The Washington herald., 1911-08-06
JUVENILE COURT CERTAIN
OF NEW BUILDING SOON
Judge De Lacy Now Rejoices in the Prospect of
Large 100000 Structure in Judiciary Square.

Officials Of the Juvenile Court have
great visions Of a new s2cO.0oO courthouse
to replace the o!d, dilapidated building
at 1916 F street northwest. which is now
being occupied by Judge De Lacy and his
corps of faithful assistants. But this
courthouse promises to be more than a
vision, as an estimate for the proposed
structure has already been submitted.
and it is expected that at the next ses-
sion Of Congress an appropriation will be
made for Its erection.
The present court building is entirely
inadequate to meet the rapidly growing
demands of the tribunal. With respect to
antiquity. this building holds a place
more than $50 years old. 1t is located
far up on the hill along the south side
of F street, and but for the gigantic
American flag floating majestically in the
breeze from a staff projecting out Of the
second-story window the average passer-
by would probably fail to notice 1t, as
the massive spreading trees along the
street shield the structure from view.
Quaint Old structure.
There are two flights of stone steps
leading up the steep terrace to the build
ing. at the entrance of which is a wooden
porch, which tells itself of antiquity.
The house, which was designed for use
as a private dwelling, is a two-story
brick structure of the old architectural
type, with a basement, and an attic
formed by the steel roof Passing up
the wooden porch steps, one enters long
hall, at the end of which are the stairs
leading above. To the left are the old
r1r rr-t,t ,tlt, hna
ed into a court room. At the south end
of the two rooms is a slightly raised
platform, upon which Judge De Lacy sits
day after day behind the desk Of judg-
ment. Below the Judge sits the clerk
of the court at his desk. The remaining
space is occupied by chairs orderly ar
ranged In rows for the accommodation
of witnesses.
In the good old days OF yore. when the
building was occupied by one Of WASH
ington's aristocratic families, 1t Is doubt
full II even on festive occasions more
than one or two dozen persons at the
most were ever in the parlors. But now
on a busy court day one would be sur
prised by the vast crowds that elbow
their way into the rooms.
Usually between twenty-five and fifty
cases come before the tribunal each day.
and II is not an uncommon sight at the
building to see the overflow or persons
from the courtroom crowding the halls
and extending even out onto the back
porch at the end Of the corridor. There
are ordinarily between five and twenty
nonsupport cases tried each day, and
only last Monday there were ten persons
before Judge De Lacy for not providing
the common necessities of life for their
families.
Court Always Busy.
Crossing the hall from the court room.
one enters the clerks office. which is
supplied with a number of desks and
other necessary office appliances. This
room is about one-half the size of the
court room, and is nearly always crowded
to overflowing. One day. by actual count.
there were 100 persons In the room.
Then there is Judge De Lacys private
room. the probation officers room, the
prosecuting attorneys office. the ONCE
of the deputy United States -marsaal. the
adult prisoners room. and the .uvenile
prisoners room.
The building Is heated IN the winter
by six latrobes. which consume about
forty tons Of coal q year; and With all
of this fuel burned. which ID twice as
much as ought to be required 70 heat q
house Of its size. the Occupants fre-
quently shiver with cold. The officials |
Of the court have experienced several |
winters In the old structure. and they |
tell how the loud wind whistles ups the !