Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-10-18
THE NEE GOVERN NENT BUILDING
state, War and Navy Departments.

| s ate. War and Navy departments building for
the fiscal year ending June 30th last, has been
| handed in 10 the Secretary OF War; COL Casey
| says that
THE LAST STONE IN THE EAST WING
was set July 18th, 1871. July 9th the first load
OF non work arrived for the small pavilion roofs.
| and their construction was commenced August
Cd the center pavilion roof was commence I'd
september 10th. The iron chmneyS were built,
and the 2Gth OF November the frOnwOrk of the
roofs was finished. The painting, concrete
backing, plastering. sIat NJ, &C., was be gun,
and the entire roof finished December 9th,
change in the height of the front area walls
pullt with the main walls of the building, was
lequired to preserve uniformity with correspoE-
on the south front. This work, which consisted
in the removal OF the two upper courses of ash
lar and reseting the coping, was accomplished
during the fall. The stone removed will be used
in the area walls of the court yard.
The first load Of iron for the interior cast iron
door and window frames and trimmings arrived
January 19th. The work of supplying and
erecting in place some 500 tons Of this orna-
mental cast-iron material has been in steady
AT TIE CLOSE OF THE FISCAL YEAR
this work was nearly completed in the attic,
fourth, and second stories, well advanced in the
third and first StOrieS and begun i'm the court
yard sides OF the basement story. The two
grand stairways of six flights each {cut grante)
in tie center pavilion have been completed.
The south stairway was advanced to include a
part of the first story and the platform stones
OF all the landings.
July 18th it was decided that the heating an
paratUS for the east wing should be on the hot
water system, ard that II should be constructed
by labor employed directly by the government
The work included the steam boilers and pumps
used for the hot and cold water supply, and to
furnish the power for The elevators. On the 2l5t
Of May all the lower system OF pipes coils. bill
| ers, &c. was in place and the running OF the
SuSpen0lng SyStem commenced Most OF the
work Oh tie sub-baSement is essentially COM
p!elcd. except placing and connecting the steam
boilers. Most of tie coils in the first story and
many III the basement are set and most Of the
nDeS fof heating and ventilation have been pro-
| Vided with hoods and made ready f0I' registers.
| NAVY DEPARTMENT ACCOMMODATIONS.
June 2lSt. 1871, an arrangement OF partitions
meeting the requirements OF the Navy depart
| ment was adopted. IL then became Necessary
TO divide nearly all The curtained rooms Of go
| S" TO 1867 81 in length 10y means OF light ire
| proof partitions. This was accomplished with
| angle irons and corrugated iron lathing in per
| fOrated strips. When plaStcred these partitions
are about ca, inches thick. They are 13 i'm num-
| ber Their erection was completed May 9th
| All Turing and lathing wherever used in the
| building is of the some description as that OF
| the partitions. With four or live exceptions,
little or no lathing is used in the building, pas-
| tering being placed directly On the brick walls
Preparations for laying the
WATER AND GAS MAINS
| were commenced Nov. 30tD. The laying OF
| 12-nch water main from the avenue and OF a
| G-inch main from 18th street was completed
| January path. The water and gas mains were
| laid together in the main trench OF the cellar
| the former stopping there, and being silbSe-
quently continued in connection with the heat
| ing apparatus
| The doors and window sash are being made
| by hand On the grounds. in the most perfect
| manner, OF solid mahogany, excepting the doors
| of the lower parts of the attic. which are of
| pine. This work requires large force OF men.
| Work ON the mahogany stair rails was COM
menced June Sd, and will require some months
| for full completion.
THE FLOORS.
| Throughout the building all corridor aud
water closet floors are 10 be tiled with marble:
these OF the low attic viii consist OF concrete
| surfaced with cement mortar; those OF the cellar
paved with brick; Tie ilOOr OF the library VIII be
Tiled, while all floors of rooms elsewhere will
consist OF southern pine boards laid directly
| upon concrete and nailed TO slecperS Embedded
| in concrete Wrought iron beams and brick
arches leVeied up with brick or concrete con-
| stitute the body OF the flooring and render il
| fiIe-pioof throughout the tu lding. The laying
| OF sleererS imbedded iii concrete has been com
| piete0, EXCEPT III a few rooms i'll the basement
fequnod ior workshops.
| THE WORK On THE PLASTERING
| and ccrnices was commenced MAY fst. and re-
qn res Tor its proper completion about eight
| months. Tie number OF men employ ed on this
| work has been increased from time 10 time TO a
! total OF 2t2. There VIII be when completed in
this wing (easU 5o,5o3 square yards OF plaster
ing; 1910 lineal feet of ornamental cornces,
| and 1890 lineal feet of moulding
| ornaments for the three front pedimentS OF
! mahsaId roofs and pavilOns were made between
| august 18th and December 11th. At the date of
nj
| and ready for their positions
rms wing VIII contain two elevators, one on
| elther SIDE of the center pavilion and landing
| at every floor from the cellar to the attic in
elusive. Designs for both have been prepared.
In the latter part of April all the Surplus
| eafth was removed, and Necessary excavations
tor the foundations OF walls and establishment
| OF grades for the approaches made. Some pro-
| greSS has been made tn the construction of ap-
| proacheS and work will be continued upon tie
| fecelpt OF more dressed stone from the con-
| tractor,
THE NAVAL LIBRARY
| The secretary OF the Navy decided that the
large rooms comprising the fourth and attic
stores OF the center pavilion should be used as
| library. Designs and drawings for the work
IN iron are well advanced, and part OF the mod
cling done.
Pans for the arrangement OF the c0llrt-yard
| area walls and coal vaults are completed.
UNDER THE FIFTEEN PER CENT. CONTRACT
shops. sheds and every hing for the outfit and
accommodation of three hundred StOnecWters
! at Winchester. Va, had accumulated. They
were sold at auction July 25th 1871 and the net
proceeds, s4.I53.56, turned into the Treasury.
VERY LITTLE WOODWORK
IL VIII oe noted that the only wood or COM
lu>tlble material entering into the construction
OF this building is in the surfacing of Georgia
pine. laid al-tight and closely matched, upon
the Office floors; in tie doors partly OF white
pine, but mainly OF solid mahogany; in the inte-
ror casing and finish OF Water-closets and bath
looms, chiefly with black walnut, and in the
window sash OF solid mahogany All else con-
SStS OF St0ne brick concrete, plaster, iron, cop
per and glass.
wORKMEN EMPLOYED
during the year the best city wages have
Deen paid, and, as far possible, only the more
capable workmen empoyed-the class OF work.
men demanded by the building admitting OF no
other course. The number of men employed
was as fOloWS:-July, 1873; August, 1885, Septem-
Der, lis; October 1872; November, 122; December,
134; January, 1872; February, 165; March, 173;
April, 1S2; May, 26O; June, 1853; July 1st 525
These figures are exclusive Of worknen EN-
ployed by contractors
DIMENSIONS OF THE BUILDING,
The length OF the east wing if 341 feet 8 &
inches: height from sidewalk to center pavilion
elevator, 134 feet I inches; total number of
rooMs 1I3. Floor space for offices, SO, 400 square
feet: for StorerOOms, $500; and for corridors
water closets, &C., 25, 500.
PROBABLE OPERATIONS ON THE EAST WING FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR 1SIS-'I9.
An appropriation OF 1926, 900 made at the last
session of Congress for this wing, will enable
the work to be advanced during The fiscal year
as fOlOWs:-An the cast iron doors and winnoW
trimmings together with the caSt-iron wash
boards completed by october 18th; the stone
stairways in about three weeks; the heatin
apparatus, save in few minor particulars b
August 18th next; the balance OF the fnrrin
and lathing Immediately, except small amounl
FOR elevator hatchways, and all the doors an1
windows, flooring, plastering ..and stucco WORK
by February 1St.
1t is also expected to carry on simultaneously