The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-10-02
The New Custom Honse.

We are glad to learn that Colonel W. TurnbuIl,
one of the most distinguished officers of the corps
OF Typographical Engineers, has arrived in our
city, as Superintendent and Chief Architect of the
New CustOmhOuse. Colonel Furnbull is a gen.
tleman of scientific attainmenls, and has acquired
great reputation the Chief Engineer of the Aque-
duct across the Potomac river at Georgetown, Dis
trict of Columbia-a work that is the admiration
of scientific men in Europe and the United States
The Colonel entered on the discharge of his du-
ties yesterday; and under the charge of one so
experienced, no doubt can be entertained that
the work will be put up in a most substantial man.
ner. The appropriation for the building is now
upwards of $4,000; and we understand that it
is the determination of the Commissioners to eY-
pend $4,000 per month on the building in materi-
ais and labor
While on this subject, we wish to call attention
to an article in last Saturdays Bulletin, which
may mislead the public in regard to the temporary
buildings being erected by the Customhouse Com
missioners, on the neutral ground in front of the
Customhouse Square. The Council of the LIST and ID
Municipalities, by unanimous vote in February
last, authorized the Commissioners to erect tempo
rary buildings on the Neutral Ground for the re-
ception of materials, &c. Under this authority
they have put up workshop, where the centres
for the ground arches of the building will be made.
These will be of rough materials, not planned, but
must be made with great accuracy to secure the
proper bearing of the arches Contractors will not
be permitted to use any of the buildings, but thew
will be under the exclusive control of the Com
missioners, who will have skilfuI workmen EN-.
ployed in them. Once week every combustible
material will be carefully removed, and every pre-
caution taken against fire. Other buildings are
being erected, where cement and other incombus-
BILE materials will be stored, and large beds of NOR
tar prepared months in advance of its being used,
by which stronger walls will be built Also rooms.
where the Commissioners, Superintendent and
Architects will have their offices, and can at all
times have the work under immediate observation.
All the buildings will be one story high, covered
with slate, and neatly white washed and painted.
No lime or other combustible material will be
stored there.
The use of this ground will add greatly to the
convenience of those who are connected with the
erection of the buildings-will save many thou
sands of dollars for rents, which would be taken
from the appropriation, and thus applied instead of
being expended in the Customhouse buildings.
The materials for the temporary buildings are main
otherwise have been useless. The erection of
these buildings is a matter of economy and conve-
nience, that should meet with the approval of the
whole community. The ground itself may be said |
to belong to the accommodating been granted |
to the Navigation Company for a canal that will /
never be made, and will consequently, from non !
user revert to the United States. The buildings
will all be torn down when the Customhouse is
completed During its erection, the whole of that
must be covered with materials re-
4uired for such an immense building, brought
mostly from distance, which will make it neces-
sary that they should be collected in large quanti-
les in advance, to prevent at anv time suspension
1f the work; and we-hope the city authorities will
give the Government officers every facility in
erecting this magnificent edifce, which viii be the
'hisf ornament Of cur city. p,