Evening star., 1926-08-15
JAIL ENLARGEMENT
WILL BEGIN SOON
New Police Court Building
for Growing City Is Also
Big Need.


situation at Police Court by construc-
ton of new building is more remote.
Although there is still a possibility
of including an allotment in the next
District bill to begin the Police Court
Building, the estimates for next year
as they stand now recommend mercy
an item of $5, 900 to prepare plans for
the structure, it has been learned
The request for money to draw the
plans names Judiciary Square AS the
proposed location for the Police Court
structure, but there has been some
difference of opinion as to the wisdom
of placing it in that park area, and
District officials say the final decision
will rest with the appropriations COM
mitteeS Of Congress at the coming SeS
sion.
Congress recognized the urgent
need for a new building to meet the
growing business of the Police Court,
out in enactlng the law at the last
session authorizing the structure they
left the question Of the site ana cost
20 be recommended by the approprla-
lions committees.
Engineer Commissioner Bel! Said
Yesterday that if an agreement If
reached on these questions When Coi-
creSS reconVeneS il would not De 700
late to get funds TO start the bu!ihnS
next year. If nothing more than the
preparations Of plans IS PROVIDED 1or
IN the next appropriation act II Woulo
be fully two wears before the building
would be under way.
Park Site Suggested
The site suggested for the Police
Court is a portion of the park between
T. and f streets, and the suggestion
was approved by the Fine Arts Com
mission. The Senate District Commit
tee considered this recommendation
when it had before it the bill authoriz-
ing a new building, but decided to
leave the question Of site to be settled
when the appropriation is being OBJ
tained.
District officials say it would be
necessary for Congress to specifically
approve the use of a portion of Judi
riary Square for this purpose and,
accordingly. they have written the
location into the estimate for the
drawing of plans. This will bring di-
reCtlv before Congress the question or
whether it is desirable to place an
other building in this park.
In this connection plans are already
under way TO erect the proposed re-
corder of deeds building in Judiciary
Square, probably near the corner of
Fourth and +, streets, and the esti-
for several hundred thousand dollars
to begin that structure.
One suggestion being under cOnSld-
Grafton at the District Building is that
the Police Court Building be fitted into
the space directly in back of the Dis
triCt Supreme Court on the south side
Of +, street. between the Court of Ap
peals structure and the proposed re
corder of deeds building. Officials say
this would avoid the necessity of
using up anv of the park area between
e and + streets.
Will Cost Over $50, 900.
4 building adequate to meet the
present and future needs Of the Police
Court as outlined by the judges has
been estimated by District officials at
between $750.0O0 and 81 .000. .00o. En-
gineer Commissioner Bell has given
some thought to the advisability of
recommending the magistrate system
OF trying petty offenseS at certain
police stations and constructing a less
expensive Police Court Building. but
It is understood this proposition has
not gained much headWay. and at the
present time is not being seriously
pursued.
That the increase in the work of
the Police Court incident to the
building imperative as soon as pos
sble was amply justified by represen-
tativeS of the court who appeared be-
fore the Senate and House District
committees at the last session, and
the question Of where il should be
located is expected to be settled by
Congress when it passes on the ap-
preparation for plans In December
The crowded and unsatisfactory
IL,
must be handled both at Police Court
and the Jail because of inadequate
space were brought out by an investi-
cation made by The Star early this
year, following which the legislation
was introduced providing for an ad-
dition to the Jail and for a new court
structure. The necessary appropria-
tion of 100000 to enlarge the Jail
was granted by Congress before ad-
lournment
The new wing will represent an in
novation at the local Jail. in that it
will be designed in the form of dormi-
tories instead of cell tiers. The pres
ent east wing Will be completely re-
modelled and a long extension made
to it. increasing the capacity of the
institution by 200 beds.
Completion Next August.
AfCfltcCt harms expects to cal Tor
bids for the jail addition September
] and he has fixed August 80. 1927,
as the probable date of cOmpletion
Maj. Peake said today that the con
struction of this new wing will meet
The housinng needs of the Jail for
many years.
AS 10 the Police Court situation,
Judge Gus \. Schuldt informed the
commissioners that the new Struc-
ture should be designed with a view
10 accommodating the business of a
centralized court for AT least 20 years.
He pointed out ia his letter to the
city heads that when the present
structure at Sixth and d streets was
erected In 1906 there We're only $40 900
inhabitants in the District. while to-
day the city is close to the 500 600
mark. On the basis OF this growth in
population during the past 20 years,
the judges figure they need 1855 ad-
ditional square feet of floor space
10 meet present needs without look
ing ahead "a future growth of court
business. The building, as il now
stands contains 26,99o square feet
Adding 1850 TO the present area of
the building. gives 40. 545 square feet
as needed for present requirements
In the opinion of the judges the
total area of the proposed Police
Court Building should be $1,000 square
feet. which would make proper allow
ance for further growth of Washing
ton.