The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-04-25
VOLUME Vino. 42.
The New Custom House in Charleston.

The Charleston Republican sketches the his
tory and progress of the new Custom House in
that city as follows.
One of the most prominent landmarks that
strike the eve of the marine voyager, on enter
ing our beautiful harbor, after passing the ia
nous ruins OF Sumter, is the costly pile OF mars
BILE known as the New Custom House. A good
deal of time and great amount of money has
been wasted in its construction, and yet little
improvement was for length Of time percep.
tible.. The rumors as to its probable compile
ton are various, and the time required to ac-
complish the object is placed at periods ranging
from five to fifty years. Under these circum.
stances, believing that an accurate description
would be edifying to our readers, we have ta-
ken the trouble to collect the following facts.
The site whereupon the Custom House Is sitti..
ated was formerly known as Fitzsimmons'
wharves, and in lS49 was purchased by the
United States government.
In 1850, Col. E. B. White received the ap.
pointment as superintendent, and, under his
continued until the late war arrested its prog
ress. The foundation consists of seven thou
sand thirty feet spiles, on which rests heavy
LAYER of grillage; then follows thickness of
eighteen inches of concrete, on which rests
number of inverted arches, built of brick, and
about ten feet in height. The marble used for
the upper portion was taken from the quarrles
at Hastings, N. Y, and the granite for the base
was extracted from the quarries at Dix Island,
Me. In March, 1867, Congress appropriated
$4,000 for the preservation of the building,
and to provide for temporary accommodation
for government officials. These accommoda-
tions were completed under the directions OF
the late Collector, DR.. A. G. Mackey, and in
February, 1868, the building was occupied by
custom house and internal revenue officials, and
the United States Treasurer.
Matters then remained in stata quo until
May, 1870, when T. II. Oakshott, Esq, one e
the most experienced superintendent in this
country, assumed the superintendency and re-
sumed operations. w. R. Heron, Esq, for
many years past connected with the construc'
ton of the building, was selected by him as
his assistant. The resumption of work, how.
ever was no slight undertaking. Most OF the
material was more or less injured, and 1t re-
ouired all the ingenuity Of the superintendent
to bring it into use. For this work of economy,
Mr.. Oaksbott received the highest encomiums
from the chief architect of the United States,
A. B. Mullett, ESQ.,, in a report to the treasury.
To add to the difficulties, the quarries at Hast
ings had filled up, aad it became necessary to
get marble elsewhere to match the article ai.
ready used. This obstacle was, however. Of
less magnitude than anticipated, for the Tucka.
hoo quarries, in New jersey, furnish an abun.
dance of like marble, and at less cost than
the Hastings quarries did.
Mr.. Mullett also thought it necessary 70
change the original design; the north and
south porticoes have been discarded and the
walls of the four re-entering angles will be
brought out to one-half instead of three quar-.
ter columns, thereby bringing the sides out
more prominently and reducing the heavy
overhanging of the sofit cornice, on the exte-
rior. The pilasters on the north and south
will be replaced by half columns, similar to
the angles These changes, it is thought, will
reduce the cost over 100000, and at the same
time give the building an appearance more in
accord with the most improved style of archi,
lecture. 1t is planned after the Romance
rinthian style, and when finished will surpass
in beauty every public building in the South.
The yard will be handsomely graded and sur.
rounded with an iron railing and stone posts,
and splendidly modelled boat house will be
placed at the head of the Custom House wharf,
with stairs for a boat landing Mr.. Oakshott
speaks in the highest terms of his assistants,
and also speaks confidently of completing his
labors in the latter part of 1874