Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-06

BIDS FOR ITS CONSTRUCTION TO
BE ADVERTISED FOR SOON.
Plans for Foundation Now in Hand
Granite or Marble to
Be Used.

Capt Chaster Harding, superin tendent Of
construction of the new municipal building
for the District. has received from Archi-
tects Cone and Stewardson of Philadelphia
the plans for the founda ton of the proposed
new District building. Capt. Harding is
now engaged in examining the plans in de-
tail and when he has concluded his inspec-
ton and approved the specifications, bios
for the construction of the foundations will
be advertised for. The plans for the build
ing proper Capt. Harding states, are being
prepared and in due course of time will be
presented for the consideration of the offf-
Gals in charge Of the construction of the
building.
The act of Congress authorizing the con-
struction of the new mun1elpai building APP
pointed a commission consisting of the Sec
retary of the Treasury and the three Com
missioners of the District. acting Jointly, 10
have supervision over the construction t1
the building Col. Biddle Engineer Com
missi oner for the Distflct is the executive
head of the commission.
No Room for Police Court.
This commission will approve the plans
for the structure advertise for bids for the
work. and also decide upon what materials
will be used in the building 1t Is not ex-
pected that the material out Of which the
until spring. 1t has been decided, however,
that either granite or marble will be used
in the building. A large NUMBER OF samples
of granite and marble have airea1y peeH
received by the commission ana III d lew
months at most it is expected the particular
stone to be used will be lee dad upon oE
those in charge of the work.
The suggestion has been made by some
members of Congress that provision . pe
made in the municipal building ior the
Police Court. This is not deemed ADVISABLE
by the Commissioners for N any reasons
For one thing the Police Court, II is
stated will need 5000 square feet or moor
space This would require the setting aside
of one entire floor in the new building Tor
the use of the court The cost OF provlding
additional room in the proposed munclpi IL
building, which would necessitate cLan .sT.
in the plans, is also regarded as greater
than would be the case II the Poilce Court
were accommodated elsewhere.
Would Place Court on Adjoining Lot.
In their estimates to Congress the Com
mssioners have asked for $3S0G0 with
which to purchase additional ground ad-
Joining the present site Of the Police Court,
and also for the preparation of plans Tor
a new Police Court building. Whatever
sum is not used from the $3S0OO after pur-
chasing the additional ground and prepar-
ing the plans Is to be used, IN the event
Congress makes the appropriation, Tor pro-
lice Court building.
In addition to this amount $4,000 will be
asked for with which to complete the Po-
lice Court The total cost of the building
would thus be about $4,000. This amount,
1t is considered. would be less than what
would be required to properly accommo-
date the Police Court in the new municipal
building or in an addition to that structure
Another objection to the location Of the
Police Court in or adjoining the municipal
building is suggested by the character OF
TIE patrons of the Police Court.
To Be Located on Thoroughfare.
The municipal building will be located on
Pennsylvania avenue, one of the leading
thoropghfares in the city, and 1t is rot
deemed suitable that the District should
parade it's criminals and those who offend
against the law, along the principal street
of the capital, or that 1t should obi1ge
prominent and respectable citizens to come
into contact so closely with the Objection
able characters who make the Ponce Court
4 necessary institution.
The proposition to accommodate the 70
lice Court in the municipal building, mere
fore, is not regarded favorably, either from
an economic or civic standpoint, ana II Is
believed that when the matter Is carefuliy
considered Congress will recognize the I'M
propriety of making such provision.