Evening star., 1940-06-03
Officials Inspect
Juvenile Courts
New Building
Opening Expected
Early Next Month;
Cost $3.50, 900

Passing final inspection today by
q group of District and Federal
officials, the new Juvenile Court
Building at Fourth and E streets
NV. was praised by Judge Fay
Bentley as one which will enable
the court to render better service.
1t probably will be opened early
next month.
mo program is dependent upon
the building in which it is housed"
she said. Nevertheless, with one
which has been built with the
specific needs in mind, the person.
mel will find it less difficult, the
public coming for service will re-
spond and visitors will not be di-
appointed in the provision which
the District makes for those per-
sons dependent upon the service Of
the court.
The building speaks for itself, it
surpasses my expectations.
Judge Bentley spent about an hour
going through the entire structure
with group of officials, and ap-
peared well pleased with the sharp
contrast it provided with the present
quarters. which have been criticized
as i'll fitted to dignity of the court.
No Cells in Building.
No cell blocks for prisoners or
iron bars are included in the struc-
ture for confinement of the juvenile
prisoners, it was pointed out, but
there is room with strong wire
screen and heavy locks for tenn
porary detention of the most OBJ
streperous.
The building is conditioned
throughout and has adequate quar-
ters for all functions of the court.
For the future there are quarters
for a psychiatric clinic, which the
District hopes will be stated by
expert personnel provided by the
United States Public Health Service.
These experts for handling trouble
some cases, it is hoped may be OBJ
tanned through authority of an en-
abllng act, a draft of which is said
to be under consideration by the
District Commissioners.
The building has three floors and
a basement. The basement con-
tains 9 rooms, the first floor 20,
the second Is and the third floor Is.
The building is of fireproof con-
struction. The interior is finished
with limestone. The roof is copper
over pre-cast slabs. The court room
is finished in flush panel American
walnut with composition tile floor
and acoustical tile ceiling. Oflces
have linoleum floors with acoustical
tile ceilings. The judges chambers
include Offices. shower baths and
large cedar-lined clothes closet
equipped with full-length plate
glass mirrors.
Will Cost About S550,0OO.
Designed under supervision of
Nathan c. Wyeth, municipal archi-
tect, the building was constructed
by M. Shapiro e. Son Construction
Co., Inc, OF New York. Work began
April 6 last year. Total cost, in
cluding furniture and equipment to
be delivered later. is placed at about
s550,000. Funds for operation of
the court in its new building become
available in the new fiscal year
starting July /.
In the inspection party were Maj
Patrick H. Tansey, assistant engi-
neer commissioner; A. w. Crossley
chief engineer of the District P. w.
A. office; Capt. John L. Person,
assistant engineer commissioner: A.
G. Hutson, chief of construction
division, municipal architects office;
Harley H. Chamberlain. resident
auditor of Federal P. w. A. in
charge of District projects: w. J.
Quigley, Federal P. w. A. inspector;
Mr.. Wyeth, and several others.
Another inspection also was
planned later today at the District
Reformatory and Workhouse at
Lorton and Occoquan. Va. where
new water and sewer facilities have
been completed at a cost of about
$225,000 The sewage treatment will
prevent pollution of Occoquan Greek
and Potomac River from the penal
institutions.