Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-26
DELAYED BY. CHANGES
Proposed Transfers to the
Municipal Building.
ADVERSE. COMM ENT
WORK ON THE, PLANS AWAITS
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION.
Additions to Housing Capacity Expect
ed to Largely Increase Cost
Of the Structure.
ADVERSE. COMM EN- T

ueses, and the Police Court and repair
shop, indicates an unfavorable attitude of
the citizens of the District generally with
regard to the provisions on the subject con-
tanned In the District appropriation bill.
The three Commissioners decline to join in
the general discussion of the proposition,
believing, 1t is understood, that since they
have presented their views on the matter
before the House committee they cannot
with propriety express opinions on the
matter now. They have, however. gone
opposing the proposition.
While the Commissioners decline to give
expression at this time to their views there
has been heard great deal of unfavorable
comment on the subject about the District
building. and also at the city hall.
II was ascertained today that in case
congress finally decides to require pro j..
VISION to be made in the new municipal
building for the Police Court, the offices
or the register of wills and the recorder of
deeds, and the District repair shop. the
tctaI estimated cost of providing such ac
commodations will amount to about $3.50, 900
mere than the estimated cost of the build
ing under the plans as they stand al pres
ent. 1t is also learned that practically an
entirely new set of plans for the buldin;,
vii. have TO be prepared and in that event
delay of almost one year in the compile
ton of the building will be necessitated.
This delay would defer the completion of
the structure until some time In 1907.
Stops Work of Preparation.
AS has been stated in The Star when the
District appropriation bill was reported
from the House the municipal building COM
mission was on the point of advertising for
bids for the construction of the foundations
of the structure. The plans for the founda-
ton had been prepared and reviewed and
corrected by those in charge of the work,
ana the specifica tons were almost ready for
the printer The commission had also been
given authority to build a high board fence
inclosing the District, building SITE prelimi-
nary to beginning the construction work.
and arrangements were being made to build
the fence at Once3 The architects were
working as rapidlyfas possible in their prep
aration of the detailed plans for the mu-
nicipal building proper, and the preliminary
work was progressing as rapidly as could
be expected z-.rS
All this preliminary work has of necessity
been stopped since the reporting of the Dis
trlct appropriation bill, because of the pos
Slple change in plans that would be made
necessary If the House committees PROPOSE
ton is finally adopted. There will be no
more work done on the features enumerated
until Congress has finally disposed of the
matter. This may be within few weeks
or 1t may be several months.
FOR the accommodation of the Police
court In the new municipal building TO-
WV square Ieet OF HOOr space, or one
whole floor, will be required. The
corder of deeds and, the register of wills
have each asked for $4,000 square feet of
floor space, or total of 10000 square
feet. This amount, however, might be re-
duced somewhat, it is believed.
By providing for the repair shop In SUBJ
basement of the municipal building 10000
square feet of floor space would be re-
CURED, practically the whole of the
floor space in that part of the structure.
a part. of the basement will be occu-
pied with the boilers and heating plant.
BY adding another story onto the build
ing as now designed $4,000 square feet of
additional floor space could be provided,
which would still leave between 10000
and 10000 square feet OF space less than
the amount that would be necessary to
accommodate the offices named in the
proposition of the House committee on
appropriations.
Suggested Extension.
Instead of adding another story to the
building 1t has been suggested that the
building be extended across e street. 1t
is not thought possible to reduce the space
that will be required for the other de-
partments of the District government TO
such an extent as to provide room FOR the
Police Court the offices OF the register OF
Wills and recorder of deeds and the repair
shop. ,o,s,,,
assigned in the building, exclusive OF the
offices the committee proposes TO accommo-
date i'm the new District building. When
this assignment was made only a small
percentage of floor space was allowed for
the growth of tho various departments,
which it is conceded Is inevitable.
Either to raise the structure or to extend
II across E street. 1t is learned would re-
quire practically an entirely new set or
plans, although the existing plans would
be used as far as possible. The delay occa-
stoned would necessarily defer the begin
ming of the construction work until after
the first of next year at least. and II fs es-
timated that at least two years will be re-
uuired to complete the structure after the
work has been commenced.
Call for U-Shaped Building.
The present plans. as is well known, call
for an U-shaped building the south wall
being open in the center. The House COM
mittee has suggested that the south wall
be built up to an equal height with the
walls on the other sides This work, 1t is
stated, would cause a delay Of only about
three or four months In the completion of
the building exclusive of the time consum-
ed by Congress in arriving at final decf-
sion in the matter.
When the plans for the building were de-
signed the U-shaped structure was decided
upon In order that the offices of the build
ing might receive sufficient light and air.
BY building up the 'sottth wall this arrange
ment. it is stated. MOULD be radically inter-
1ereQ WITH. 7rc,rs r.
additional room fofe the Police Court in the
municipal building wouid be $4,000. The
cost of adding another story to the building
would amount to about 500 600 or one
sixth of the cost OF the whole structure as
designed at present IT is estimated that
the cost of changing the sub-basement SO
as to accommodates the repair shop would
amount to about $4,000
Thus 1t Is shown that In order to ac-
commodate the Offices of the register of
wills and the recorder of deeds, the re-
pair shop and the POLICE Court in the new
building, 1t would cost an additional sum
of $3.50, for the erection of the munici-
pal building. miro
Cost of Proposed Site.
The total amount asked by the Commits
sioners for additional ground and for the
construction of a new Police Court build
ing on the present site at 9Th and streets
was $4,000, or $4,000 for additional
ground and $4,000 for the building 1t
is pointed out that suitable and salts
factory building could be erected for the
SIS, 600 asked There are a number of eight
room school buildings, which have recent
ly been erected in the District and which
are regarded as quite handsome structures
49,, t>,yl<5fnoa baua haa,,