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

room through large double doors. These
ofllces are fitted up With all modern
arrangements for the keeping OF county
records. both the clerks office and the
. !i'eurars office being fitted with large
lliTaIproof vaults, and having rooms FOR
ms usc ol the public and for the clerical
work OF each office.
The upper landing is reached by two
marble B,nlrwnyH. one on each side OF
1nf man entrance TO tho lower floor. and
rising from the lower lobby Here. per-
hapa, IL the most attractive part OF the
building, the landing or upper lobby be-
Inc the knre size as the lower, with a
nigh ceiling and surmounted With dome
OF art glass, around which are arranged
numrroua electric lights. The upper por-
ttico mny be reached iron, 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 tho offices OF tho commonwealth
attorney. county xurvcyor. superintendent
Of schools. board of supervisors room for
male and for female witnesses, commits
5s!oncrs' ETC., and from the back side ex-
tends vide stairway to the three en-
frances OF the auditorium. This audi
forum is arranged In the manner OF a
modern theatre. and has a seating capaa-
city, exclusive OF TIL. stage, OF five nun
dred. The stage itself will easily accom-
modate two hundred. and thus on mass
meeting days. or other special OCCASIONS,
there " ! be room for about seven hum
dred people In this assembly hail, when
seated. or standing room for about nine
hundred. This will DO Of great advantage
10 the county. for no hall for any public
purpose has been available hereto z
me interior woodwork OF the entire
building is OF first quality. native kuar-
tered oak and yellow pine. Steel CELL
ings are used throughout. except In the
auditorium, where the 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 frpm the basement fur
mace. and Is fitted for 1874 electrIctic
lights. The courtroom and the auditorium
are supplied with opera chairs. The ma
terial and furniture used in the build
Ing are OF first quality, and 1t is dIftl-
cult to convince n stranger that both
1t and the jail were built and practically
furnished within the appropriation.
Y Much OF the credit for the successful
completion OF the work, and Its suEstan-
tial character. Is due to tho public spirit
of Mr.. w. l.. Lincoln. OF the manufac-
..HWirga. firm Of Look and Lincoln, who
s{};sNp GFlatehdcnded the work OF the contrac-
without charge.
y Citizens 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
Bile values OF the county are over three
million and half of dollars. and taxes
last year for county purposes alone
amounted In round numbers to sixteen
thousand dollars. Cne benefit Of the inn
posing building is already being; seen in
tho bstter character OF buildings going
up, the council Of Marion having al
ready lot the contract for 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 Bank The private resi-
dences 10 be built this summer will also
be much better than those built recent
~. The spirit of Improvement Is on.