Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-11
SOLOMON TALKS OF HIS PLAN
Outlines How He Would Build that Com
posite Court House,
THINKS IT WOULD PRODUCE INCOME
says Eventually IL would he the
Meanas of Cutting Down
Taxes in City and
County.

County Commissioner Solomon says he
mas heard so far only words of commenda-
ton for the plan advanced by him to have
a syndicate build on the court house site
a structure to cost from S1.5OO,OOO to $1,000
co. His idea is to give the building com
pany long lease on the ground floor OF
such a building in payment and have sew
erai upper floors devoted to the county
and possibly to the city offices.
"Of course, the plan is as vet only ten
tative," said Mr.. Solomon. II am but one
member of the board and later other prop
ositions may be advanced. All that have
any merit must naturally receive consid-
Grafton. But, feeling that a new court
house is a necessity and that the people
realize this. have been giving the matter
a good deal OF consideration as a MEM
Der Of the committee on court house and
Jail.
Among the questions asked me by peo-
pie who have expressed themselves on the
subject is one as to what we should do
while the new building is being con-
structed. My plan would be to put UP at
first the Harvey, street side of the building,
which then could be used for the county
offices while the old structure is being de-
mollshed. This would involve the destruc-
ton Of the present Jail, which in most
states would have been condemned long
ago; and naturally. too. this will bring
us in reach of the much needed work.
house.
Good for City and County.
"A Jail and workhouse combined Will,
in my judgment. appeal to the ordinary
citizen and taxpayer as a sensible and
proper thing. AS it is now both the county
and the city arc supporting a large num-
Der of chronic loafers and derelicts who
want nothing better than the prevailing
condition. They are comfortably housed
and fed, kept warm, dressed and cared for,
while decent people work to support them
in a state of useless and dangerous idle
ness. An institution such as 1 have in
mind would be built and operated on lines
approved by the best prison men in the
country cheap block of ground can be
secured, walled in, buildings put up and
work shops erected for less than the value
of the corner wherein the present jail
stands Within this enclosure tasks can
be provided for prisoners, the carrying
out of which will not in any way inter-
fere with free labor The fact that such
a real workhouse and jail awaits them
here would have a positive deterrent effect
on the class of loafers who eat up the sub
stance Of the people of Douglas county at
present"
Court House Proper.
OF the proposed court house proper. Mr..
Solomon says in his opinion it should be on
grade. 264x9s4 feet in size. outside measure
ment.
Il would have this built around a light
we'll as a court 64x4. The stores on the
ground floor would be thirty feet in width
and 100 feet deep. running back to the in
terror court. THE latter would be reached
from the four sides by arcades, about
which there would also be store rooms.
This is a utilitarian age, and this property
is too valuable to the county to allow any
part of It TO lie idle.
Such a building would be five stories in
height on Seventeenth street and four on
Eighteenth. 1t would be equipped with
four elevators, be OF absolutely fireproof
construction, have a large assembly room
on the top floor for the accommodation OF
public meetings, also adequate and sanitary
court and jury rooms, and. I'm short be q
modern building for its purpose in all re-
/ spects. Even now a competent person Is
preparing an outline plan, which will show
the elevation and arrangement of floors
not the plan to be ultimately adopted, per-
haps but as a beginning must be made be-
| fore we can do anything, l have considered
it no less than my duty as an officer Of the
| county to give attention to starting the
matter in a practical way, so far as pos
sible.
own Lighting Plant.
1--WE can, too. provide for our own light
! ing plant in connection with the heating
plant, and undoubtedly the city would be
! glad to join in this feature, even If 1t does
not join in the building of a structure with
US In a building occupying the whole area
! Of this valuable block the departments OF
! both city and county could very we'll be
| housed compactly and conveniently
There is some foundation, maybe, fol
objection along the line of civic pride. Bu
1 apprehend that II we can show the tax
payers OF the county and OF the city prac-
1 teal and certain method Of reducing theii
taxes and abolishing a large proportion OF
/ the very heavy fixed charges that they are
now called upon to pay every year, as
/ well as providing costly and beautiful
! building in the center of the city, which