Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-28
NEW COURTHOUSE
: PLANS ADVANCED
Rockville Special Committee
? E1akes Real Progress
Toward Building.
epecial Dispatch to The ar.

Epecial Dispatch TO The ar.
ROCKVILLE, Md, August 23.-Real
progress toward the erection of the
much-agitated new Rockville courthouse
was made at a meeting of the court
house building committee here yester-
day afternoon and the way apparently
cleared for the early beginning of build
ing operations.
Plans for the proposed new structure
and the purchase of the block immedi-
ately to the west of the present court
house square as a site were given con-
sideration and both matters were, it is
understood, placed in such position as
to virtually clear the atmosphere CT
the uncertainty regarding them that
had all along existed.
To acquire the desired land, con-
domination proceedings were definitely
decided upon so far, at least, as one
piece Of property is concerned, and it
was thought possible that similar action
might have to be taken to obtain an
other part of the desired block.
Price Agreements on Others.
Price agreements for the other nine
pieces comprising the block have about
been reached, it was reported by the
SpSCIdl COulLllGGSc, COlllpCSeu Oh Berry
e. Clark, Preston B. Ray and Lacy
Shaw, recently named to conduct the
negotiations.
The chief stumbling block, the spe-
cial committee reported, is the Presby-
terrain Church property. The county
commissioners recently offered 100000
as a fair price, holding that amount to
be ample for the purchase of a desir-
able site and the erection of more
modern and etter-in-every- build
ing than the present ediflce, but COM
n,ittee representing the congregation ap-
peared before the special committee yes
terday morning and submitted $40 900
as the lowest acceptable price. Con-
domination proceedings in this case were
definitely decided upon.
The o. w. Anderson property, on
Commerce lane, between the Masonic
Temple and the Farmers Banking and
Trust Co.'S building, is the case not
yet adjusted, it was reported. The
difference. however, between the, spe-
cial committee and owner is, it was
stated, small, and the opinion was ex-
pressed that legal proceedings would
probably not be necessary. 1t was de-
cided, though, that if price is not
agreed upon within two days condemna-
ton proceedings would be promptly in
Stituted.
Two Sets OF Plans.
Two sets Of plans, similar regarding
size, but different as to architecture,
which were submitted by the two court
house architects, in conformity with
suggestions Of the building committee,
were given careful consideration. One
called for a building presenting a
finished appearance, but permitting
additions without marring 1t from an
architectural standpoint, and the other
provided for a structure inconpleted in
looks and clearly indicating the inten-
ton Of enlargement.
The committee decided to have the
two architects combine their concep-
tons into one set of plans calling for a
finished appearing structure that could
be added to, from time to time, without
plans are ready, meeting OF the court
house committee will be held, 1t was
decided.
It was stated At the meeting that
the building it IS proposed to erect at
this time would be adequate probably
for a long time and would call for an
outlay Of approximately 100000, and
that the entire present program, in
GLIDING acquisition of the site, would
than $550,000 to $4,000, all of which
is available. The present courthouse
building will, it was decided, remain
intact until it is found necessary to
1aze it to make room for an addition
IN the proposed new structure, a pas
sageway to connect the two buildings
to be constructed.
Members Present.
Members of the building committee
attending the meeting were Judge Rob-
ert B. Peter, who, however, sat in only
while the plans were being given atten-
ton; Maj. E. Brooke Lee, Dr.. Benjamin
c. Perry, Robert G. Hilton, Otto H. w.
Talbot, j. Roger Spates, George M.
Hunter, Josiah w. Jones, Preston B.
Ray Lacy Shaw, Berry e. Clark, Henry
F. Taft, George P. Sacks, Clagett G.
Hilton and Clyde Thomas. The only
absentees were Gilbert Grosvenor and
George E. Hamilton. Architects Ros-
sci e. Mitchell and Delos H. Smith
also were present.