National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-26
POST eFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
Improvement on the Building Good and
Work Cheap,

WOEA k2o9ps
When the Board Of Public Works changed the
grades Of the streets Of Washington and George
town the streets on either side Of the Post Once
Department received their portion Of the altera-
ton. In the basement Of the Department there
was vast space that could be utilized, and the
crowded condition of the building could be les
sened, and at least thirty more ofhces gained.
The change Of grade OF the streets necessitated
the expenditure Of money in making this portion
of the building correspond with the streetheights,
and various modes were suggested. An appro-
priatiOn Of $4,000 was received for the improve
ment OF this story of the building, and the WORK
was placed in the hands Of Mr.. s. 7. q. Morseli'
q Well-knovn builder Of W ashtRRton. July / lSa,
he, with q suitable number OF men, began the
task, first, by cutting down around the pulla-
ing to the proper grade, namely: sIee%
SSr ieet Eg916 tSs eoDISR ON SSess Streets
which he after splitting, recruiting and working
up to case the entire building, only requiring an
This labor performed, he next turned his atten-
ton to the inside Of the basement, and after thor
oughly cleansing the same; which mad oeen u s
he Put in trenches for the reception and convey
ing OF Of water. This done, altering the rooms
was begun.
THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS.
The main stairway on the E-street side will be
carried out TO connect with the basement, I'm
isbsd with granite the same as above. Ali the
outer rooms will be made available for clerical
purposes, thus giving the department u aQ-
dItional rooms. The rooms on the court side will
be retained for files, SC, thus making altogether
on the floor GO available rooms. The floors viii
all be concTeted and those OF the interior Will be
covered with North Carolina yellow pine. The
trimmings for windows and doors, as well as the
doors and windows, viii be Of castiron. The
doors will have glass panels in order TO throw
light into the halls from the outside. These
rooms will be handsomely furnished with all the
modern cenVenienees. The halls and corridors
will be tiled similar to those Of the State De-
partment-black and white square thing. The
water closets, which are now located on the up
thereby additional room will be had above and
relieve to some extent the crowded condition Of
the Department building.
THE OUTSIDE
The most noticeable improvement will be on the
outside, which will consist Of granite coping
around the building, which is now being set rap
idly, with handsome square granite posts about
thirty i've feet apart, surmOunted with fancy iron
figures. At each corner and on either side OF the
entrances will be granite posts, on which will be
fancy lamps On the F-street entrance the plat
form will be dropped two risers from the vestieule,
thus giving eight steps and platform to the en-
trance. On this front there will be an area with
an average depth Of four feet, being cased with the
old marble. At the corner Of Eighth and
streets, steps four feet wide with nine risers will
be erected. Between the steps and the feuce there
will be an incline plane for the use Of trucks in
carrying articles to the bdilding. This will be
convenience that the Department never had be-
lore. On street new steps will be erected at the
entrance with nineteen risers. There viii also
be park tWenty-one feet wide at the Eighth
street end slipping down to the-Seventh street end
TO a level with the street. On the SevenLh-street
entrance there will be new steps Of marble, seven
in number. Around the building, on the coping,
there will be substantial iron railing three feet
high.
ADDITIONAL WORK.
The old heating apparatus will be removed, and
in its place will be substituted one by Messrs.
Bartlett, Robinson & Co., of Baltimore, who
have received the contract for heating the build
ing by hot water circulation. In addition they
will arrange a system Of ventilation.
The easement and sashes in the old portion OF the
building is to be removed, and the sashes made
TO correspond with those in the new building,
with cords and weights. All old material will be
utilized in the alterations now being made by
Mr. Morsell, and the amount thus far expended
by him is only As 600 which is considered by Judges
TO be extraordinarily loHior the large amount
Of work accomplished. He expects to have the
work so far completed by fall as to be ready tor
occupancy. Other Improvements are contem-
plated, such as raising the court building Of the
city post Office to correspond with the main build
ing, thus enlaTgiDg the dead letter office and Civ
ing an additional story TO the topogrsphers'
ONCE, now located adjacent to this building. 1t
is really the intention to utilize every available
space,