The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-24
DRASTIC COMMENT
ON THE SCHEME
Dislike Uniting City Hall
and Police Court.
OFFICIALS CRITICISE PLAN
Would Increase Cost, Interfere With
Ventilation, and Be Otherwise
Objectionable.
OFFICIALS CRITICISE PLAN

What the officials and employees Of
the District Government think OF the
provisions in the new appropria ton
bill regarding the Municipal Building
that is to be erected soon. is emphatic.
clear. and by no means eulogistic.
There seems to be a unanimity OF opin-
ion to the effect that the Police Court
and the District repair shop might have
been given other quarters than rooms
in the new District Building
It's a great scheme" said one Off
cial this morning. "a great scheme; but
j don't see why they left the Morgue
out in the cold"
We might have a branch of ST. Eliz-
abcths Asylum for the Insane on the
top floor another remarked. Better
have all classes, represented. you
know
There will be nice atmosphere in
the repair shop in the b-basement."
added a third. Plenty Of room. though
the heating plant lots of lumber old
iron. lumber and mortar. We might
fix up the rest Of the sub-basement for
drawing room
Great Dissatisfaction.
The greatest dissatisfaction is felt
over the condition that the Police Court
is to have its home in the building. The
clerks look forward with little pleasure
10 the Inevitable consequences Of such
an arrangement. They think all viii
suffer from having criminals and char
acters guilty Of drunkenness and dJsor-
DERBY conduct coming straight TO the
headquarters OF the local government
and passing through the building at
will. as will surely happen.
a great consideration in the matter
is that large part OF the work that
has been done by-the Engineer Depart-
ment IN fixing up the plans for the
new District Building viii go for
naught. The completion OF the work
will also be delayed at least six months
Two changes viii have 10 be made IN
the plans for the building. The con
structon viii have 20 take in the Police
Court and the repair shop and it s.
easy to see that such changes viii in
volye an enormous amount Of work.
both in drawing the plans, and in coll
Letting the meterial for the work
VIII Increase Cost.
In letter some time ago to Repre-
sentative McCleary on the subject OF
including the Police Court in the NUM-
cipal Building. Colonel Biddle. the En-
gineer Commissioner. said. THE actual
cost OF the change viii be Sl33. 600 The
estimated cost Of the additional land
for new Police Court at its present
site, ana the preparing Of plans for II
Is $500; the estimated cost of a build
ing. built Of brick is SO. 600 making a
total estimated cost for a new build
ing on the present site Of Sl130O0''
From this statement Il appears that
Observation-Disclosures Committee has ex-
pended $4,000 more than was. necessary
IN order 70 obtain new police court.
The cost of excavating sufficiently for
the location OF the heating plant below
the basement has not yet been esti-
mated.
Hinder Ventilation.
This change OF the shape OF the build
ing from the form Of a GU to a square.
as will be necessitated by including the
police court in It, would bring the dis
advantages resulting from poor lighting
facilities. In commenting on this Colo
mel BiGdle said in. his letter: The L
shaped chara cter Of the building would
give 10 all the rooms of the building
sufficient air and light"
The final result of all the changes
viii be that the new Headquarters for
the District government will not be COM
pleted before the fall of 1906. whereas
IL no change had been recommended by
the Appropriations Committee the build
ing would have been finished by January