The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-04-05
THE NEW CUSTOMEOUSE.
Il SPLENDID ARCHITECTURAL ORNA.
MENT TO CHARLESTON.

Progress of the Work-An Elaborate
Design for the Entrance-Improve-
ments to the Grounds.
q. Oakshott,the United States superintendent
of construction, the work upon the new Gus
tomhouse steadily advances towards COM
pletion. The notifications Of the original de.
sign of the building have already been de.
scrlbed In The NEWS, and 1t now remains TO
notice the plans ior embelshing the grounds
around the building, which have been recent
ly decided upon. The open space between
East Bay street and the west portlco of The
building will be converted Into tesselated
stone terrace or platform, five feet high, fifty
four feet wide, and sIxly-iour feet deep. The
north and south sides Of The terrace will
be composed Of solid granite blocks, panelled
off into sections of slx feet In length.
On the west side, on street front OF
the terrace, there will be a flight of seven
stone steps, which will afford easy access to
the floor or upper surface. The floor Of the
terrace will consist of alternate squares oil
New York blue. .stone and red Seneca tiles,
resting upon layer of concrete supported by
brick arches. The terrace will be surrounded
on all sides, except that next to the building,
by granite blocking course, or wall, five feet
high, which will be provided with an opening
on the front to allow ingress and egress. On
each of the two outer angles Of the terrace
will be large ornamental lamp, upon an iron
post set In rouRd granite pedestal, of ornate
design, fifteen feet high by two feet In diam.
eter. At each OF the inner angles will bs q
similar lamp, resting upon half pedestal oi
the same heigh: and design as the outer pedes'
tails. From the east end of the terrace flight
of granite steps will rise to the floor oi
the porllco. This terrace will give the en-
trance to the building an appearance very
similar to that OF the Treasury building al
Washington. The work upon the terrace has
been already commenced In the excavations
for the base of the arches supporting the floor,
and the driving of the piles necessary to
secure arm foundation. Between the front
of the terrace and the wooden fenc, now
standing On East Bay will be an unoccupied
space eighteen feet wide, which will be added
into the sidewalk of the street, which Is to be
paw. d with smooth flag stones, and will make
spacious promenade, nearly forty feet Wide,
extending along the entire west front of the
Customhouse grounds. The Market street
sidewalk will remain at its presen width, ten
feet The present wooden fence will bepulled
down and replaced by highly ornamental
ron fence, with spherical, spear headed rails
The fence will rest upon foundation of stone
masonry, and will be divided of into sections
nine feet long by series Of granite posts, six
and half feet high and two feet square.
The grounds on the east or water front oi
the building will be evenly graded in gentle
inclination to the waters edge, from where
two long piers will run Into the stream, and 6
handsome boat house ls to be built at the
head of the dock formed by these two piers.
The work on the eastern portico OF the
building Is 30 far advanced that that feature
OF the building Is now 10 something like def
Mite shape. The columns have been put up
and the entablature aud the pedlment are
now approaching completion. This portlcc
will be In all respects like the western one
except that 1t will have no terrace before It,
but will terminate in long, unoroken flight
of steps.
The north and south sides of the building
are finished, with the exception of the putting
on of The Hllet or crownlng course of the
cornIce. The roof of the building will be
nItched In form, consisting OF an iron frame
of rafters and purllns eight Inches square
covered with eighteen by tWenty.four inch
blue slate, 90 that 1. will be perfectly fire
proof. The root has been contracted for by
Henvelman & Haven, architectural Iron
workers of New York City, at cost of q little
more than $4,000. The centre OF the ROOT
will be surmounted by large iron dome, the
design of which has not yet been determined