National Republican., 1873-12-02

and brick arches, and the remaining floors
and the roof of timber construction. The
appropriation Ia In this case sufficient, there
Delne, ~ my opinion, no necessity for max
nv buildings OF this class nro-proof.
INC proposed new public building at Port
huron, Mich, has been commenced. Con-
rionccd In obtaining suitable material. But
little progress has beeu made with the work,
and no decision has been reached in regard
TO the material Of which the building viii be
constructed. Il will be ll3 feet by fso feet.
two stories In height, with an attic and base,
ment, and will have 1ne cupola, from which
tained.
The alterations In the custom-house ut Bos-
ton, Mass which were authorized during the
last session OF Congress, have BEEN COM
meuccd, and arc now well advanced toward
completion. The Improvement has been even
greater than was anticipated, and has satis-
fed me that the building can be made, by I'D
dltional changes, for which I have prepared
plans, reasonably comfortable and conve-
nient structure. Tho heating Is very imper-
feet and there 10 practically no ventilation
whatever. These defects shodld also bc
remedied. l strongly recommend that the
appropriations necessary TO complete tho i'm
: proyements on this building be obtained.
IL has been found necessary TO remodel tho
post Office and custom-housc building at
! commodations Immediately necessary. Tho
: improvements are well advanced, and will,
when completed, afford considerable relief,
and greatly increase and improve the accom-
modations Of the building. The building is,
! however, far too small, and as tho various
} branches Of public business In that city are
increasing very rapidly, strongly recon-
, mend that an appropriation be obtained for
commencing tho new building at an carly
date.
, The improvement and repairs Of the public
, building at Toledo, Ohio, havo boon com
mcncodi the upper story has boon ntted for
the uss OF tho United States District Courts,
c which now hold sessions IN that city. Tho
Increasing business Of tho post Office has rem
Z dcred II necessary to assign to its use tho en-
l. tire basement, and to remove therefrom tho
y. iurnac,s. tuel-rooms and closets, and to erect
le suitable building for the latter purposes.
l. The building will be placed In thorough
r repair and the entiro space utilized. II is,
u however, entirely too small and should bo
20 extended or new one erected at an early
r, datc-thc latter being, In my opinion, tho
s. more desirable plan.
ne The courthouse at Baltimore, Nd, has
" been repaired and the arrangement Of tho in
n terior and the ventilation are being improved.
Sc Tho inconyeuicnt and unsightly Enclosed
at stairway and portico on the Fayette-strcet
ng front, and the equally unsuitable portico on
re- the North-street front, have been removed,
nc and hne portico erected with tho old mate
ire rial on the latter 'front.' which has greatly i'm
"a proved Its appearance aud added 10 tue con-
lat venlencc Of tho building.
he desire to call attention to the fact that
In tho appropriations for the erection Of the
ne proposed new public buildings at Nashville,
ch Tenn, Atlanta, Ga, Fall River, Mass, Cow
ington, Ky, Evansville, Ind. Little Rock,
ln- Ark, Utica, N. Y, and Jersey City, N. j.,
be are not sufficient, and that 1t Is impossible TO
er, comply with the restrictions on their cost,
NIT except by erecting buildings inadequate In
me size and unsuitable for the purposes Intended
ted The cost OF buildings cannot be reduced be-
nas low the actual market value Of the material
re- and labor necessary TO furnish the required
ro- aeeommodaIions; and i appears 20 me unjust
to hold the Department responsible for the
rn, cost OF public buildings when the limitations
WI on their cost are fixed without proper in
nj, formation OF the necessities Of the case,
nd and In advance Of the preparation
,ry OF estimates, or when the cost has
yer been restricted to sum much less than the
DC. estimates submitted therefor, which have
eet been prepared after n careful investigation
on OF the necessities Of the public service, tho
eet As an illustration, tie limitation on the cost
we oil the proposed building at Nashville, Tenn,
nd Is less than one half OF the lowest estimate
all that could justly be made for any building
oe that would answer tue purpose, and but little
Id more than one third Of the cost Of such q
cd, building as should be erected In that city.
'en An appropriation was first made for this
the building In the year 1856, but no action was
Bile taken beyond the purchase Of q lot, which
the location, that 1t was exchanged In 1870 for q
en, large aud desirable piece of property, which
'ry' the Government now owns. / recommend
ub. that authority be obtained to expcnd u rca
"a be made for the commencement Of this ncces
ime sary and very important structure. The cos
'ure OF the public building at Evansville, Indiana
'uly including tho site, Is limited to $500 900
'nsr but 1t has been found impossible :,
OBJ In addition TO u considerable sum which va
ton contributed by the citizens OF that place e
make up the deficiency. Only Sl00, ,00
INC therefore remains for the building, or abou
for one third Of the amount required. In Fal
hre- River, Mass, the cost Of the proposed build
ght, ing and site Is limited TO 100000. After III
used most careful examination and protracte
hnd negotiations, II was found impossible to pul
tsa chase "a site In any way suitable for less tina
tors Sl03, 200. l believe that an additions
and amount Of land should be purchased, aud al
,ex- satisfied that suitable building cannot |
TOM erected for less than double the availab
my appropriation. The appropriations for th
est- buildings ut the other cities equally inal
tho equate and must bo increased. The exp,
u TIE rience Of the Department has shown that,
CITY far from saving being effected by the ere
ling, tion OF small and unsuitable bun n.iDgs, Il
8 en-. result on the contrary Is waste.
lts OF On entering upon tue duties Of this Office
[or found IL In charge Of one hundred and tweni
ltion buildings, exclusive Of temporary structure
urts, OF these, eighty-eight only had been crecte
> thc / Uy tue tONcfumcut Us permanent building
ap- OF these, twelve, costing s74s .0l, hayin
10 TO been found unsuitable, have been sold Il
rails 1901, 1886 10. Authority has been granted Il
hieh the sale of four others for the same reason
,uld, three of these costing SSeS GIL o. have bee
,ome offered ut public auction but not sold, Il
same highest bid amounting to but e55, ,GGO.
cat tho remaining seyenty-two buildings, eigl
de- have been condemned as entirely inadcqul
, act aud unsuitable, aud the erection Of new on
6 the authorized in their stead. Five others ha,
As hean rOndefnned bul nrayiainu has
ction been made for replacing them. II will ther
~ to fore be seen that out Of eighty-eight bull
ither Jugs that have cost S27, 7il, 32S SO, twent
ores nine costing 80 SEQ 0Gl. AZ have been alreut
Q va condemned Us unsuitable for the Cover
Il the ment. This exhibit, bad as 1t IL, does n
surcr fully state the facts of the case, as of Il
other remaining hlty-nine buildings not lcss thu
IL Is dve have been extended and thirteen I
Il be modelled, and at an early date ak othc
same must be extended, two remodeed, and q
office replaced by other structupes, showing III
ltions out Of eighty-eght buildings erected witho
stoms proper regard to the necessities Of /
IT the public service, as previously explainG
,urcr. but thirty-three could be considered
mend any sense Of the word permanent and sui
soon BILE structures. OF these large number
Treas In towns Of comparatively little importan
ID the Indeed, Of the buildings erected or co
Q pur- menced by the Government In tue ten prin
Iggest pal cities of the United States prior 10 is
N the but four can be considered Of pcrinan,
tlgatc value, namely The custom.house at Bost
cree | Mass, the treasury building at New Y o
not the courthouse at Baltimore, Nd, and
custom-house at New Orleans La; q sta
pub ment which appears to me to show cone
il is sively the impolicy of erecting buildll
COM | without taking into consideration the nee
h the slties of the future or the necessities OF
cd by public service. lwould, therefore, rcspC
July fully suggest that In cases whore IL Il not c,
o pro- sidered desirable to appropriate the amol
or the | necessary to erect suitable and perman
delay buildings, 1t would DO more advantageous
year, defer action and rent temporary accommo
le, hut tons until such time rs tho finances of
aterial Government may warrant the appropriate
nc be, | Of the necessary amount.
nd, Is, The marlue hospital at New Orleans, l.
le OK. has been offered three times at public a
.trcme ton without obtaining q reasonable Of
therefor. II Is at present partially occup
0 pub by the city of New Orleans Us n hospita!
base | Its Insane and as an asylum for Its paupe
pres- and ia In ia present condition, a Disgrace