Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-15
REMOVING THE VEIL,
The New Government Building Will
be Ready for the Public's Gaze
by Christmas Day.
AN ADDITION FOUND NECESSARY
10 Accommodate the Now Largely Increased
Business of the Pittsburg
Postoffice.
HUNTING AN ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANT
Postmaster KcKsan VIII Have Grand Opening in th,
Early Spring.

Uncle Sam Will give the inhabitants OF
Pittsburg a Christmas gilt in the form of
an unobstructed view OF the new postofice.
On Thursday next there will be sale at
the building of the big board fence, with its
overcoat of circus posters, the booms, der
ricks and old lumber that has accumulated,
and the engines and hosting machinery used
in the construction of the building. 1t will
be sacrifice sale, and purchasers will have
to remove their bargains before December %.
The exterior stonework of the building is
now being pointed, and the dirt of decade
is being washed of with acids. Theretis
very little work to be done on the outside of
the building proper. and it will be made to
look its best Christmas Day.
Superintendent Pattison is reticent as to
the date of the removal OF the Postofhce
Department to its new quarters, but says
it will be an agreeable surprise to Pitts
burgers.
Before the Rare Days of June.
In reply to the query, "Will the new crop
of postofice loafers make their first appear
ance with June roses in their buttonholes?"
Mr.. Pattisou said: "Well, don't want to
fix date because something might happen
to cause delay, but L think it is safe to
say that we will have the floors for the post
Office ready early in the spring"
All the contractors are huStling with
their work. Samuel L Pope & Co., of Chi
cago, have the contract for putting in the
steam fittings aud natural gas heating at
tschments, and their representative is on
the ground. Mr.. Pattison has received per-
mission from Washington to arrange for a
temporary supply OF natural gas, and has
already contracted for supply of fuel.
This will enable him to heat the building
to such an extent that there the weather will
not delay the progress of The work.
The plasterers will commence work this
morning. 1t will take them six or seven
weeks to complete the work Oh the first
floor, but in the meanwhile they will be
making good headway on the upper floors.
At the same time the GLACIERS and painters
will be kept busy, and the man with the
contract to tile the floor will be moving
right along. These contracts can be flied
simultaneously, without any interference,
and will probably be completed at about the
same time.
Good Contracts to be Awarded.
MAJ 4AuAoud1 - bllS IslSG udN the re-
ceptiOn of bids for the concrete work in the
basement, and the bids for the approaches
to the postofice must be all in by the 22nd
inst. For som. unexplained reason there
are but few bids for the latter contract, al
though it is a large and remunerative job.
- Another contract yet to be awarded, al
though it's not expected to greatly exceed
$1,000, is important, as it shows that while
the new postofice has been in course of
erection the city has almost outgrown it. 1t
has been decided to erect one-story. iron-clad
building, reaching from the OF the post
ofice TO the line of Cherry alley, for the hand
ling of mail as it comes from or is being sent to
the railroad depots. The mail wagons will
enter Cherry alley at Third avenue, drive up to
the proposed addition. and then pass through
TO Fourth avenue. This will prevent confusion
and collision.
The postofice department on the third floor
will be very handsome, and will receive it's
light from the glass roof of the building. The
upper floors consist of galleries around the
great, square deep well. the different Offices and
court rooms opening off the galleries. MIR. Pat
IlSon Is of the opinion that the building is
plenty large enough for the purposes to which
ii Is designated, with the exception, perhaps
OF the postnfice. He believes, however that it
Will be several years before this department is
crowded.
Something to be Proud or
The postotice department will be very hand
some. The screens or partitions which will
conceal the posJoffice employees from the man
who wants his mail will be highly ornamental
and run around and practically conceal the
outside row OF pillars. The pillars in the in
terror Will be decorated from their bases on the
nrst floor until they are lost in blaze of light
where they support the crystal roof. The in
terror arrangements and furnishings will be of
the latest design and are calculated to econo-
mize space.
Superintendent Pattison has run against a
rather peculiar snag. which shows how electric
lighting has taken bold of Pittsburg, and that
the demand exceeds the supply. Mr.. Pattison
wanted about 30 electric lights placed in the
building temporarily, that the workmen
could put in full days regardless of cloudy
weather He went TO all the electric light COM
panies, but none could spare him lamp or the
power to operate ii. Finally Mr.. Pattison was
compelled to order complete electric light
Outnt. dynamos and ALL which will be placed in
the building this week.
To-day the work of Stating the roof will be
commenced and number of men will be
turned loose putting in the many safes and iron
vaults contracted for. In fact. before the year
closes, all the important work on the building
will be well under way nearly completed.