Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-02
llilding Erected Six Years
Ago Deemed Too Cheap
for Inclusion in Marble
Halls Group.
and Purchase Scheme Contem-
plates Abandonment of Struc-
ture Admirable in Its Appoint
ments.

- The House of Detention, at 22d and
Arch streets, building not yet six years
pld. which cost nearly 100000. will be
abandoned without a qualm IL the Mu-
Hhicipal Courts additional land grab of a
'Icity block bounded by Goth and 2lst
S,etreets, Race and Vine streets, is APP
Ynroved by the -McNichol-con
strolled COUNCILS. Besides the Sl0oO,OOO
group of t'marble halls" the Municipal
Court wants, S2oo,cco House of Detcn-
,sp, .pEactcally new, would make
! f6Si. showing. This is said to account
I for the dsparaging attitude adopted to-
ward the House of Detention by Mu-
nicipal Court officials
The Municipal Court officials admit
that the S20O,OOO building will be aban-
Ndoned when they move up to Race
.ArSA" But they use softer phrase
n. abandonment when the statement
a NJ y 1.-The property will revert to
~" is the way it is put. That is
Mrs Henry p. Richardson. wife of
superintendent of the House Of De-
IS gon, explained what would become
23I# the House of Detention
vi BUILT ONLY SIX YEARS AGO.
six years ago this month warrants
re being signed at City Hall to pay for
Z s htract work to build the House of De-
tion. Six years ago next month
for 500 was submitted for installing
Aldge's dais or raised platform on the
~ floor of the House of Detention.
bill came from Philip II. Johnson,
>ASchitect, and it was paid. But in
Nays there was an idea that the
t1,, ha fnr
. han six years.
House of Detention cost Sl79.29l. 1t
q. = s,mpleted in January, 1909. Any one
hver passed 22d and Arch streets
= what 1t looks like. Even its
hst critics in the Municipal Court
never objected to its appearance
~ =. the house is as attractive as it is
Rut. It was built with care and with
= Ee for the future-a future of more
Bx years.
80 is courtroom, a room for wit
a series of small rooms along 22d
q for executives and for confidential
4 with children who run outside the
- q L pstars are schoolrooms and dor
~ Yes. An elevator shaft pierces the
$50 of the building. Physicians have
- 4edical dispensary and a room for
psychological clinic.
y fGE WANTS "HOSPITAL GROUP"
Ed3e Brown would have a whole hos
IA group" The reason for wanting ii
hot clear. 1t is not even clear to Mrs,
snry p. Richardson. wife of the SUI
Isierintencent of the House of Detention.
Hrs. Richardson phrases her doubt very
teftly. Judge Brown" she said wants
"a hospital. too. I don't just know, my
Fsef--. II would be a very fine thing,
sthough."
DETENTION HOUSE A MODEL
4 The House of Detention is fitted with
4ssion furniture except in the offices.
- trip through the house shows sur
lBrising attractiveness. The house is
ecrupulously clean. There is even a
AsmelI of soap about the place, The
mission furniture on the second noor
where the children are quartered. is a
touch that lends charm to the home.
Six years ago modern plumbing was
well known, and the house has lava
tories that could ind no detractors sani-
tary arrangements and the ventilation
system are virtually hawless according
20 Mrs Richardson. The children have
schoolrooms and rooms where they play
checkers and other games. There is
little suggestion of depention about any
of the house The roof is screened, and
the children get their fresh air on it.
This is the building that ould revert
40 the city" should the marble halls
be built at 2lst and Race streets. The
worst that has been said of il Is that the
Juvenile Court OverCrowds the hall Be
fore Juvenile Court was held every day
the boys quarters We're cramped, but
since the cases are disposed Of every
day except Saturday this condition has
been relieved.
There will be room for every one i'm the
''marble halls" observers say. There
will be room for unlimited tipstaves and
"cIerks" and room for extravaganza and
fat salary lists But the S2OnU0D House
of Detention, which is only six years
old, win revert 10 the city il the grab
goes through,