The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-02-04
WORK Will.
SOON BEGIN
New Court House to Be Under
Course Of Construction
by June |.
WILL HAVE UNIQUE VAULT
Building win BE Finished With.
In Year and Will Cost
the County About
500, 900.
WILL HAVE UNIQUE VAULT

BY June the work of constructing
Clatsop county's new court house viii
be well under way. Yesterday tn,
county court engaged Edgar M. Lag
arus, prominent Portland architect
to take charge Of the construction worl
and Mr.. Lazarus Is now engaged II
preparing plans, in accordance with ths
ideas given him yesterday by member.
Of the court. He expects to have tn,
preliminary plans prepared for the IN.
spection OF Judge Trenchard and Com.
missioners Young and, Clark by Febru-
ary 90. and to finish the work OF pre-
pairing the specifications within three
weeks or a month after that date.
II When the matter was brought before
the court yesterday there was thorough
discussion as to whether the county
should ask competitive bids for plans
and specifications or employ an archi-
tect to prepare plans according to the
views Of members OF the court and SUI
Iperintend the construction OF the build
ing. There were four applicants for
appointment, Mr.. Williams Mr..
Schacht. Mr.. Neer and Mr.. Lazarus,
the two latter appearing in person. 1t
was decided by unanimous vote OF the
court that an architect be employed
and Mr.. Lazarus was unanimously
chosen. His compensation win be 5
per cent Of the cost Of the building and
he win prepare plans and superintend
the construction of the building.
Al teh conference between members
Of the court and Mr.. Lazarus the arch
tect was given an excellent idea or
what was desired in the way OF new
county building. He returned to Port
land last night to prepare the prelim-
mary plans. and members Of the court
will visit his office on the Goth to exam
inc the drawings. Should they meet
with approval. the architect win Inn
mediately begin work upon the speci-
fications. 1t the plans are not satis-
factory. other drawings win be sub
mitted to the court, and a satisfactory
set selected.
AS soon as the specifications are pre-
pared, the court viii advertise for bids
for the work. and 1t is expected actual
work viii have been begun by June !.
The Probable Arrangement.
County Judge Trenchard was seen
yesterday by an Astorian representative
mad asked for a statement as to the
probable arrangement Of the new build
ing. Judge Trenchard said
ut is just a trifle too early as yet to-
make any definite statement with refer
ence to the building. We will first ex-
anime the plans of the architect before
reaching final decision. can, how
ever, give you general Idea Of what
we expect to do.
"The court house win be OF two
stories. a high. commOdious basement,
and probably an attic. 1t is the opin-
ion of members of the court that theI
first story and basement shall be oil
stone and the second story and attic
of pressed brick. It is our present in
tention to use the local gray stone forl
the first story and basement Gray
stone and pressed brick will we be-
lIeve, give the building a handsome ap-
pearance and render 1t quite service
able.
"The new court house will occupy al
position in the north central portionI
Of the county property at Commercial,
Eighth, Duane and Seventh streets. III
will face upon Commercial street. III
our present idea is carried out, the
floor Of the basement win be little
below the present level Of the lot
which means that the court house will
stand well up above the street. A largeI
stairway will lead to the main entranceI
on Commercial street, and there will
probably be entrances on Seventh and
Eighth. The dimensions Of the build |
ing will be about 1OOxS0 or 1OOx9O
Location Of Offices.
1T is our intention to locate on the
first floor the Offices most used. The
clerks Office will be so arranged that
should the recorder ever again be made
a separate official, as was formerly the
case, he may have separate apartments.
The other Offices to be located on the
first floor are those Of the sheriff, the
assessor, the treasurer, and Of theI
county Judge The county court room
viii likewise be located on the first
floor.
"on the second floor the largest spaceI
will be apportioned for the circuit court
room. 1t is not our intention to pro-