The San Francisco call., 1906-09-02

striking index of the civic spirit of
Baltimoreans. The courthouse, built
at cost of s2,s5o,ooo, although dam
aged, proved a bulwark during die fire
which. helped to save the homes of the
people. Constructed of the finest
Maryland marble, this structure covers
an entire block The most imposing &
feature of the exterior is the grand
eolonnade over the main entrance cons
sisting of eight beautiful ionic mono
iiths thirty-tw feet high. The lobby
is fifty feet. square. with columns
springing from columns of Sienna con-
vent marble, while two superb stair
cases Of white marble. lead to the sec
ond story.
The ost@beautiful feature of the in
terror is the ornately treated vestibule
of the Criminal Court; which is finished
in Numidian marble. The Supreme
bench, on the third floor. is. domed
chamber forty feet in diameter. the ro-
tunda being supported by sixteen
columns and as many pilasters OF. ex-
quisitely veined marble. 1t is lighted
almost exclusively by a circular win
dow in the center of the dome. Critics
have pronounced this work of Baiti-
more architects to be the finest build
ing in point of architecture. arrange
meut and construction devoted; to the
purpose in the United States,
Mural Paintings.
n, a.
ing and valuable collection of mural
paintings on the walls of the: court
rooms and corridors by Blashfield and
Turner, which picture the landing of
Lord Baltimore, General Washington
surrendering his commission at An-
napolis and other notable colonial
scenes. In the grand plaza on which
the courthouse faces stands the historic
Battle monument; a classic symbolical
shaft, the dual work of Macmillan
Godefroy and Rembrandt Peale. which
illustrates the official seal of; Balti-
more and commentaries the. battle of
North Point September H. 1914, when:
the city was so gallantly defended
against the attacks of the British.
Directly opposite is the postohiee, a
graceful type OF the Italian .Renais-
sance, adorned with number OF beau.
tiful towers. II was completed In. 1889
at a cost of s2.oll,ss
Almost adjoining is the city Hall. a
handsome marble pile, also in the style
of the Renaissance, which narrowly es-
capped the fire. 1t was built in 1879
and cost $4,000, 900. There is an In
teresting tradition about this building
which in these days of graft savors of
romance The story. which emanates
from an old school politician, says that
over 100000 of the appropriation. was
refunded.ss
A close neighbor and one that har-
monizes admirably with the archi-
lecture and character of this part of
the city is the new home of the Balti-
more News, whose alert initiative and
enterprise proved an inspiration both
during and. after the FIRE. The local
newspapers all sustained heavy losses
but have been re-estabiished on q
nrmer and much more liberal footing.
The American, one of the leaders in
the Southern field of Journalism, is
quartered in one of the most imposing
buildings in the downtown district
while the Sun, Baltimore:s time-hon-
ored institution. is fast completing a.
handsome white granite building Of
classic design, which win be equipped
with a plant modern in every detail
Among Palaces of Business.
In the financial district. where the
fire was SO destructive. all tire banks
and trust companies which were burned
or impaired are now either occupying
or erecting structures. some OF which