National Republican., 1873-12-02

to say no prospect, though II will undoubt-
cdly be completed carly noxt spring Every
effort has been made 10 haston It's progress,
aud can offer no other excuse for the fall.
ure than the embarrassment, confusion and
delays that have followed the great fire. Tho
building covers ono half of the block borderod
by Deyonshlre, Congress, Milk and Water
streets; the remainder was occupied by
buildings that were destroyed BY tho arc
which Injured tho granite work Of the build.
Ing in close proximity, and In direct contact
with the flames to the amount OF slOoM.
The streets adjoining were very narrow, MIX
street being but thirty eight feet and Water |
street thirty-nlne feet In width. No ma
tcrial damage was, however, sustained BY tnc |
destruction Of the buildings on the opposite
that had IL been surrounded by streets OF the |
ordinary wid.h II wouii have suffered no |
damage whatever. As II was IL proved 10 De |
the only building that presented an impassa.
BILE barrier to the nrc, and undoubtedly saved |
millions Of dollars TO tho city OF Boston.
In this connection II may be proper to re.
mark that the general plans and estimates Of
this office wero considered very extrayagant |
by many prominent citizens Of Boston, who |
failed to comprehend the possibility OF such |
aconfagration or the danger therefrom. One
Of these gentlemen was so strongly impressed |
with the extravaganza Of the Supervising Ar |
chitcct's Ideas that he not only volunteered
his advice to the Department In an elaborate
communication, In which he expressed the
opinion that buildings erected by him In that
city were sufficiently nrc-proof for all pract.
cal purposes, and that large amount would
be saved BY following his example; falling 70
convince the Department, he endeavored 70
| impress his views upon the committee Of the
| House Of Representatives appointed to inyes-
tigate the manner Of construction OF that
| building, and Of tho nsw post Office In New
York. The fire proved most disastrous TO his
theories, the buildings TO which he referred
Offering no more resistance to the conhagra-
tiou than buildings Of the most ordinary con-
structiop, showing conclusively that, had his
advice been followed, the loss to the Govern.
ment would have amounted 70 millions oil
dollars, as the building would have been
completed and occupied oy tne rost onSe
and Treasury Departments, and must newt
ably have been destroyed. II has, however,
furnished an admirable illustration OF the
value of such opinions and advice. The site
for this building was, II will be remembered,
purchased, not by the Department, but BY q
commission. appointed BY Congress, wniSn isa
assistant treasurer, the prssiden. Of the board
of trade, the Hons. Apheus Hardy and
Daniel Davis, Of Boston, and though In was,
In the opinion Of the postmaster, Gen. VIM
! L. Burt, entirely inadequate In size, Qn which
: opinion this Office concuIred,) the views o.
| the majority prevailed. The result has just
ded the opinion Of the postmaster, the build
ing being OF no more than half the capacit,
, required. This Is so apparent that the pur
: | chase Of the remaining portion OF tho blocl
has been authorized, as heretofore stated.
Q The work on tho foundation and basemen
: u the new public building IN chicago, III.
: has been made with the suporstructure. Tn
II cut stone for the building Is from the quar-
u ries at Bnena Vista, Ohio. The materis
Is thus far received is Of tho best quality IN
d the workmanship unequalcd. The principe
n difficulties In the erection OF the buildin
l. have been overcome, and much greater pre-
y gress will, It Is hoped, be made during th
+ next season. desire, however, to call th
1, attention of the Department to the Import
n ance OF erecting the Adams-street front, 10
Al which no appropriation has yet been made
J. II Ia of great Importance that this fron
II should be erected simultaneously with th
le remainder, and as the entire building Will
s. required would strongly recommend tha
D. an appropriation be obtained for the CON
Df menccment of that wing. Should this b
D. done q considerable saving In cost as well q
le time will DO made, and the entire buildin
l. can be placed under roof at an early day:
+ The new mint at San Francisco, Cal,
r nearly completed, and will bo ready for oe
,r cupancy as soon % the machinery Is put !
place. The building itself could DO fnishc
)f at an earlier date, but inasmuch as 1t woul
re Increase the expense Of the work to do 81
c. and as no time would bc gained thereby.
ic have deemed It better 70 conduct the work
v. building and Of the machinery will be q
d nearly simultaneous as possible; II gives N
m pleasure to report that, though constructe
Q on so much larger scale than was general
~ thought necessary, II has proved 70 be n
10 larger than Is now required by the actual NJ
TO for It's size, the Department would have bee
IN unable to adopt the improved machinery on
In apparatus with which IL Is to be SUPPLE
al The work on the building has been done In
be substantial manner, and II Ia undoubtedly
1t cheap as well as q permanent structure.
at deeply regret, however, that the materi
To- furnished by the contractor for the cut-stol
ch work Ia not the kind contracted for, II
ly equal thereto In any particular. OF this
on was not aware until after the death Of 4
,ss superintendent and the appointment Of
ch successor, at which time the contract W
ng completed. The stone has been cut In 81
,e- lsfactory manner, and had the material be
ge according to the sample, and been proper
set, no cause for complaint would have Z
I'll listed. Under these circumstances l hn
ed, fslt Il my duty I refuse any further paymt
ib- to the contractors, and TO submit the case
zen such action as you may deem necessary.
In The entrance story Of the custom-house
cd. New Orleans, Louisiana, has a. last be
hat completed, and Is now occupied by the p
for Office and the appraisers department,
Ace which purposes Il provides ample accom-
rts dations. The main cornlce, the interior stai
Ter. the roof, the lron-work OF the central q
as entrance halls have been finished. 1t h
the however, been found Impossible, from
the peculiarly of the case, to make accuri
ent estimates Of the cost Of completing the bui
ub- ing. Much OF the material on haud, viii
the It was expected to use In the constructlt
ties was unsuitable aud worthless; It was o
Id necessary to remove much greater amoI
vas Of work than was contemplated and TO p
to form larger amount than was anticipat
re- The building Is, however, well advanced
us ward completion, and, should the uecessl
md appropriations be made, can be finished
the an early day. In this connection have
honor to report that the notifications In
cial design Of the building made thus far hi
en- been successful, and to recommend
da- authority be obtained to make such &c
the tional changes as are necessary to make
ing. exterior harmonious and uniform. The
for pepse will not be great, and will add bott
Iere Its comfort and convenience, as well as
ccs- appearance, and make 1t an imposing, II
This au elegant structure; do not hesitate 10
irth press the opinion that the magnitude
lied substantial character Of the building VIC
ders justify the additional appropriation.
ton change In the plan from q granite to c
cut, iron cornice, authorized by the act Of Ma
k at s, 1871, though effecting q saving Of %
! no 4l6.30, rendered q considerable amount
ring granite useless whicn nuu Already Dcen
pied peted. Claims for this work, including
and terest and damages on the contract for g
ear. ite work, amounting to Sl25, ,38564, b
,on- been presented to the Department. A c
'eri- promise has, however, been made, subjet
sstl- tho approval Of Congress, by which
,uld claimants agree to accept s43, S27S5, b,
yer, the actual contract price OF the work
ated formed, less the cost Of transportation
ex- New Orleans, and on payment Of the 8
ma to surrender all claims for damages arl
900 under the contract. This arrangement Il
will my opinion, fair one, and adyantagcou
who the Government and / would recomm
hen that an appropriation to the amount lie
and sary to effect q settlement be obtained.
cted On the Goth OF June, 1870, l submit
ipal plans for tho completion Of the custom-h,
Ieap at Charleston, 8. c., which contemplated
om- omission Of the dome and the side porti
rble and the modification Of the east and
nent porticos In such manner that, while
not creasing the capacity-and value Of the bl
the Ing, II reduced tho cost Of completion,
and instead Of injuring, improved Its architect
,usl- These plans and estimates were based u
und the drawings on file In this office aud
must property returns Of the former superintI
n no ent, aud were carefully prepared therefi
Il be and believed TO be correct. Soon after G
'een menclng work II was found that impor
'ork changes had been made by the commits
nave under whose direction the work had
q, In performed, of which the Department