The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-31

H., arc brought TO the task Of examination and
Sas;.on They have pride Of opinion to bias pre-,
-, iudgment no preconcelsed notions OF ~hat wonu
accomplish the object % possess the nlnd WIN .ne nv
n.s az lis execution. In the comparison OF cifcum-
stances and evidence the committee cannot but give
oost credit to those facts and representations which an
unpreiudiced and unbiased intelligence shall furnish
loon the foregoing views OF the whole subject the
committee are Of the opinion, that u wond
be anoiss and msrpedieHt TO suffer the work Of con-
sretion upon the present plan Of the new Treasury
building 10 proceed further They believe, II the build
inc were completed, il would wholly dlsappont the
wishes and intentions Of the Government twould be
neither tasteful convenient, nor They recon-
mend therefore, that the walls be taken down. aud i'm
mediatey removed, and applied TO the erection 81
building for the accommodation Of the Post Office
Department on the site Of the Office recently destroyed
by FIRE and to this end they have prepared and here
with, report bill.
In offering this proposition the committee are fully
aware Of the responsibility they assume TO Congress and
the nation but they justify upon the both OF
nseesstty and economy new Post Office building Is
much needed the commodatlons OF Tho Urea
sury Both Departments are now IN leased inconyen-
emit and destructble tenements the temporary accom-
modaons, alike sought, from the destruction OF past
CONGREGATIONS. In Tho process Of taking down the
walls Of the new building the materials Win niue al
diona expense, may be directly transported 70 the site
for the Post Office, and the work Of construction mere,
be almost Immediately commenced, The committee
have the opinion Of Mr. Walter, concnrred ~ by Mr..
Mills himself that "thcre would be no difficulty what
ever In arranging the designs for the Post Once SO as
TO bring all the materials OF the treasury ood'hg INTO
use with very great advantage"
II is true indeed that by adopting the proposition Of
the committee, much labor ia building up The present
work will be lost But is not this preferable TO prose-
cutting imperfect work at the hazard OF an eventual
sacrifice Of that which far more 10 be regarded than
the expense VI 10 the Transaction o.
business and sense OF security IN the strength and
enduring character Of the structure Besides. IN the
Of pecuniary account the advantage = on Inc
side of the removal Of the walls Of the new building
BY an estimate Of Mr. Mills the loss IN labor, aud IN
the materials which cannot be preserved principay the
mortar will be not far from eighty thousand dolars'
while the saving Of the present building Of the STATE
Department which must be destroyed u the new build
ing proceeds together with the saving OF expense IN
grading the street greatly exceeds that amount The
State edifce was bult since the last war with Great
Britain is of thorough workmanship upon the plan Of
Its construction and represented to have cos, about
ninety FIRE thousand dollars. II may well be suffered
10 remain to BIO hereafter improved for many OF the pur
poses Of the Government even when more ample ac-
commodations shall have been provided for the principal
Departments. -.
One further suggestion on this branch Of the subject
and the committee will hasten TO close this already too
extended report The present plan Of the Treasury
building contempates corresponding structure on the
opposite side of the Presidents square, Seventeenth
street This win involve the occasion for the des'ruc-
tion Of the building occupied, at present. by tie Depart
OF War; also constructed since the peace like
Of nfasfy.fre thousand dollars. In carrying
out therefore, the schemes Of the architect Of the pre-
building property of the value of nearly ro hun
dred thousand dollars would be sacrificed the saving
OF the cost Of labor the new building less in amount
by nearly hundred and tlceay thousand dotiars
In other words. the sacrifice the Government, by
adopting the recommendations Of the committee, would
be considerably less IN the first instance, and vastly
srenaty than the inevitable loss by pursuing the plan
OF the present work. even were there objections 10
the manner of its execution. Should the walls be
moved, and the materials applied TO the construction Of
Fost Office buildings, structure for the Ircasu
ry might be erected near the same location, with
change of position, and upon plan better adapted to
the site; or new location might be selected which
would admit of edifce upon enlarged design, to
embrace the required accommodations for all the De-
partnents Whenever this shall be done, the commit
but earnestly advise to the substitution OF
marble or grunte, the exterior walls, for the per-
vious and destructibe sandstone which can only be
protected by the frequent application OF paint, from de-
facement and decay, under the ordinary action OF the
atmosphere and climate. .." ..... -.. ".
In respect TO the plan and construction of the new
PATENT OFFICE, the inquiries and examination made
by the committee resulted in the satisfactory assurance
that whatever defects have been discovered i'll either,
the work has not progressed SO far as 10 preclude cor
Iec,ion, at little comparative expense, and without pre-
JUDGE to the completion OF the building These defects
distinctly pointed out in the report Of Mr. Walter
and for the most part recognised IN the report OF
MT farrls ana Dotn gentlemen Suggest tue apphCa-
ton Of appropriate and etfectual measures OF remedy
Nothing more of duty therefore, remains to the CON-
mtee in relation to this building, than to recommend
that the President direct the proposed alterations to be
made, and the work to be completed in conformity with
the advice of those architects.
All which is respectfully submitted.
BILL providing for the removal Of the walls Of the
Treasury building. and for the erection of fire. proof
building for the Post Office Department.
Be it enacted by The Senate aud House Of Represen-
tstires Of the Uiicd Saies Of America IN Congress
sembied That the President Of the United State be,
and he hereby is authorized to cause the unfinished
walls Of the Treasury building, the process Of
construction to be taken down, and the materials to be
removed and applied to the construction Of hreproof
building Of such dimensions and upon such plan of
rangement may be required for The aud accom-
modation OF the Post Office Department, the site of
the Post Office building recently destroyed by FIRE and,
for this purpose that he be authorized appoint skill
fu architect prepare and submit to him the necessary
plans for the proper construction Of such building, hav
ing regard to the of the materials aforesaid which,
being approved by him, shall be conformed to in the
erectond the structure, And the said architect may
be continued in the superntendence of the construction
ofthe building, another employed in that service,
the President may judge best
SEC 2. And ben further enacted, That for the
ton of the building authorized by the first section Of this
act, in addition to the materials be removed and APP
piled thereto, therein mentioned there be, and here
by is, appropriated the sum Of one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars of any money in the Treasury
otherwise appropriated by law
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
January IL, 1888.
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