Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-07
NEW COURT TO Be READY SOON
PROGRESS RAPID ON STRUC-
TURE IN JUDICIARY SQUARE.
Judges of Appeals Will Have Their
Own Home Probably in
December.


building in Judiciary square is going for
ward rapidly and it is expected the slrue'
ture Will be under roof and ready for the
interior finishers early in September. AS
far as IT has progressed the building
with its somewhat severe lines ana It's
handsome finish in Indiana limestone, am
pIy demonstrates that it will be distinct
ornament to the group of structures for
the housing of the Judiciary in the Dis
trict of Columbia and also that it will
completely overshadow its nearest neigh
Dor. the old city hall which now ac-
commodities both the Court of Appeals
and the Supreme Court of the District.
Authorized by an act of Congress
which carried with it an appropriation
of 100000, the construction of the new
home of the Court of Appeals was pc
gun about December /, 1905. Supervision
of the task was placed directly under
Elliott Woods Superintendent of the Capt.
toll building and grounds, and the plans
were prepared in his office. the actual
construction. instead of being let by con-
tract has been carried forward by the
day-labor system. August Eccard. one
of Mr.. Woods assistants, has had charge
of the execution of the plans
Finish in Indiana Limestone.
At first it was intended to finish the
to City Hall, but after the construction
had proceeded above the foundations it
was ascertained that the appropriation
would be sufficient to permit the outer
walls to be built of stone and. although
a slight DELAY was necessary to adver-
tise for and secure bids. the contract to
furnish the necessary stone was salts
factorily arranged with the First Kerber
Company of Chicago. which has since
delivered the material-Indiana limestone
from it's quarries at Bedford, Ind.
The interiors arrangement of the build
ing will include the allotment OF practi-
cally all of the ground floor rooms to the
staff of clerks and to the storing OF rec
ords of the Court of Appeals, while the
courtroom and the chambers of the Jus
tees will occupy the entire second floor. 4
plan is under consideration to permit
the Bar Association of the District TO
have one of three large rooms on the
third floor for the law library, which
ut the present time has considerably
crowded quarters on the upper floor of
the city hall. In addition to affording
more satisfactory accommodations to the
library, IL is conceded the new structure,
by reason of its fireproof construction,
would give much greater security TO the
invaluable collection of books.
Elaborate Treatment of Courtroom.
The courtroom in every respect will far
which justice is dispensed in the District
OF Columbia. It's interior treatment will
be entirely in mahogany and white, with
practically no woodwork save the judges
bench and the desks and chairs for the
attorneys and the benches for spectators.
Plaster designs have been prepared for
the walls. the designs to be placed be-
tween marble pilasters, which will run
from floor to ceiling. A chair rail of
mahogany will be placed around the en-
tire room. and the furniture will be of
this material The judges bench, placed
upon a raised platform, will occupy one
end of the forty by sixty foot room. and
the bench will be of sufficient size to ac-
commodate five justices, as 1t is thought
the Court OF Appeals may in time grow to
that size. The treatment of the side
walls will terminate in cornice. above
which will be cove for the artificial
lighting system. the latter including a
Daylight for the illumination OF the
usual sittings OF the court will fnd its
way into the room through large sky
lights. and there will be no windows.
Undoubtedly the heating arrangements
adopted for the courtroom is one of the
most ingenious products OF later day en-
cheering, as II includes a series of tiny
registers placed in the furniture. The air,
drawn from out of doors and passed first
over steam coils. is forced through the
furniture into the room This plan is an
adaptation of the system used in several
of the large buildings In European capt.
tails. notably in Berlin, where its success
has been demonstrated in the heating of
the halls OF the reichstag. One of Its
chief advantages lies in the fact that 1t is
reversible, thus permitting cool air to be
drawn through openings in the ceiling
and outward through the furniture.
Unless unforeseen delays should occur
IL is planned to have the new Court of
Appeals ready for dedication and occu-
Oh 1Nx.-,z
one year from the inception of the under.
taking.