of the coroner's office is tho
ladies' waiting room, 13x15 feet in dimen-
sions. This room can be entered from
either the coroners office or from the hall
way. 1t is to be occupied by ladies whose
attendance on fnquests may be necessary.
The two windows of this room look out
upon the wharf at the south side of the
building.
Across the center hallway and on the
north side the building is the morguemas-
ters room. This, it is stated, will be used
by the morguemaster both as a sleeping
room and Office. 1t is 1O1ax16 feet in
dimensions, and is lighted by two large
windows overlooking the Alexandria ferry
dock.
In the rear of the building on the second
floor is a big room 16x31 Y feet in which
autopsies will be held when necessary.
This room will have concrete floor slop-
ing to a drain in the center and a vent
leading out above the roof is arranged
over the operating table to carry off all
disagreeable odors.
The room is to be provided with mod
shelves, water, and in fact all the modern
appliances usual in such place. It is di-
rectly above the receiving room on the
first floor and is connected with 1t by an
elevator which bodies will be brought
up and taken down. The room is lighted
by seven windows, three to the south and
two each to the west and north, and a sky
light 5h x10 feet in the ceiling and roof
will aid in furnishing ample light for the
autopsies. Large toilet rooms and bath
room are also located on the second floor
They are supplied with running water and
the bath room has a large wardrobe built
in the wall! On the north side of the CEN
ter hall. in the rear OF the morgue mas
ter's apartments, is room IN x10E feet
which will be used as a specimen room and
which will be provided with shelves for
the storage Of such articles as the coroner
may wish to keep.
All the halls and rooms in the building
with the exception of the inquest room,
stable and fuel rooms. will have panelled
steel ceilings of ornamental design and
will be handsomely painted. The build
ing will be lighted with gas and electric
ity, the specifications calling for the run
ming of gas pipes and the wires for the
electrical fixtures. 1t will be heated by
stoves for the present. but steam heat
may be installed later.
Pebble Dash Finish.
The outside of the, building is to be COW
cred with pebble dash. The pebbles to be
used are to be not smaller than a quarter