New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-22
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
ATI,I1,IJsr AND DESCRIPTION.

ARE AND WHAT THEY COST-IhtH OoNNiA'''
THOSE UNFINISHED AND THOSE fRo'ECiho-
Posr-orFIcEs, COURT-nOUsES cusToM-HoUsEs'
MINIS sTOREHOUSES, AND HOcIIi hS-'AO4' vi
INTEREST TO TAX-PAYERs
tvpoN Az occ IsIoYAL sPONDENT OF TIE TRiBuNE
. WASHINGTON Nov. 1S.-It is not the pur-
ose Of this article to discuss whether II is wise Tor Che
Government TO erect buildings for the accommodation
~ ia officers m different parts OF the country, palueu
larry in cities OF less than 100 inhabitants or whether
n ia better that suitable buildings should be rened ex-
cont IN the large cities The policy Of Congress- during
the past two years. has been very liberal one ana
large sums were appropriated for handsome buildings In
several small places where it would appear that tho
needs Of the Government did not demand them. Few
readers OF newspapers aware OF the number and
value OF our public buildings, post-oices custom
houses mInts. court-houses marine hospitals store
houses &C. and e is a subject which should be OF inter
q. TO every citizen. Below will be found complete ae-
count of every public buding in the country except
tie Capitol and tie Executive Departments, which need
no description. The facts have been gath
cred from personal examination in many cases,
and from public Offices, public records, printed re-
ports and other complete account OF THESE
buildings was before printed Many OF the taots
were obtained from conversations with MI Mulet'' the
saperysng Architect OF the Treasury Department. VINO
will oppose. in his annual report the pohcy OF erecting
Government buildings in small places.
Tur new PosT-OFFICE AT NEw-IoRR
Tho most costly and important building now being
erected By Treasury Department outside OF the DIS
t OF Columbia though not the largest, the exception
being nj Chicago is the NewYork Post-Oee aud Court
house udinr at tho lower end OF the City Hall Park
Tho site for this building originally presented to the
United states by a vote OF the Common Council and
Aldermen OF the City Of New-YUTk The ordnance was
not however approved by the Mayor the CITY sonetor
having decided that the city had under ITS charter no
authority to give the site 20 the Government TheSe
objections were overcome By a sale to the Government
Of the site for the nominal OF s5O the and DeihR
valued at 81 10000 Mr.. A. T. Stewart on one occasion
after the purchase offered the Government S2,O0NcV
tort.
Tho cost Of the building was originally limited TO
Ico9O0 The amount was however, entirely made
,uac that the limitation repealed and the cost OF
fine bUUdn- fixed by the act OF March 3, 1871 at 100000
above tho sill course above the level OF the man
no1r M limitation placed upon the cost OF the
work below that point which included the foundation
the cellar. ana the basement story the nature OF the
soil ard the pcculiarnes OF The work precudnS any
rarefal estimate Of it's cost Tho OF that portion has
been up 10 the present time s5)00ol The eXeaVa-
ton necessary order 10 obtain foundation was -
iee below the sidewalk and the area Of the excavation
vas 5000 icct, or nearly l. acres
The excess OF cost according 70 the approved plans
above the limit fixed by law has been S7lso2O 49, which
j. thus explained:
I'll, wages OF sone.cutters having been increased 80
cent psr diem, necessarily increased the cost Of the
work aud there resulted according to the payrolls an
additional expense OF $143OOO The eighthour law hav
5rga the mean time into operation, diminished tho
amount Of labor over 20 per cent as shown by the
monthly returns OF the and has increased the cost
20 S7JO cargo OF cut inyoiced at $4,000 was
lost: tie Government paying no insurance OF course
was RESPONSIBLE for the The actual rise in the
price % conner has amounted TO sl9O making total
ofSIl5 SHOW ing tina; had there been change in the
prices and material the building would 1t is
claimed have been completed according 70 the approved
plns Tor 0J4 n below the amount Of the estimate
The original plan contemplated roof with an iron
frame, bu, not strictly ireprOot There we're in addi-
ton no Aoproof shutters the doors and windows, nor
furoot trimmings the same. The disastrous fires at
Chicago Boston induced The Department to modify
The plans so as 90 make the building absolutely fire
Jrpof and che Of the business in the money
order registered letter. and other financial branches OF
the Post OiCc Department made largely Increased ac-
comnodatO necessary, and 1t was found that TINS de-
Ygrtmcnt would occupy nearly the entire sec
uud story. This compelled the architect TO
aid another story and passenger elevator to
the building These changes and notifications have
c-cuty Increased the fthe building and will make
is n,a very nearly 100000 The Supervising
/.cli'cc; ays thai should unforeseen circumstances
occur she roof VIII be completed and the building in
fOsG daring the present season. and be occupied by the
IustCHee early next Summer, to be entirely completed
lc:oro January. 1915 The building $4,000 feet Of
ri0.nd W level OF the sidewalk and occupies 05O00
csc ce o. space The New-York County Court building,
erected a'o an the City Han Park. covers $4,000 super
It.lfyt OF ground and contains 1850 900 cubic feet 1t
h.. aIaad. cost S3.O)),OO The Post-Ohce build
i-.,4na respects far more elaborate and costly build
i-. a. s hr--proof far granite building eau be
d. te .o all H. constructed that while its exterior
i.lt te damaged in a general conhagraton, the In
tior o. tic building and its contents would remain
,1ialree1 TIE Courthouse the contrary affords no
er protection to its contents than thar given by any
o.her non-comOusuble building. 1t will be seen that
&c N,g-Yor Courthouse costs s. II per cubic foot
while The PJsOce cost 85i cents per cubicfoot, and has
been erected less than oneourth OF the time, and will
lave been erccted in five and onehah years. while the
foundation % the former laid in 1861, and yet
shows signs Of completion.
The style OF the POstOce building steal rennais
sance ssed and treated in the French method 1t is
four stories in hi ht with French roof and will be l03
feet t. the top OF the cornicc 123 feet TO the top OF
The attic story feet to the top OF the main DOME and
oi top Of the tholus the southwest front
Of the building and built OF granite from the quarres
Mt DIX Island. Moine-the same material as that used
~ the Treasury building, Washington
OTHER BUILDINGS IN NETWORK CITY.
The present POst-Once in New-York City was formerly
used as a Reformed Dutch Church, and purchased
from that community 1860 In order to 1T it for the
wants OF tho P0st-OHce the sum or $4,000 was
expended upon the building in that year. AS
the building was. however, not constructed for
post-ofiiee purposes, it was impossible 10 make 1t
convenient or at all suitable for that branch OF
the public service. The building has cost the Govern
repairs suee the date Of its purchase an aver
age OF $1,000 per anDum
Sae present Custom-hcuse originally erected as
Merchants Exchange by Isaiah Rogers, but the great
building ruined the company that owned It,
ana II rented by Secretary Chase, with the privl
ege Of purchasing siOJoOOO The Government agaled
oGer and purchased the property for the summarized
on April % 1865.
The Assay ONCE, which was formerly occupied by the
Bank OF Commerce and the Bank the state New