The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-25

| Ia model In plain ornateness. Eleven
massive oak doors and three revolv.
ing portals give arched entrances to
the lobby fronting on Main street.
Elevators OF the Iaster design are
at both ends of the corridor, although
marble stsirways wind around them
to the upper stories. The walls also
are built of Parian marble of pure
Wilderness, or wiSh colored veins, sur
mounted by a frieze OF simple design
and varied by layers OF stone re-
sembling onyx or porphyry. Twenty
one windows open from the interior
mail room upon this hall, which ex-
tends around the building. Part Of
the rural division is section con-
tanning 1905 mail boxes OF all kinds.
an increase OF more than 500 over the
box space in the old building.
Location of Departments.
The innner wall incloses an i'm
mense room, which will be equipped
with all modern appliances for the
rapid handling OF the malls. The first
floor is given up to the postotnce de-
partment, and contains offices for the
| postmaster, the posttnaster's assist
ants and the registry and money order
| divisions. Other governmental func-
tons are provided for on the other
fioors- The second story houses the
| collector OF customs, the railway mail
/ service officials, the postottice inspec-
| tors, the district attorney, the bureau
| of animal industries and the collector
OF internal revenue. The third floor is
given over to the Circuit and District
| courts. and contains jury and witness
rooms and suits for the judges and
! United States marshall, Since the
! abolition OF the Circuit court by the
/ last judicial code, tho quarters ar
ranged for this tribunal, which we're
included in the architects plans. have
been altered somewhat. and will be
used TO share the work of the Dis
| trict court. on the fourth floor is the
/ courtroom of the Circuit Court OF Ap-
peals, surrounded by Offices for the
clerks OF this court and visiting judges
and robing rooms for the justices
| Civil service exarnina lions will also
be held on this floor
Recreation Room and Showers.
A novel feature Of the building is
a large recreation room in the base
ment. where letter carriers. messen-
| gers and clerks can tide over The
| hours between shifts by reading and
playing games. Shower baths VIII be
installed for tho use of all employees
in the building. and there will be com
partments FOR fuel and machinery.
/ NO overheating VIII be possible In
! this building. Automatic regulators
OF the temperature are placed In every
room, and when the Thermometer reg
listers the mean Of comfort. a Their
mostat prevents further rise. The
mechanism works only upon the fur
mace on cold days, and no adjustment
| OF 1t can be made TO regulate the tor
ridity Of summer, The ventilating sys-
TEN ts the best in use anywhere, and
a current OF pure air will flow
through the building.
The upholstery OF the courtrooms
Is elegant In every detail. These cham
bers are not yet complete. conform
able to the usual laws delay, perhaps
but they will be perfect when finished
The entire effect is mahogany and the
walls are panels OF this wood. There
are rohing rooms where the Judges
may don the errnine. and after the
ttresome trial OF case, his honor
can refresh himself by q shower or
tub bath in an adjoining room.
| II the building were constructed OF
asbestos, 1t could not be more fire.
p~eof, and there are Ave vaults pro
vided with burglar alarms, 1t was
constructed to be suitable for a city
twice the size OF Richmond. and the
growth OF population VIII In no wise
diminish Its efficiency.