New-York tribune., 1919-12-14

rne new county courthouse, which they
have been talking about for the last
sixteen years will be completed by
the fall of 1921. The assurance is
given by Comptroller Craig, who saws
he is sure of the promise made unless
unforeseen circumstances again arise to
further delay the erection of this much
delayed tribunal of justice, of which
the city has been badly in need for
many years. The Comptroller says
that he expects to have the specifica-
tions of the new temple of justice
ready for bidding on January l, which
indicates that speed is to be made
from nov on in the completion Of this
much discussed civic development
The building, which will replace the
"Tweed" building as the county
courthouse, will be hexagonal, six
stories high, much more spacious and
far better arranged than the round
courthouse which it supersedes. 1t
will cost $7,000,000 to build, which is
just $14,000,000 less than the circular
courthouse would have cost if erected
under present labor and material price
schedules. The plan will permit great
part of the $15000,000 courthouse site
to be passed over to the Federal and
state governments-at market value,
of course-for development with monu-
mental structures for the use Of ma
tional and state departments now To-
Gated in the city.
To Develop Civic Center
Comptroller Craig in his report on
the courthouse matter to the Board of
Estimate yesterday disclosed the fact
that the civic center idea which went
along with the courthouse plan of a
few years ago has not been abandoned,
and committees representing the state
and nation have been in conference
with the Comptroller. as chairman Of
the Courthouse Committee of the Board
of Estimate. relative to the purchase of
land in the "New York City Area" as
the half dozen blocks to the north of
the Hall of Records and the stately
Municipal Building may be termed.
The courthouse will be a great stru-
ture. 1t will contain thirty-two court
rooms, chambers for judges, for juries,
counsel rooms, private passages con-
Meeting the offices of the judges on the
fifth floor with the courtrooms on the
second, third and fourth floors. There
will be library of great size, din
ing rooms for the justices, and a ter
race for their use on the fifth floor,
surrounding the great central court in
the building.
Architect Describes Building
Guy Lowell, who designed both the
old and the new courthouse, tells the
story of the proposed new building and
it's most interesting features. His de-
scription of the structure is interest
Ing.
The new courthouse will be built
of the same excellent materials and
will have the same carefully worked
out conveniences as the building
originally planned and specified, but
it is no longer circular. After the
elimination of many features not now
considered essential, it still preserves
all the excellent qualities, contained
mirably adapted to the needs of a
great city.
"The same quiet and accessibility
are provided for the court rooms ];
privacy for the justices, ample facili-
ties for the lawyers, and every con-
venience for the public is arranged
for. To an unusual degree there are
adequate facilities for light and ven
tilation; and finally, at a reasonable
cost to the city, the scheme makes
future extension possible. Above all
there will be skilfully planned sys-
tenn of entrances and corridors to
facilitate and expedite the coming and
going of the public.
Discarded Nothing Essential
THE plans prepared are for build
ing that, while ample and cmbodying
all the carefully thought out advan-
tages OF the original circular plan, still
can be built at price that the city
can afford. and that can be built at
once. The reduction in cost has been
obtained by eliminating from the
original program features that were
not absolutely essential, for according
to the most modern ideas, the build
ing need no longer be what was con
sidered so necessary in past genera
tions--"a palace Of Justice"
ut is to be fine, commodious and
we'll equipped building. Though the
size, and therefore the cost of the
building, have been materially reduced.
this has been done without sacrifices
either in construction or materials.
Facade VIII Be of Granite
'"rhe exterior, including the porch,
will be of granite of warm tone. A
fine porch or portico will occupy the
westerly one of the six sides, giving
character and dignity to the building.
Behind its pediment will be placed the
library stacks, and on the floors be-
low these will be the record rooms
and minor offices, SO that a dignified
entrance 10 obtained without sacrifice
Of light In important rooms. The
other five sides occupied by the courts