The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-03

Congressman Looking After Their Construc-
MISREPRESENTATION for this Work.

congressman Looking After Their Construc-
tion-Appropriations for this Work.
special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, April NEARLY every con-
gresham who remains here, besides having his
hands full of applications for Office has to look
after lis public building. A glance into the
Office of the supervising architect of the Treasury
any day will reveal dozen or more congress
men and senator's who are all anxious to have
work begun at once on the buildings in their dis
tricts At the last session of Congress provision
was made for twenty eight new buildings be-
sides the small affairs in Alaska These struct-
ures will involve an expenditure of So Ol3, 0oo
if the limit prescribed is not extended Il any
case. But there were also added clauses to the
sundry civil BILL and other separate bills ncreas-
ing the cost of buildings heretofore provided for to
the extent of So, 81, 800 Besides this,
appropriations were made for buildings
now in course Of construction. the limit Of cost
of which has not been extended, amounting to
nearly million more and there is an unex-
pended balance running over from last year of
s., SOC, coo. The supervising architect has more
to expend this year than at any one time since
1874. During the winter of 1874 Congress APP
Since that time bills of this character have had
more difficulty in getting through Congress, and
there would not have been so much available
now but for the modification of the rules during
the last days of the session.
In spite Of the fact that SO many public build
ings were authorized and the work of the super
vising architects Office increased accordingly,
Congress saw fit to partially nuify
its action by decreasing the working
force of the Office. The appropriation for the
employment of clerks, draughtsmen, computers
and other employees of the Office for the fiscal
year 1886 is $4,000 less than for the current
year 1t is impossible, therefore, to press the
work of erection of buildings as rapidly as is
desirable, and at the end of the year it is be-
lieved that at least two-thirds of the amount
available after July will remain unexpended.
Those members therefore, who expect post
Office built within their districts inside twelve
months will, in many cases, be disappointed, as
the preliminary work of selecting a site and
making the plans is, of necessity, slow and Ia
borious.
The Journal correspondent was informed to-
day, at the Office of the supervising architect of
the Treasury, that report was expected by the
18th inst. from the commission appointed re-
Gently to select site for the public building at
New Albany, and that bids for the building will
be advertised about the 18th. contract was
some time ago let for the building at Fort Wayne
up to the third story. and the supervising archi-
tect expects to have the same contractor furnish
material for the third story, for which $4,000
additional was appropriated by Congress five
weeks ago. No report has been made upon the
Terre Haute building for some time. When last
heard from the basement had just been COM
pleted, and the first floor beams placed in posi-
ton.