Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-01

| the exhibition OF models with desks and office
Furniture 1t Is evident that the erection OF a
new edifice for the accommodation OF the Inte-
| rfOr department Will soon be recognized as an
| absolute necessity. The Patent ONCE alone will
| in the course OF time, wthiJs accumulatfng re-
nd cords ana 1ootn modeis occupy the whole OF the
informed that similar complaints come from
! other departments OF the government: that the
| S Pest 0filce department iinds It's present quar-
| force OF the Treasury department is loca-
TED outside Of the main building: that
a5s ts Of Justice In rented
| for the Departments Of State, War, and OF the
| Navy will not be large enough to accommodate
the public service. Under such circumstances
1t appears that the exigenctes Of the govern
ment call for the erection Of not only one but of
several public buildings, for the Interior de.
| the accommodation OF the Department OF Jus
tice, and for different offices connected with the
WAR and Navy departments which do not find
| accommodation in the buildings now existing
and In progress of construction.
In view OF this fact beg leave to repeat some
remarks had the honor to address to the Hon.
George L. Converse, chairman of the committee
on public lands. House OF Representatives, on
the 18th OF May last. in reply to letter OF In
9uiry from him: .'lf such public buildings are
constructed upon an harmonious plan, they
will contribute much to the public convenience
as well as TO the beauty OF the national capital.
i would respectfully recommend, therefore,
1t being desirable that the executive depart
ments should pe located in as close proximity
as noSsnle TO each d other as Wen as to the EN-
| better place for the construction of new build
| tpgs for them could be found than the blocks
surrounding Lafayette square on the east,
hoftn and west, opposite the Treasury, the Ex-
ecutlve mansion, and the State, War and Navy
departments, leayin the square Itself undiS-
,, !lrped: A group Of four public buildings sur
rounding that Square, erected upon al harmo-
aG IN Hpftb
| the buildings now existing, probably be
| come one OF the most imposing and beautiful
groups OF public edifices In the world. The pur-
chase Of the lots surrounding Lafayette square
| would, indeed, be somewhat costly, but the
public convenience, as well as the architectural
| beauty OF the group mentioned would no doubt
| compensate for an expenditure but little larger
| tnan would be 0ccasfoned by the purchase OF
| property in other parts OF the city. These
| buildings could be erected one after another as
| the necessities OF the case may require, but an
| harmonious plan for the whole group should be
| made by competent architects and accepted by
the government before commencing the cree
| this suggestion to your consideration and that
OF congress. believing. as do, that the erection
OF the public buildings that are now and will
| stated, will finally be more satisfactory to the
people Of the United States than would be the
| scattering OF number OF public offices In places
| Ing much OF their architectural effect while
being but little less costly. I would add that If
such project be entertained 1t can be initiated
| ana partly executed at much less expense now
| than twill be possible ten or fifteen years
| hence, when its non adoption at time like
this might possibly become matter OF very
| general regret
RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING.
| The reconstruction OF that portion OF the
the exception OF few minor Details com
pleted. The amount Of money appropriated by
| congress for this work was $3.50 900. The
change of the plans originally authorized by
Ill a O In
expenditures which reduced the available bal
| ance to s244. .9204S. The estimate submitted OF
ane cost OF tn the 1econstTuStion under the plans
and it is gratifying to state that the expendi
! lures have not exceeded the available balance,
above sta stated: m The architect in charge esti-
| mates that S., 915 will be required to complete
the ornamentation. construction OF gallery
| rails. furnishing rubber plates for steps, and
done. The halls are a decided improvement
over the old ones, being beautiful In design and
more commodious In general arrangement
The Tn s%ans sddtionai gallery adds onethrd to
light Is better than before. Credit Is due to the
| architect and engineer In charge, Adoiph Cluss
not only for the original design, but for the
fidelity with which the work has been super
| vlSed by him. The supervising board appointed
| by Congress, consisting OF the Commissioner OF
Patents, the Architect OF the Capitol, and the
Engineer In charge OF public buildings, Is en-
Titled to no less credit for keeping the expendi-
| lures within the appropriation, and for the gen.
erai management OF the work. The south and
east nallS are at present fn a very insecure con-
! otlon. Faulty construction has developed de-
Iects IN the arches. which may prove OF a seri-
Gus Gus character unless promptly remedied In my
last report / called attention to the Insecure
Ioof which now covers these two wings. II is
little better than tinder- box, aud covering
imp dmper1ect , ana badly constructed f1ues. may az
any any time endanger the safety OF the building.
| me changes necessary to construct a fire.
prcof roof, and remedy the evils growing OUT
OF faulty plan, would be so RADICAL and
expensive that deem 1t In the interest OF NH
nc economy to recommend the reconstruction
OF poth wings on the plan adopted In the re-
OF $4,000 has been asked for to carry out this
plan on the south wing and l earnestly hope
that congress may deem 1t advisable to appro-
| pirate he amount. The walls and ceilings OF
| the halls and rooms Immediately under the
| reconstructed model-hallS were seriously dam
| aged Dy heat and water at the time OF the fire.
$1,000 and an appropriation of this amount is
| recommended. An appropriation of sSO, 600 was
MADE at the last session OF Congress, TO be used
| in lifting up the mOdel-hallS with flre.proof
! cases. Contracts have been entered into ror the
| construction OF as many as can be obtained for
the amount named. AS the original estimate
sum OF $50 900 win be needed to supply both
halls With the number OF cases required.
HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.
annual Of o vsors 0
| points OF which have been already published In
IHs STAR and calls especial attention to Ger
tdiu ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. '1De 0OSplCal mas NTH.
| ertO been supplied with water from the Ana
| costa river, Immediately In front OF the hos
| pital grounds 1t evidently contains impurities
| rendering II unit for use, and these impurities
| Will increase year by year. 1t is estimated
that S25 600 will be required to connect the hos.
p1tal with the water supply Of the city OF Wash
iDgton;; In my opinion this improvement should
| De made without delay. The hospital farm has
not sut1lcient accommodations for the shelter
| OF STOCK and the proper protection Of the har-
| vested crops: An appropriation of 5000 is
asked for additional farm buildings. l recon-
mena that this appropriation be made. The
Doaro Q! visitors also recommend the erection or
suitaple moItuary building, greenhouse.
and Kitchen detached from the main buiIding'
concur In these recommendations and also in
tne recommendation that provision be made
Ior the erection or a District hospital buiIdInp
aoa Ine iemaie insane, to cost $3.50, 900. to De
cO1npieted Ia three years. and that the sum or
So.ooo . 9e appropriated for this purpose for the
year eholng June 80, 1SS2.'
rr ARCHITECT OF TIE CAPITOL ETC
caMe aMe annual reports Of the architect of the
11aplloi eleclrlclan, gas Inspector Freeflman,s
nnvsHNaI, columbia Institute for the Deaf and
OumD ana OF the governors OF the Territories
are summarized. Abstracts OF these renortS
nave ALREADY been published. :"
..,, OFFICIAL SALARIES.
ineIe IS no doubt in my mind after tbe ey
peiience OF nearly four years in the conduct nf
1Mis department that the pay allowed tn aimost
aii me higher grades Of Its Officers and c,erS -
GHClToly out or No 10