Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-04-04
THE NEW CUSTOM HOUSE.

Tng Custom House in this city sprung out
of the policy of disposiug of the surplus in the
treasury, arising ont Of the Tariff Of 1876
The Federal government being subject to large
rents for Custom Houses, Post Offices, and
buildings for the use of the Federal court it
was deemed matter of economy for the gov
ernment TO erect the necessary buildings for the
aae of the varions employees. During the ses-
sion of 1881, an act passed aPproPrinting
various sums for the erection Of various Offices,
throughout the country, and among others, the
sum of SS8, 900, for the erection of govern
inent building at Wheeling As an indispensa-
BILE preliminary, an act had to be obtained, re-
leasing the said property from taxation, and
giving to the Uuited States exclusive jurisdc-
ton of the same. This strongly resisted
by some of the ultraists of the legislature, not
wthstanding the efforts of Thomas ~ Gally and
others, who then represented Ohio county, at
Richmond. The necessary legislation, however,
was obtained, when James PAUL, of this city,
was Il delegate, and the Treasury Department,
then under the control of James Guthrie, OF
KY. authorized the necessary contract to be
made. Various lots were offered to the govern
ment among others, on Fourth Street,
owned by Isaac Colts; another the corner OF
Fourth and Quincy, owned by DR.. James Tan
ner, and another on the corner of Market and
Monroe owned by Moore and Gill; but Captain
Bowman, the Engineer in charge of the construc.
lion bureau Of the Treasury Department, finally,
after strong effort, the part of the competing
parties, determined to accept the present loca-
ton, corner of Market and John streets, at the
price of $2O,5 800. The chief reason which in
duccd Captain Bowman and the Department to
accept of that particular place, was, that the
business of the city seemed to be gradually pro-
crossing towards Centre instead of North
Wheeling; and considered with reference to fu-
ture population, that point, including Richie
town, now called South Wheeling, would be tho
most convenient and central. Some of the
parties, among whom was Mr.. Colts, employed
Mr. Clemens, of this city, to proceed to WASH
-ington, and have the selection annulled Mr.. G.
accordingly made every effort to effect that pur
pose, principally on the ground that the lot Sc
lccted was subject to overflow; that it had been
submerged in 1862; and that, from its position,
no building erected upon it would be orna-
mental as either of the other places offered
After protractcd struggle the Department
affirmed its first choice, and the necessary work
charged with the disbursement of the money
appropriated; James Luke appointed super
intendent; the contracts for the stone work were
awarded to p Schclc & Co; that for the carpen-
ter work to DonnellG Co.; for plastering to JnO.
II. Downs, and the painting, glazing, &C., to
other mechanics in the city.
The passage of the law is mainly que to our
then representative in Congress, the Hon. z.
Kidwell, who was ably assisted in the matter by
statistics furnished by A. ]. Pannell, Surveyor.
Concerning the new building as it now stands
before us finished, it is scarcely worth while
for US to make more than passing MENTION
Its many beauties and conveniences OF construc-
ton aud arrangement are SO patent that to be
admired they need but be seen, and seen they
must be to be fully appreciated The building
itself is constructed of gray free stone, elabOr-
utely wrought, moulded and proportioned in
each aud every block of it 1t occupies sixty
by eighty.iivc feet and is four stories high
The FIRST story and basement is applied exclu-
Siyely TO the uses of the Post Office, and is
most perfectly arranged. The central and large
apartment is used for the delivery of the nails
To this room, on the south side, IS attached the
Post Masters room, where his correspondence
with tho government and the department
throughout the country is conducted and kept
on file. On the north side are two rooms-the
one east is the Cashiers room, where the money,
valuables, and books of the office are kept. The
other, or west room, is intended for the uses of
the Route Agents, who there assert and other.
wise arrange their mails The outside doors
and widow shutters clear around the building are
of cast iron, highly finished The floors of the
whole building, together with the roof, is fire
proof The floors are supported by cast iron
columns, wrought iron girders, and beams with
brick arches buried between, with the launches
Of the arches brought up to the level of the un.
der side of the flooring boards, which are made
of Florida Pine The Halls and vestibules are
inlaid with eneaustck tiles. The boxes and ar.
rangements for speed and surety in delivering
the mails, are, as all can see. most enchantingly
systematized and dyisioned.
On the second floor are six rooms The
south western room is for the private uses of
the Collector, the large east of it is for
the Collectors pnhtc business room, and is
spacious and elegant apartment. The room east