The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-25
REMEDYING MATTERS.

RENEWING MATTERS
Judge Mathewson has come forward /
with some very commendabe suggcs-
tIons as TO the future of the old coun- /
ty court house after the county shall |
have moved out from beneath It's
roof. The wonder of II all
Is that It has not been thought OF be-
fore. Tho delightful part OF
1t Is that It solves very ac-
ceptably some vexlng problems
that have been troubling many Of the
city departments for some lime past
In the first place, It is uncomfortable
to think that the old court building
will fall into any other hands than
those of the city government. No pri-
vate parties would want to acquire II;
the state surely would not want II;
and the federal government is now
making plans for new headquarters
that will serve II for some time to
come. Indeed 1t would be entirely
out Of place for the building to go
anywhere but to the city. That, II
seems, is what should have happened
long ago. When 1t comes about, the
city will control all the big brown
stone buildings, Alphabetically the
court house Is but part Of the city
hail. Officially 1t will then be made q
part of II. There seems scarcely de-
partment OF the city government that
cannot be bcttered by the change. All
of them have been complaining Of
being crowded of late years, The two
city courts, which have the unsavory
distinction of having one. OF he worst
ventilated, arranged and crowded
quarters Imaginable can make them
selves comfortable in the superior
courts present rooms; the police and
detective departments can 20 In down
stairs; and n satisfactory lookup,
worthy of the name of New Haven,
can be fitted up under The present
criminal superior court room, where
it would be sanitary. roomy, and con-
venient. That would leave the top
floor of the court building In which to
quarter any Of the city departments
that are now overcrowded or which
Ike the board of education. are pay
ing rent in buildings not owned by
tho city.
But the excellent plans will not end
here. Every official vitality in crested
In the equipment of the hra depart
mcnt has recognized of late that the
greatest need of the depart ncn5 NJ
tn" present time Is fire proof nca6
quarters whore the delicate instru-
ments which record the alarms and
send them out TO the fire houses and
the bells may be safe. The least fire
among the intricate wires would put
the whole system out of commission
for some time and leave the city
without adequate means of making n
fire known. Commissioner Kegelmey-
err Chief Fancher, and Superintend-
ent Grant. of the fire alarm system
are but few Of those vitality interest
ed. This paper has appreciated the
situation and has urged the great ne
cessity Of action. But Judge Mathew
son comes forward with alan thai
seems to supply the remed. as II by
magic. His proposals already men
toned, II carried out, would leave tn,
present police building empty save 70,
the board of health. The latter h,
| would Dust to any convenient place II
either the city hall or the old cour
: building, then to be known as thu
new police building, and he would in
stall Chief Fancher and his head
quarters, fire ladies in the old police
building, after that has been suitabl,
ire-proofed to meet the requirement
of the department. The building
should serve the needs Of the depart
ment very acceptably. There woul,
be plenty Of room. The fact that I
is unobstructed on three sides make
o It much more easily fire -proofed. w
0 shall wait with interest to hear wha
the fire commissioners and official
think Of the plan, with the thorough
belief that, If the county is to have
!. new court house, this will be the IN
: evtable result.
IL ---'- IT.
tt,,. i.A - a