Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-07-25
Important improvements.

TIE L. s. COAST SURVEY OFFICE,
This thoroughly organized scientific branch
Of the public service has been provided with
most inappropriate and inconvenient quarters
up to date. Located on the west side OF New
Jersey avenue, to the south Of the Capitol, the
nam ofnces are occupying a couple of dilapi-
tated dwellings with defective Foundations a,
the brink of Capitol Hill, which are shaking and
cracking under the inf Uence OF our semi-tropi-
cal gales whilst the several divisions are located
IN miscellaneous dwellings of the adjoining
squares, which were temporarily fitted up for
Office purposes as well as circumstances permit
ted cur enterprising fellow citizens, Messrs. a.
and Il. A. Richards, owners of some OF those lat.
ter houses, have with commendable public
spirit. made a proposition to erect on liberal
conditions at their own cost and expense, build
ings that will supply the long felt want. pro-
mote the efficiency of the administration and be
credit to rapidly improving part of the city.
his proposition has been accepted, the plans
OF Adolf Cluss, the architect, have been approved
by both parties last spring, and active building
operations are proceeded with as rapidly As good
work will permit.
The new buildings are situated one square to
The south OF the Capitol, and are bounded, east
and west by New Jersey avenue and South
Capitol street. The difference in the grade Of
the two streets Is such, that exclusive of q sub
cellar, the buildings show five full stories on
South Capitol street, with high terrace wall in
rear which supports the sidewalk of New ,Jer-
sey avenue, whilst on New Jersey avenue only
three stories and an ornamental slate roof, or
total height of 10 feet show above ground. The
a. ea to be occupied by the department is irregu-
lar in shape, but in the average 112 feet front by
leo feet deep, and the buildings are centrally
located
The main building on New Jersey avenue is
:. feet long by ~ feet wide. and constructed
absolutely hre-Proof- Connecting corridors con-
sfructed OF brick work, Il feet wide by 10 feet
long, join the different stories to back building
having front Of IL feet By depth of % feet
This building has hollow outside brick walls,
heavy brick partitions and counter ceiled floors
so each story has proportionate amount of ab-
solute hre-proOf space. The sub-cellar is al
lctted TO coal cellars. boiler room for a steam
heating apparatus of the whole buildings coil
chambers with ample cold air ducts from with
out. and miscellaneous store rooms.
The first full story contains the mathematical
instrument shops, as well As the instrument
shops OF the office of (standard) weights and
measures, rooms for adjusting length measures
and so on. The second story is appropriated for
map rooms records, storage of books and pa
rers, printing press room, drying and bac king
rooms, instrument store rooms. The third OF
main story, which Is three feet above the level
OF New Jersey avenue. contains the main en-
trance, spacious vestibule, the offices of the
assistant in charge, photographic inspector
rooms OF tidal division, disbursing agent, office
OF weights and measures. and principally the
oflces OF Professor Pierce. the superintendent,
from which bird's-eye view OF the city and a
splendid panorama of the Potomac is had. The
iourth and nj th stories are occupied by the com
Eutlng division, drawing division, photographic
division, engraving division and private rooms
of superintendent.
Ample storage room is provided again within
the steep slate roof of the main building. which
has ornamental iron stairs reaching from cellar
to roof. Wide corridors dust shafts elevators
communicating with all the storieu,wash basins
and other modern accommodations are amply
supplied. There are eighty-seyen rooms of diff
1erent sizes above the cellar, having an average
clear height OF twelve feet.
The front on New Jersey avenue consists of
modern ornamental pressed-brick work, with
heavy brown stone trimmings and belt courses
segmental window and door heads, pilasters, and
other projections; main cornice OF galvanized
IRON; slate in tasty patterns, OF red, blue, and
green.
The departments OF photographing and
electrotyPing are accommodated in a detached
building IN the yard, adjoining which is the car
penter shop.
The value of the Improvements will be Si20 .000
and they therefore lead the van in the way OF
the building operations of this dull season
Messrs. Thomas Lewis and j. McCullom are the
contractors for brick work; NJ. G.. Emery X Bro
for cut-stOne work; Oh. EdmOnstOn and Down
ing Br0thersfor carpenters work; Gray n Moves
for iron work: A. X. Shepherd x Brother for
plumbing and heating; Stewart X Fenwick for
plasteriDg; +. Stromberger Tor tin work.