Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-29
The Keccn>tructiOn Of the U. s.
Patent Office.

THE PLAN AND MODE OF EXECUTION.
1t has been decided by the board Of super
vision, consisting Of the Commissioner of
Patents, the architect OF the Capitol, aud the
engineer in charge OF public buildings and
grounds, to push the brick work and iron work
Eece ssary to bring both the north and the west
wing Of the hollow square formed by the build
ing. as speedily as possible under a permanent
roof. Before doing SO the board required to be
informed exactly about the features of the plans
app Opriatlon OF March 3, 1879. is based, and
this has been done by Mr.. Adolf Cluss In the
foim OF a memoir. The main points are as fol-
lows:
THE NORTH WING.
The north wing is 264 feet long and SO feet
wide be tween the outside walls. The story un-
derneath the burned model room has central
corridor. Is feet wide, bounded by % inches
thick longitudinal walls and Is sub divided into
tition.wails of IA inches in thickness. Toon
the intersections of the longitudinal corridor,
and transverse partition walls new brick piers
OF about 80 inches in length by &c inches ex-
model room up to the roof. The casing of the
model rooms is SO arranged that these piers do
lecture and that they are in full harmony with
the system adopted. These piers form the i'm
portant feature Of the new fire. proof systems
which avoid large spans, where there is no ne
cess1ty for them. and thereby do away with the
disastrous effect Of the expansion of heated
iron during conflagration caused by the burn
The spaces between the brick piers, longitude
nally, which are about 22 feet in the clear, are
spanned on the level Of the roof by wrought
iron g1rders, encased In fire-proof material. The
roof over the space occupied underneath by the
OFFICES on both sides of the corridor. is formed
by rolled iron beams, resting with one
end on the outside walls and with the
Ihese beams or rafters are laid at distances OF
about four feet. The panels between the raft
ers err. ar are arched with fire-proof material. The
layer OF cement and covered with a timed
sheet copper roof, fastened down by cleats into
the cement concrete by one OF the well-teSted
methods at present In use. The rafters are to
sunc1ent air-space being left between the
plasfer1ng and the flre-proof material above SO
as TO insure easy heating in winter and an
summer. That part of the roof above the cen
tral corridor Of the wing forms a continuous
skylght OF hammered glass or bulls eyes BE-
Tween I've llght rafters of rolled iron. Underneath
this sky light there is an inner skylight. The
walls on both sides between the outer and
inner sEyl1ghts are formed by tiers OF windows
which, IN addition to the light transmitted d.
light laterally to the upper gallery and through
nght-wells in the gallery floors opposite the
WINDOWS TO lower gallery and to the main
eat ool OF dvsIn fhe moae 81 room This viii prove OF
1our wings abut against each other and form
spaces not lighted by windows In outside walls
VARIOUS FEATURES.
Inc mucn-needed noorspace OF the model
rooms Will be considerably Increased by the in-
troduct1On OF new or second gallery, ample
height for which is obtained by dispensing with
q lott which would be apt, sooner or later, to be
used again Tor the storage OF cOmbuStible mat
ter, for which the rapid accumulation OF docu.
ments, In consequence Of the growing business
OF the department. forms an Inviting tempta-
proof construction. In the center Of the % feet
longitudinal spans, between the new brick piers
thefe are placed properly supported light
lies. The cores of these columns are formed OF
webbed wrought iron In sections. and the spaces
between the webs are to be filled In with fire
ITooa proo1 cores % OF liquid cement, poured In the
column and an exterior orhamented facing O!
cast iron or OF keeDeS cement. The floors O.
tne galleries have the outside walls, the brick
piers and the intermediate columns for supports
They are constructed In manner similar TO the
roof, but OF strength propor;ioned 20 the load
70 be husl aiSed. The galleries are fioored with
slabs OF slate, II inches thick, aud taer cell
1Dgs are plastered plain ard level upon iron lath
Ing, so as to afford best facilities for plac:ng
the cases, which reach TO the ceiling, for clea
height OF about nine feet
Tie west wing is to be treated similarly, the
Lew brick piers are In this case started upo.
the square granite aid marble piers which forui
the main supports OF this wing, In the place o
the strong continuous walls OF the north wing
The description OF the interior finish and deco
rat!oDs, which will be solid and chaste pllaste;
dICHHtCtuIt, IL. u!lo graceful forms or the reVf-
val OF classic art of the nineteenth century.
Will De LETT Tor another occasion.
TEN HOURS WORKING TINE,
This building being occupied by a little army
OF government on1c1als, the business OF whom
shOuld not be 1hterferTed with more than is abso-
lutely necessary, 1t has been concluded that
this Is certainly one OF the cases In which it has
been decided by the Supreme Court of the United
states that 1t is proper and legal for the govern.
Ment officials to make use of the long days OF
summer, by making special agreement with the
mechanics TO be employed on the work. In this
case Ten hours labor as calendar days work.
Will form the basis OF the agreement The
building, and with 1t the removal OF the serious
dmculteS under which the Patent ONCE now
suners, In consequence OF the cramped space
are insured by these endeavorS to economiSe
the valuable time.
OTHER PARTICULARS.
On April 1st sale will take place OF what is
leIt OF the debiis from the fire, being such parts
OF mOdelS as were reserved but ultimately
round unit to be repaired for reuse, They
form large piles, and still cucumber the floor of
Inc MODEL rooms. With their removal the build.
Ing viii be at the disposal OF the contra ;tOrs
iodeiock by receiving proposals for building
materials after due advertisement The adyer.
tsements fer all the 1rOnwOrk necessary for the
skeietohs or the galleries and roofs will be ready
heAt week, the drawings and Specifications
Delng nearly completed.
double dumb waiter worked bv borso
power, Tor raising men and material without,
interfering with the Office force within. is now
being put up on G street, opposite to SJt street
this being the place where the material will b.
On the platform OF the dumb waiter, and ABOVE
wheeled direct to the different parts of the
building. - 'Ao