The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-03
WASHINGTON.

OOoCI sO llC pACAOAuCuSt Va IAC AAoAoAt " SAuo
at Table Bay, all well.
The King Of the Sandwich Island leave.
San Francisco for Washington on Saturday.
AIullet.'s report states thai sites for proposed
public buildings at Helena and Little Roci
have been purchased.
It was necessary to resort to condemnation
to secure property at Grand Rapids. In man,
instances at the North the appropriations are
inadequate, the prices assessed under con
domination being in excess. Memphis has
presented property to the Government tol
public buildings valued at 5000 600. The ole
CUSTOM House lot at Norfolk was sold at auc
ton The Custom House, Courthouse and
Post-of1ice at Knoxville have been completed
within the appropriation. The buildings al
Columbia, S. c., will be completed within the
present year.
The recommendations regarding the Gus
tonl-House at New Orleans are renewed.
Special attention is called to the remodeling
and extending of the Custom-House at Pen
sacola.
Quartermaster Meigs's report states that
railroad companies, principally in the South
owe the Government S7,500,OO0.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Secretary BristoN
has rendered the Office Of Supervising Archi.
tect Of the Treasury to William Macarthur, of
Philadelp hia.
WASHINGTON, Dec .-Supervising Architect
Mullett in his report says: desire to renew
my recommendations in regard to the Custom.
House at New Orleans. Many of the officers
now occupying rooms in it are withou. ordi
nary conveniences and the courts are held in
unfinished apartments, in which it is almost
impossible to transact public business.
The basement has been completed and adj
mirable accommodations provided for the post.
offs nd a. rTb;c build
ing was prior to the war under control of a
commission who had entire charge of the
work and made many and costly change since
the resumption OF the work.
It's construction has been simplifed and its
cost reduced as fas as possible. The modii-
cations lave Lot, however injured the build
ing, but have improved It's appearance and in
creased its convenience, and it will, when
completed, afford accommodations for every
branch of public service in New Orleans, the
Mint Only excepted, and will also provide
ample room for stolage of bonded merchan-
disc at that port.
At the time the building was designed, it
was supposed tina. sufficient office accommo-
dalton could be provided in the principal
story, and that the basement and upper
stories of the building would be used for
warehouse purposes The increase of bust
ness since that time has, however, rendered
it necessary to occupy the basement, the first
and second stories Tor offices, which has in
volved much additional work.
a The delay in completing it is adding very
greatly to its COST and l earnestly recommend
that the necessary appropriation be obtained
and building completed at the earliest pos
sible moment. The work on the Custom
House at Charleston has proceeded as rapidly
as the circumstances OF the case would per-
nit
In my last annual report I stated that it
could not be completed within the limits
fixed by law, snd recommended that the ne
cessary appropriations be made. l desire. to
renew this recommendation, and call atten-
ton to the fact that this Office is not response
BILE for the cost of this building, the designs
having been prepared and work prosecuted
prior to the war, under the direction Of COM
mission appointed for the purpose, as in the
case of the Custom House at New Orleans.
have endeavored to reduced the cost to the
lowest possible point, and have so modified
the plans as to effect saving OF over
half million of dollars, and in so
doing have not only increased its capa-
city and added to its convenience, but have,
believe, improved its architecture and as a
consequence improved its appearance. The
work had, however, reached such stage that
it appeared impossible to make any further
modification without injuring the building
There seems, therefore, to be no alternative
beyond leaving it in an unfinished condition
or appropriating the amount necessary for its
completion.
It is undoubtedly much more ornate and
costly than is required. 1t is at the same time
SO nearly finished, aud Of SO monumental a
character, that failure to complete it in a
proper manner could not be justified, even on
the score of economy.