The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-12
THE NEW POST OFFICE.
Suspension Of the Work Feared and the Causes
Of Such Probable suspsnsion-Ths Appro-
priations That Have Been Mads
and How E1pended-Pressnt
Condition Of the Work

Our new Post ONCE Building which at the com.
mencement OF It's construction, gave such brilliant
promise OF speedy completion, or, rather, OF unin-
teTupted vigorous prosecution OF the work until
nnished seems likely to meet with an eYectuai ostop-
pei 10 its progress. colossal afair as 1t s approx
mating In Its gigantic proportions to the stupendoua
structures OF ancient Rome, 1t not being
possible TO whistle up the granite for II
after the manner OF Radovch 4 Son. Three veara
was the least time allowed for its comp,etIon but an
things are working this time premises to run
along through successive series Of years
consuming as much time as building the Pyramids
or the Church Of ST. Peters. The cause OF the DELAY
does not rest with the management here, but IA
traccable to the powers that ben in our national
capital. The whole history Of the affair, from tina
beginning or the work up 20 the present chaotic
comminglng OF granite piers, brick mortar, beams,
derricks, steam engines and dirt to be seen In the
lawn angle OF the old City Hall Park briefly told.
Upon
THE FIRST APPROPRIATION
the work OF cutting down trees and excavatng pre-.
limnary 10 laying the foundation was begun on the
10th OF last August This appropriation. a. viii
be remembered, was $780, 900. Gangs OF laborers
employed day and night were set to work.
There were no less than 1850 men on the pay rolls
The work was pushed forward with the utmost
vigor 1t seemed wholly free from jobbing. There
were no supervisors or aldermen to lengthen II out
and extract fat pIckings. Our people induldged In
the catering JUNCTION that tho work would be prose-
cuted with the same untirng energy and completed
at the time specified Suddenly there cames
HITCH IN THE WORK.
The original appropriation was becoming ex'
hausted. Congress was slow In responding to the ap
plication for another appropriation The result was
that the force OF workmen had to be reduced
until 10 men comprise the laboring force:
appropriation last December. But this august body
did not, neither did they IN January or February or
along al frighifuly but necessarily tardy pace. the
Idcs OF March succeeded by April and then Con-
gress concluded TO do something 1t did SO through
APPROPRIATIONS WITH LIMITING PRogIso.
Tho best way to make this provisery appropriation
clear and especially II Is BRIEF Is TO give tie fol-
lowing extract from 1t which tells the whole story
Ss until e s oE be
tbs se Dg S IN 81 Or. the InS S 70 =:
General All sisss arscon shall be entered
"io w na ns s nan
for this except for ias e and the
shall DO deemed unlawful.
incidentally to the above It may as well be hore
stated that he cause OF It being passed in tnis
LITTLE UNPLEAsASrNEss
before the passage between Mr.. Muilett, the super
Wslng architect. and General Farnsworth, chairman
Of the Post once Committee. II Is easy to see the
= RESULT OF THIS PROvlsO.
The money Appropriated In connection with 1t 10
now nearly exhausted, and the work Is likely to come
70 II has
ized to make contracts for granite and ironwok In
q e sum Tas alone mas re-
finds hmslf restricted IN his granite and iron con-
tracts. me work must speedily come to stand.
still unless Congress either repeats or mobiles this
proviso ~ as to fully meet the exigencies VI the
| e"'~' n,vc uoc,c an ~r,r N.Y.
II Congress- does nothing In the few days remain
ing beIoIb adjournment tho Secretary OF the Trea-
completing the building. As only 100000.
including the sums already expended, can BE-
allowed Ior furnishing there is scarcely any IKE:
llho0d o. any one putting In bid. for 1t u well
known ~ those who know anything about building
and thecost Of material ind labor that 1t win cost
ing upon the plan selected. Should, however, any
bids beput in, there will be delay Of sixty days
Be Calculated tSa. no Contractor Could
get to york before next spring. and another fact,
or 81 es To- u the wo At pr
sent Stage, and complete Il for the residue OF ne
that he ss-n and T
dilemma Is that no contract can be made IN execse
OF the appropriation as arealy specified TIE great
| question now Is
that will ereciualy remove all the present dinicnl
ruptedi1 and successfully to is close. Tue remedy
los Will Congress- and simply consists, as we naN
already1ntmated In repeating OF properly bl0FtuT
| ing the browse enactment given above 1t u to b.
hoped that Congress win mot fail to do Its duty AND
| who inow the great need to our Cit
| OF tie speedy completion OF this new
POST Office building win be wide awsk
aud kednly alert the subject 70 see that IL not
the hurried multiplicity OF other business crowdin
upon tie session at is close given the go-by. An
| this brings us to the
| PRESENT CONDITION OF THE WORK.
In the eleven months since the beginning vi the wol
ON the new Post Office a large amount oil work M
| haon and wh MT & satisfactory
the able direction OF Mr. Hurlburd the superintendent
and M J. T. smith. the builder II has been W
done, nothing sighted, no humbug or botch wor
but done In a thoroughly solid and substantial wa
SO az TO give building as lasting as the eser9
granite Itself. All the endorsement plcrs twenl
| eight Ia number. are laid and completed, ana
sill course above the sidewalk Is now BEL
laid. The iron work mas commenced
the columns and floors OF tho baseme
and subbascment. Only about eight I'M
sand yards OF excavation remain TO he do
| The present force OF workmen Is l40 men. !
IIurlburd says he can keep this force at work I'M
days longer on the present appropriation, but
] beyond this time.