Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-13
POLICE COURT PLANS
ARRANGEMENTS BEING COM
PLETED FOR NEW BUILDING.
Architects Believe Cost Should Be In
creased, but Commissioners Adhere
to Original Figures.

The tentative plans upon which the spec
ifcations for the construction of the new
Police Court building will be based, have
been prepared by a draughtsman In the
office of District Building Inspector Ash
ford and within a few days Mr.. Ashford
will select six local architects and rec
ommend to the Commissioners that these
be invited to participate In competition
for preparing the final plans for the new
Police Court.
1t is stated that the tentative plans just
completed embody the suggestions of
Judges Kimball and Scott Of the Police
Court with reference to the character of
building desired, and it's arrangement. 1t
has been stated that indications point to
the erection of a building to cost about
500, 600. Commissioners mcfarland and
West, when asked with regard to that
statement today stated emphatically that
they will not approve any plans for Po-
lice Court, the construction of which would
$4,000 is absolutely the limit of cost for
the new court building, and that the archi-
tects will be restricted rigidly" to this
figure. Col. Biddle is known to hold SINH
lar views with regard to the matter.
Commissioners Stand Pat.
1t is pointed out that the Commissioners
during their hearings before the committees
of the last Congress stated confidently that
suitable building for Police Court could
be erected at a cost not exceeding $4,000.
One of the arguments offered by the mem
bers of the House committee who were In
favor of placing the court in the new
municipal building was to the effect that
within a few years the Commissioners
would ask Congress to provide for the
erecting of a Police Court to cost several
hundred thousand dollars. The Commits
would not ask for more than $4,000 for
the new court building. In view Of these
facts the Commissioners cannot consistent
ly and they will not approve plans for a
building to cost more than $4,000.
According to the tentative plans recently
completed, the Police Court building will
be two stories high. but will contain a meg
canine Moor for several offices. 1t will ex-
tend ll2 feet along d street, and IS feet on
9th street. The main entrance will be on
9Th street, although both private entrance
for the judges and public entrance will
be made on d street The building will be
located on the building line of d and 9Th
streets. thus making it in the southwest
corner of the lot. This will permit drive
way to extend entirely around the build
ing, where the vans may unload their pris-
oners. BY placing the entrance Of prison.
ers at the northeast corner, those under
arrest Will be shielded from public view
On the first floor. according to the sketch
plans, there will be a court room on the
Soutn Side, 4Sxp 1eet. In the extreme
southwest corner will be the judges room,
ls6x1S.6. In the southeast corner and
along the eastern side will be two witness
rooms ls.6XlS6. and d jury room. In the
northeast corner Will be six cells sur
rounded on three sides by light from the
driveway and air shaft.
Along the northern side there will be
three rooms one for the chief clerk, 12x12:
his deputies, 22X29 and the warrant clerk
l2X22- The assistant corporation counsel
will be provided with commodious quarters
assigned to him, one 17x1S.6, the other
11.6x1S.6
From the entrance on 9th street will he
a hall 21X26 feet. From one side of this
a corridor will lead off, extend around the
court room and to the public entrance on
d street.
MezZanine Floor.
The mezzanine floor will contain a num-
Der of offices. The financial clerk will be
in the southwest corner in a room 1S.6x
1876. The United States district attorney
will be in the northwest in two offices, 1S6x
1876 and 13.6x24. On the north and east
will be rooms for the bailiff, attendant, wo-
mems toilet.
On the second floor the judges room, the
jury, as well as the cells, will correspond
with those on the first floor in location and
in size. In addition, on the north will be
juvenile court room, 16x22 feet and two
rooms for the United States deputy mar
shall, in the northwest corner, 116XlS.6 and
IL .Gx1S.6
In the basement will be the mems toilet,
vaults for the storage of records, heating
apparatus, engineers rooms and the en-