The Washington herald., 1908-07-05
CITY RENTED HOMES FOR MANY DECADES.

cils until April l, 1920, when the matter
came 70 a head by an ordinance authoriz-
ing the mayor 70 advertise for plans and
specifications for a city hall 10 cost 800.
! 600.
] The first Fan OF George Hatfield was
so magnificent that the councils were
/ compelled, in the interest of economy. to
/ reject it. Mr.. Hatfield subsequently mod
\ flied and reduced his plans until they be-
/ came practicable. and on July Il. 1920. the
/ corporation authorized the advertisement
/ for proposals and the making OF con-
/ tract for the erection Of so much Of the
\ building. according 10 Hatield's plans. as
/ the commissioners In charge OF the work
/ might deem eXpedient directing that the
| cornerstone be laid on or before the Path
/ day OF the ensuing August
Erection OF the City Hall.
These measures resulted in the cree
/ ton Of the comely Ionic structure on Ju-
dietary Square now occupied by the Dis
trict Supreme Court and Court Of Ap-
peals and the Offices Of the recorder OF
deeds, the register OF wills, and the sur
veyor. The building cost the city about
Sl4S, i5L29 about $4,000 Of which was re-
mbursed by Congress in various ways
The city seems TO have been compelled
| 10 receive boarders 70 enable II 70 bear
the heavy expense II incurred. for we find
| It on October 3, lS22. and again on March
q. 1888, seeking to get occupants for the
unfinished rooms in the building. and
eventually succeeding in inducing the
courts 10 take up their quarters there.
This Joint occupancy continued until
1S1, when the local government Of the en-
tire District Of Columbia was consolidated
into one municipal corporation. known as
the District OF Columbia. The mayor and
c.ty council continued TO occupy the build
ing until the lst Of June Of that year, but
the. governor and board Of public works
thought II best &c occupy rented buildings.
The City Hall was. therefore never used
by the authorities Of the new municipal
ity, except the surveyor, who remained
and who has had his Office there until the
present time"
DR.. Tindell then tells how the reserva-
tlOn IN front Of the market house on
Pennsylvania avenue was acquired in 1879.
how the government appropriated $4,000
for the erection Of a municipal building
and later invalidated the securities given
as security for the use OF the money by
the board OF public works. This, DR.. Tin
dali says. left the District with a site for
a building, but no building
Goes Into Rented Quarters,
In pursuance OF the policy OF the gov
ernor and board OF public works 20 aban-
don the City Hall. three sets OF apartments
we're rented and fitted out for the accom-
mediation OF the several branches of the
ernor and secretary were established dur.
Ing the months Of April. 1871. in the build
ing at the northwest corner OF Seven
teenth street and Pennsylvania avenue
northwest.
The secretary's ONCE occupied the en-
tire ground floor. and the governors Of
fees the second story. The legislative
assembly held its sessions IN a building
on the north side Of Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. between Ninth and Tenth streets
popularly known as Metzerott Hall. where
Szo pennsylvania avenue is now located.
The board OF public works and its vice
president. treasurer. and other officials
were quartered In the building on the
west side Of Four-and-a-half street. be-
tween Pennsylvania avenue and c street
northwest. called the Morrison Building
Between $4,000 and $4,000 was expended
in fitting these buildings for the boards
occupancy.
Sessions Mt Arlington Hotel.
THE first meeting and a few of the
subsequent meetings of the first tenn
porary Board OF Commissioners appointed
under the act Of June 20. 1874" says DR..
Tindall. were held in the II street par
Tor OF the Arlington Hotel. The first
meeting was held on July 3, 1874 The
next afternoon VIII be remembered by all
who were in the city at that time as the
date Of one OF the most terrific tornadoes
that ever occurred in Washington within
the memory OF the present inhabitants.
The Commissioners met several times
in the governors Office at Seventeenth
street and Pennsylvania avenue, but soon
moved 10 the Morrison Building, In Four
and-a-half street and surrendered the
building at seventeenth street and Penn
syivania avenue and Metzerott Hall.
THE executive Offices of the District
government occupied the Morrison Build
ing In Four-and-a-half street until June
2S 1887. when they were removed to the
building in First street, between p and c
streets northwest. This building was
owned by Mr.. T. w. Smith, and was q
four-story brick lumber warehouse. which
Mr.. Smith, at the instance Of the Com
missioners, had fitted up for the accom-
modation OF the District Offices. This.
too while q great improvement upon the
one from which the offices were removed.
was soon outgrown. During the Com
missioners' occupancy Of this building It
was used as an object lesson in the ef-
forts which were then made to induce
Congress to provide municipal building
worthy Of the municipality"
1t was in May. 1895, the offices Of the
District government were removed to the
building in Louisiana avenue from which
they are being removed to the new per-
manent home In Pennsylvania avenue.