Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-07-17

)WARD NONE; WITH CHART
UNITY, MINNESOTA, 7
NEW YOlsk'S NEW POST OFFICE.
Description of the Nl",,cton,au Cow
Interior ARA mxemcnts u ntl Arcllitcc-
tMrc.
From tho New York Times.
The new post Office in the City Hall
Park is gradually approaching comple-
ton. When finished, this elaborate
structure will present, no doubt, a
splendid appearance. Its probable
shape and size we're for time the
sub ect of much conjecture, but all this
has been set ut rest, the action of the
government in deciding that another
story should be added to the three nj.
ready erected, besides the mansnrd
roof and cupolas, having settled tho
question. This decision is said to I've
IN accordance with the original plan,
having been left in doubt only in view
of insufficient funds at the first.
Toward the close of the last session of
Congress IN appropriation of 81, 500
600 was voted for the work, and
this left the mattar of sufficiency of
funds unquestioned. Prior to that
action of Congress it was generally
understood that the building should
not exceed three stories with attic and
roof, and as it approached it's intended
height the impression then prevailed
that the height would be no fair pro-
portion to the general dimensions of so
large and extensive structure. This
is not to be wondered at when 1t is
observed that the building covers a
space equal in extent to about twenty
one city lots, and has frontage about
equal to forty ordinary city buildings.
Standing as it does with all sides
exposed, it is highly proper that all
sides should be treated in the same
style Of architecture. One side is as
exposed as the other, and because one
elevation is of equal Importance with
the rest, tho decoration every
where is the same. On Broadway tie
frontage extends $40 feet, on Park row
32O feet; tue north side, looking toward
the City Hall, is 200 feet, and tic south
front measures 100 feet, the entire
extent of frontage being $50 feet, In
tue construction of the building the
onl y materials used are granite, iron.
brick and glass, and it will be in conse-
luence rs nearly fire proof rs possible,
The floors are of brick arches Supported
by iron beams, according to method
of Mr.. w. G. Steinmetz, the superin-
tending engineer. The impression
conveyed by an inspection of the
building IN it's present condition is one
OF solid and massive strength. Its
bold outlines are forced upon the eye,
and its future magnificence is we'll
Swallowed forth. The land on which
the building stands is almost tri:.n-
gle, fact which rendered the archi-
tectural labor greater than it would
have proved otherwise. The entire
space of nearly an acre and
q quarter which tho build
ing covers is unbroken by interior
walls III the cellar, basement and first
floor, the upper stories being supported
on those floors by 122 cast iron pillars
Tor each floor, each pillar being two
and half inches thick and eighteen
inches in diameter. Everything has
been studied with a view to STRENGTH
and endurance. The roof will he of
copper, with two corrugations in each
sheet, to make allowance for the effect
of heat and cold in expanding or con-
, tracing it, AMI fire proof shutters will
protect each window. The building.
as has been finally decided, will consist
of four stories, with cellar. basement.
Mansard roof, and attics. The height
OF the cellar will be IL feet in thec]ear
OF the basement II feet; first story, 80
feet second story, 2G feet third story,
~ feet . inches; fourth, Is feet inch
es; and attics 10 feet-being altogether
little over 100 feet from the lowest
portion of the cornice to the ground.
The cupolas will, of course, tower mn
considerable height on either end.
All the postotfice business will be trans
acted on the three lower floors, and for
this space four ventilating shafts have
been provided, with m inside
area OF fifty feet each to the bottom.
They run to little way above the roof
from the cellar, and smoke-pipe from
the furnaces will be run in the centre
of each, so that by heating the air a
constant upward current may be Great
ed. They are connected ut the bottom
with foul air characteristics they are
telmed-into which flles run from the
ground floor and tue floor below. From
openings at the bottom in the hollow
cast iron pillars which support the
whole interior Of the building, these
tiues are made to run so that the foul
air is drawn down from the bottom o:
each room, by the upward current
which the heat creates in the ventiiat-
ing shaft, into the foul air chambers,
and from thence into the ventilating
shafts. In the upper stories, in which
will be located the United States
courts, and the marshala' and commits
sloners' offices, additional fues are
provided, which terminate in ridge
openings at the angle of the pitch of
the Mansard roof, and the centre of
the water shed. They have covers
which can he arranged so as to make O
draft, no matter what way the wind
may blow. 1t will thus be seen that
the matter of ventilation, a very i'm
portant one in such a building, where
much OF the work must be done by gas
light, and where so many are to he
employed, has been amply considered.
1t is believed that tho plan is among
the most perfect yet in use. The prin-
ciple was first applied in wing of the
Treasury Department ut Washington,
under the direction of A. b. Mullet,
the architect of the new postoflice and
general superintendent of all new gov
eminent buildings. Heat will he fur.
nished in cold weather by steam coils
supplied from the boilers appertaining
to the elevator engines. Ten of those
elevators will he used for the mail
department exclusively. and there will
he at the south end fourlargc elevators
for general use. Those in the mail dc
partmcnt will he smaller, of the tcle-
scope style, and worked by hydraulic
pressure from the basement to the
entrance floor.
On the fourth story the work now
goes on we'll. Tho interior wallis arc
raised to nearly the required height,
and it is expected that the building
will DO ready for the roof 10y October.
If nothing interferes to prevent the
present progress OF the work, the roof
will be on before the end of the winter.