Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-12-13

,r.h, Pniic gnj,d5rs+ sfowiny the progress made in
tie construction 81 TIE Public findings, WHICH ny me
a.! q: tic iih % jay last, 'ie ,irTn E-.:nV
! l., cans. iJ i.e erected. !!-rOl.r'h
| WAs!lyuroH, December T., 100
Oy.,cr Of COMMISSIONER OF prBLic ButDISGs,
December ), lS3t.
| To Ike P,rsiGcn: of Tie United STATES:
SIR have the honor 10 report ltiHt your "'e' uatS
the 9Th OF June last 'esigna,ing The COMMISSIONS! 81
puh;. Buildings to sup"rntrnd generally the detailed
.,n!i.,uns and plans o the Treasury EuiidiES and
Patent Office the advertising and forming VI contracts
aud Inc whole disbursements thereon, was day attend
ed ,o an; that arrangements immediately made Tor
the erection Of rep!nrt buildings coniorna"e 10 TIE
rans ae,,,,rd hy Won, and ON The sizes selected.
Proposals were invited by public advertisements in7
such materials necessary t"conchce inc Wo
and contracts entered mo- On tc'ihS IL ""s o'r' "
yan,areous 10 Government.
,.4pr;u the delay occasiourd by advertising, anu
III. difficulty 10 procuring materials and work!e ii The
commencement Of the work, the progress has been as
great Is could have been expected
The amount expended On the treasury puiid!hS III
IA, urn,s 10 ;yGrk;neu. preparing Workshops collecting
materials Ne, up This date, is S43,o 4s and there
has; been expended The Patent Office building, ior Tie
like PURPOSES tie sum Of s;22 "a.
brn lcave 10 refer the accompanying report Of The
Archi,rc, inr al exposition Of the state OF the work
AM, with high respect, yonr obed:en servant,
". holland.
Wasu,yorox CRY, Dec l. lc3G.
" holland, Esq. Com,ar Of the Pad'ic Buildings:
srs: ln presenting my report OH the progress Of the
Public buildings, would respectfully dEa" your atcn'
l.un 10 II lew predatory REMARKS
IL will be borne III mind that active operations with
respect ,hcse works. did not commence until The best
part of the worng bad elapsed, IN consequence
Of the Iae period wIcn tie appropriations for the build
mos were made. 1t the month oil August before
I'm. foundations of he Treasury buildings were begun:
and such the difficulty Of procuring mas0ns that,
alter every effort made obtain them, Their number
for the Greater part o. Tx. season. barely exceeded half
I,,y IN adv tt[a rs
Under very difficulty, however, the suprrlnienients
have faithfully performed 'hrr dnty; ard the progress
made evidences the industry aad zeal oil the work.
men employed A heavy body Of masonry has been
uid both in the Treasury and Patent Office buildings
and Considerable quantities Of stone have been pre-
pured Of which, granite principally, Is already SET
in the walls. From the present advanced state Of these
works, and the quantity u cut stone which nov, ana
will have been prepared during the coming winter and
spring. we are warranted in the belief that wc SHALL un-
less ,ralnnecd by ua,uward circumstances, sncI as
disappointment in supply OF stone, all nceen! sea.
son, deficiency in The requisite force, be able root
them in before the succeeding winter. In Ia" latter
event, We might anlic pate the completion OF lac inr-
I Tor ol the same the year following. Estimates, calcn
lated to reach this desirable sate ot the works. will III
pro,cr tu.e be submitted you to be Land before tie
honorable the COMMITTEE on Public Buildings.
To the estimates for The Treasury block, s!ii add an
estimate TOR erecting he south huG;"g constituting
part Of the plan adopted by the Prcsdrn and omitted
in the execution Of the centre, in consequence u It's not
beinr immediately required for lie Treasury acc"nIno-
daon The expeGcncy Of progressing VIII! This building
with The other will be obvious, wi'rn We
take into consideration the Necessity al providing ir he
future accommodation Of the State Department; It WILL
otherwise be subject much Inconvenience, hen ti!e
necessary alterations and changes made IL The build
ing now occupied ~ lhis Department to adapt i; 10 the
main cditice. w',uld therefore, respectfully recon
mend that the south building be also put under cusruc
ton.
With respect to lie Patent Office strucIarc would
mark that consequence Of the r"quston Of Congress
that il should b. constructed Of cat store, and the arqr0
priation Epny fund !:adiHale 10 meet this cNir!se
upon The extent III plan adopted, WAS compelled. III
abiding hy The original dnrnsons, 10 make such chan
gcs and delay operations Oh tic expensive details
Of the r!a w0i:iI e!!auc TO keep within the "n
appropriated, should Congress not deem it cXpcGrm 10
rnake a!du',. appropriations meet TIE increased cost
Of the si!lr. growing uf the substitution OF rE!
stonc ar Lrir<. aud Of re prooC rdicc for c05aSii
bic onc, ua..uch upon Inc latter, the original est
ia:rs were EnHu:,d and iip appropriations bu#cd
This building il has prog rcs3"d is construct.
ed ia the mpsl substantial !nanNr ada pied to Tie fire.
proof caracts which il is intended TO assume Do!
fronts faced III split granite laid IL regular cuurs"s
with dressed u!nts. Esnatrs will bc submitted. -
show what additional would be necessary 10 carry
out and complete the pan also: III the event Of aban
don lh % Cat stone, what amount will be rcqu;r
ed to give TIE building j!rc-prof chn!acIcr and 10
erect il upon lie cheapest plan in brick. The immense
proportions of the pcyiico of this building being exactly
these Of tle Parthrnpn Of lens involve large portion
OF its total rxprnsc What this is computed at, shall
state III he comparative ">tImatrs.
TIE TREASURY BUILDING.
The foundations OF the entire extent Of this building.
AGO feet in length, including the western cjrc!icn
laid.
The front range of rooms, brought up the springng
line ui the groin ARCHES several %! which turned and
laid in hy draulic cement and the granite, facing
on the front, made up high the indow
large quantity of materials, granite free stone, a
in the rough brick, line and mortar, Is collected The
spot and uuv shops are provided Tor tr work,en to
cu1 %
time may he lost in progressing with the buildings in
due
THE PATENT OFFICE BUILDING.
The iounLaiions OF the entire extent Of this building
go feet in leugh By 81 feet in width have been laid and
the granite facing To the basement story, built upon bath
fronts: atu e north 10 he spEingng line of the arches;
that the south at the east end, The same height Part
OF the first tier Of groin arches have been turned the
east wing, north side As in tie ii the Treasury
building there is considerable quantity Of materials, Of
granite foundation stone. brick lime, sand and mortar,
collected the ground, ready fur spring operations while
shops have also been erected for housing the wofmrn
and cutting The stone during the winter months. This
building commenced late in July and has steadily pro-
steSsed ever since. The foundation walls have been
cesSaf"y very heavy in places from the pitching
am inconsistent nature Of the ground requiring greater
oepih Oh o'ggg, which has considerably increased The
cost.
The split granite has been selected for facing the base
mrn s.oryhut 1t will be practicable to use either
eestone or ts material even IN its rough state for The
supersiructure, unless additional anpropriaion he
made. 1t wi" be remembered that the bill mukinr an
appropriation for constructing this building az it came
from the Senate, contemplated brick and wood struc
tnrs. These materials, BY proviso Of the House were
changed Tor cut stone facing 10 the exterior walls and
also dre.proof wthin which changes consequently add
ed greatly to The expense, without any addition being
made to the original sum appropriated to meet this |
change.
Ali which is respectfully submitted.
ROBERT MILLS
-7rrhifeei of The Public Baildinss