The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-20

room through large double doors. These
Offices are fitted up With ali modern
arrangements for the Keeping OF county
records, both the clerks office and the
trcesnrer.s office being fitted with large
firf;proof vnElts, and having rooms for
~, use ~ the public and for the clerical
WORK d; each office. 5Jj
The upper landing Is renchcd by two
marble siairwhyA, one on each side OF
the main entrance TO tho lower floor, and
rising from the lower lobby. Hero, per-
haps, Is the most attractive part OF tbs
building, the landing or upper lobby be-
Ing the same size as the lower, with d
high ceiling and Burmounted With dome
OF art glass, around which arc arranged
humorous electric lights. The upper por-
ttico mnr be reached from, this part OF
the building. This Is OF an elevation
sufficient 10 give an excellent view Of
considerable part Of the city.
From the upper landing extend passage
ways to the offices OF tho commonwealth
attorney, county xurveyor. superintendent
Of schools. board Of supervisors. room for
male and for female Witnesses. commits
5Bioners' ETC.. and from the back side ex-
tends wide stairway to the three en-
frances OF the auditorium. This audi
forum Is arranged In the manner OF q
modern theatre, and j,ns a seating capaa-
city, exclusive OF tn. stage, OF five hun-
dred, The stage Itself will easily accom-
modate two hundred, and thus on mass
meeting days. or other special occasions,
there " 4 he room for about seven hum
drcd people In this assembly hail, when
seated, or standing room for about nIno
hundred. This will DO Of great advantage
TO the county. for no hail for any public
purpose has been available here ofore.
The interior woodwork OF the entire
building is Of first quality. native ktnr-
tered oak and yellow pine Steel cell
ings are used throughout. except In tho
auditorium, where tho ceiling is of yellow
pine. The roof, which is OF tile. rises
to an ornamented dome over the main
lobby. The building is heated through
out with steam from tho basement fur
mace. and Is fitted for 1884 eectrctic
lights. The courtroom and the auditorium
are supplied with opera chairs. The ma
terial and furniture used In the build
ing nre OF first quality, and 1t Is diff
cult to convince n stranger that both
1t and the jail were built and practically
furnished within the appropriation.
Much OF the credit for the successful
compilation OF the work. and Its substan-
tial character. Is due to the public spirit
OF Mr.. W. L. Lincoln. OF the manufac-
tlrings. nrm OF Look and Lincoln, who
ENp eTlrtehdended the work OF the contrac-
tM sswith %painstaking thoroughness and
without charge. e
Citzens OF the county, without regard
to former opposition, take pride In the
new courthouse. The bonds issued are
to run five. ten. fifteen and twenty years.
with the privilege OF taking UP all at
the. end Of fifteen years, and Will be paid
without Increase OF taxation. The taxa
bic values OF the county are over three
million and a half of dollars, and taxes
last year for county purposes alone
In round numbers to sixteen
dollars. Cne benefit of the inn
posing building Is already being seen In
tho l'etter character Of buildings song
up. the council of Marion having al
ready let the contract for a modern school
building near the courthouse: and tho
same contractor will erect this summer
on the next square across tho street
handsome banking house for the Ma
RON National I3ank. The private resi-
lences 10 be built this summer VIII also
be much better than those butt recent
y, The spirit OF improvements Is on