Telegram-herald., 1889-07-01
TheObSerVel'
NEW ORLEANS cUsroaHoUsE
A hi.r.Fy A4d DsseEl 0tlsa sf 1As SE<<k
ssss~EBlzsaG .ild84x a. Ih4k taG,

ine custom house. ~Blca - the pElu-
clpal Government building IA Aew
Orleans, = ssfu4bed Ca tee square
bounded D. Custom -noase. Decatur anG
FeteFs-sts. Il was formerly tae ste OF
Fort u. I.OGis when the city aas forti-
ne1 Dg the Spaniaris. ms sqaale. IA
former times, fr0nted on the Nss.ss ppi
bat the constant remark able accretlJus
OF .oIl. called By the natives "b4tIure,
has, IA the course u Ilne. gradually
formed new ground Ia fF0at, until the
square > n0s about fOaT bl0cks distant
from the riyer. The new-made ground
became the property OF tie city, and
was sold ~ private parties, Who have
erected large stores, where ia former
years there was water deep enough 10
1Oat tne largest man-0l- war ia the
world. We were told that il i the
honest belief OF the oldest inhabitants
that New Orleans was located jest one
hundred years too soon. aud had lt not
been for the leyees and jettles, the flats.
marshes aud water would nOw be high
and dry ground, made by the constant
washing ia OF Misslssippi earth, brought
IN from all the states and territories
! along the banks of the Mississippi, Nj >
sour, Ohio, Red, and all the tributary
rivers, aud that now New Orleans would
be from two 10 siX feet above the Ms
slsssppi river. instead OF that number OF
feet below It. After seeing some OF the
made ground upon which now stand
some of the largest blocks. We frankly
admit the correctness Of their opinion.
For many years the custom house
a a small frame building III the cen
| ter Ot the square, until Isis, the Gov
| cTnment commenced the erection OF
OF tine present edifice, IN Egyptian style
| OF architecture, granite III us cOnstruc-
| ton, To cost $500, 900, original figures.
| The corner stone was laid in lSi1, by
| Henry Clay, tine Kentucky statesman,
and work commenced IN the year fol-
| lowing,
| Construction of the Building.
It was contemplated to have the bust
ness room of the customs IN the center
| hall, and the balance fof the building
was To be used as general bonded
warehouse. To carry out the plan II
was determined To make the building
very strong IN It's foundation, and
| thoroughly tire-prOof throughout. The
| walls were made of great thickness,
| the rooms were vaulted, and the floors
| constructed of thick IRON and brick, so
that, perhaps, there Is no building of
| its size IN the world Ill which 50 little
wood has been used. and which IS so
| thoroughly fire-proof.
To support this enormous mass of
brick and stone upon the waters sur
| lace, great care was taken with the
| foundations, which were made seven
teen feet deep, resting on huge cypress
| logs Land IN fiat and solid. To oallOw the
building to settle evenly, the walls were
held together by strong iron bands, rod 5
and bolts ,)laced IN the arches, which
remained IN their places over thirty
years Notwithstanding all the pre-
| cautions taken 10 secure firm fOunda-
ton, the building sank rs much as two
feet on one corner, and 1t became
| necessary To abandon the original plan
| and substitute an iron corniCe IN place
of the one OF stone, as contemplated
IA the plan. Work was continued al
intervals during the past thirty years
a. long as the appropriations held out.
At one time 1t was under the superin-
iendence of General, then Major, Beau
| regard. Ii Will require several years
yet To complete this great edltice.
| Dimensions of the Building.
The building, which is 81 feet high
l i..t- ~ - .A.af
ON Canal-st, by depth on Decatur-st. OF
297 feet, and on Peters-st. of 800 feet,
and it Is constructed of Quincy, Mass.
granite. The total cost to November
1884, was 81 ,2l2, ,36S 30, and 81 900 ,O0e
more will be required to complete the
| work. On the Decatur-st. side Is the
post-Office, the corridor OF which Is 2i7
feet long.
| Ascending to the principal floor 10y
the main entrance on Canal-st., the
visitor enters a wide vestibule, with iron
columns supporting large skylightS OF
thick glass. Passing through this YES
tible hall Is reached. which extend:
around the whole building, and with
| which all the offices communicate.
Marble Hall.
In the centre of the building. withir
the passage, - the Marble Hall" )" TN,
large business room of the customs
department. Marble Hall IS consid
cred by all tourists To be- one of the
handsOmest rooms IN existence. Al
though not SO large as the far fameo
St. Georges Hall. of Liverpool, Eng
land, II Is said to be more remarkabl,
from the fact that nothing but marble
and iron has been used IN Its constTuc
ton. This noble apartment measure
l24xsI feet with a height OF D feet. 4
one end are panels with lIfe-size ba:
reiiefs Of Bicnville, the founder of New
| Orleans. and Jackson It's defender, BE-
tween whom Is placed the coat-of-arm
of Louisiana, the pelican feeding Il
young. The root, consisting CT an lror
frame, painted white and gold, int,
which are set enormous plates of heavy
| ground glass with a blue GreClaT
border Of elegant design. Is supportc,
by fifteen columns Of pure white mar
bic. fOrty-one feet high.
| These Huted columns cost 5000 eaci
| making $50 600. These columns hav,
handsomely carved capitals, represent
ing plants and emblematic heads. tn,
floor : OF white and black marble, viii
pieces of heavy glass set IN 20 give Ugh
to the rooms below.
| United states Csstem Department.
| Around the hall are white marhl'
counters, occupied BY officers OF th'
| customs. Here vessels are entered ans
| cleared from all known ports If IN
| world. Duties are collected. and Al
| business relating to the commerce %
New Orleans and AL parts If the worlg
has tO be- transacted IN this hall