Washington sentinel., 1854-05-27
Now, let us see what Mr.. Corwin said in re-
ference to Mobile at that time:

iSkcuCc W IuOuilc dt tHhL tliiits
aMoBnE-The limit liked by Congress for this
building and site is 100000, besides the sale of
the old custom-house. The department, however,
has selected the site Of the former custom-house
and bought additional ground adjoining, at q cost
OF 81, 500 On account of the high prices Of labor
and materials in that quarter, however, the de-
partment will not be able 10 erect suitable build
ing for the balance of the appropriation and there
lore no plan has YET been adopted. or progress
made in the structure. The department would
respectfully recommend an additional apprOpri0-
ton Of 500 900, so that SUITABLE BUILDING could
BE- erected 10 accommodate The citsfom-honse post Of
hee. and other public offices fthe Uaasd Siates"
Two hundred thousand dollars is all Mr..
Corwin asked to erect suitable building for
custom-house, post office, &c., at Mobile. /
cannot understand how it is that contract
was not made for the 100000 appropriated by
Congress long ago, instead of allowing the
matter to remain open. But so it is, and
hence the application to Congress for a further
appropriation of $65,0O0. How much was re-
allied from the sale of the old custom-house
does not appear in any of the documents that
have seen If this appropriation shall be
made, they will have received $265, 900 directly
from the treasury, besides the sum that the old
custom-house may have sold for.
MIR. PHILLIPS, (interrupting.) The addi-
tional amount, if you chose to call it so, asked
for at Mobile, is to provide not only for cls-
tom-house, but for the accommodation of the
circuit and district courts of the United States
and the post Office, offices for which the govern
ment has been paying heretofore rent to the
amount of four or FIVE thousand dollars per an
mum.
In reference to the additional amount now
asked for, it stands in this position, and does
not justify the gentleman in charging the Off
GERS of the government with exceeding the law
which ought to regulate their conduct Con-
tracts have been made for the amount of the
appropriation, and the Secretary of the Treas.
ury, looking to the fact that to construct
building such as would make the government
archives and the government property entirely
secure, could not be accomplished forthe amount
already appropriated, has said to Congress that
with an additional appropriation of $65,000
secure. But if Congress does not choose to
grant that, no contract has been made for it,
and the contracts would be completed under the
appropriation made heretofore. Now, would
ask the gentleman from Virginia-in whose
judgment | have great confdence-wh whether,
looking to the vast number of employees of the
government required at this point, which is the
third exporting city cf the Union, the whole
amount asked for $265, 900 is an unreasonable
or inappropriate amount for such purpose
Mr.. LETCHER. Inthe first place the clause
which read from Mr.. Corwins report states
that this appropriation of 100000 was to
erect "a suitable building" "to accommodate
the custom-house, post Office, and other public
offices of the United States"
But my friend from Alabama, Mr.. PHIL
LIPS, says that this sum is not sufficient to
put up the custom-house in such style as it
ought to be built in the third city of the Union.
Mr.. PHILLIPS. To make it freproof
Mr.. LETCHER. Let us see what Mr.. Cor.
win says about it. The following extract in
regard to the mode Of erecting custom houses,
will be found in the same document from
which the previous extract has been taken,
and shows that he looked to the construction of
f,spoof buildings.
"These cities are increasing so rapidly that
what might be considered sufficient accommoda
lions for the above purposes at this time, will pro-
baby be entirely inadequate in the course of
very few years, and will then
quire either 10 be extended or entirely rebuilt. 1t
should also be an indispensable requisite in all
public buildings 10 be hereafter erected, that they
should be perfectly fre-proot both from the interior
and exterior and it is but right and proper that
such structures should be not only well and sub
stantialy built, but should, within reasonable
limits, be finished IN handsome and ornamental
manney, both inside and out. That all these re-
quistes cannot be obtained in building of The
necessary size, the cost of which is limited 10 fifty
thousand dollars, is very apparent. That limit
would oblge the department to the use of brick as
a material, and TO adopt plans which, though
called fire-proof, are not so completely such
should be the case with all public structures.
Buildings for The abore purpose, in eveyy suitable
and proper, and acith accommodations not only snG
ce,,t for the present, bit for the probable future
acants of'the government for long period, can be
erected and Furnished tor Seventyfoe thousand dol
lars; and 1t is earnestly recommended that such
appropriations should be made. An
other reason for granting this sum Isl that it
would prevent what might be considered as an
distinction between these two cities
and those Of Cincinnati and ST. Louis, where
larger amount has been appropriated"
This document contains list of custom
houses, beginning with that of Bangor, Maine,
and closing with Norfolk and Mr.. Corwin states
in making his recommendations, that
he is looking not only to the present, but to the
future wants of the country in connection with
of this kind. l understand from
my friend from Alabama Mr. Phillips that
there are contracts now to make that custom
house fre-proof If you will 60 back to the
economical days of our predecessors, you will
find that custom-houses did not cost tithe of
lhe money which is laid out for their erection
now. Will tell you Wnat causes the ulHerence, |
he object now is to beautify and adorn the |
cities where they are erected, to raise the price
IF property by selecting particular locations,
hus promoting the private interests of individ
,als In old times the locations were selected |
Ind the houses built with reference to the ac-
Of the government and the pro-
notion of its interests and convenience.
Mr.. PHILLIPS. The case of Mobile is the
weakest one you have cited to support your ar
,ument
Mr.. LETCHER. God help the strongest
hen. Laughter.
Then comes the case Of Louisville, /" for COM
,leting the custom-house at Louisville, Ken
ucky, $4,000" Congress have already appro-
,riated $l78,745. They want $4,000 more.
The whole amount Of revenue collected there
n 1853 was $48,307 67, at an expense of
s2,397 80.
Let us see what was said at the last session
# Congress upon this subject. Ny friend from
Alabama will perhaps think this is one of the
trongest cases:
"Mr. PRESTON moved TO add after the 7th,
th and 9th lines the following words for proceed
ng with the construction Of the custom-house at
ouisvilIe Kentucky SS7 7a5fa t@stt &.sstss