Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-31
ANDREWS HITS BACK.
He Says Secretary Window Intends
to Push the New PostOffce.
THE PLAN OFPENALTY CONTRACTS.
The Confidential Errand of Mr.. Windrim's
Expert Inspector.
how MALONE WILL HURRY THE WORK

There are briars in Architect Malone's
path Just at present He has been sur
prised by the vigorous shaking up that the
Government building has lately received,
and his friends and himself are claiming
that the charges of inactlon are being made
to veil personal matters, and that the recent
ruction is being used as a lever to force him
out of Office. The views of Colonel james
P. Andrews, given DISPATCH represent
ative at some length yesterday, are of in
terest, as it is shown in just what manner
Secretary Window and Supervising Archi-
tect Windrim look upon the matter, and
what steps they intend to take.
Colonel Andrews said: "I called on Sec
retarv Window on private business. When
it had been concluded he said, abruptly:
How is this Pittsburg Government build
ing matter?'
81 told Mr.. Window that.if the building
could be completed and turned over to the
Federal officials within year it would Gre
ate as big sensation as a millennium. Mr..
Window then asked when 1 thought the
building could be completed, and told him by
the first Of October, in my opinion. He sent
messenger for Mr.. Windrim, who came up
stairs He asked me the same question, and
gave him the same answer as Mr.. Window re-
ceived.
well said Mr.. Windr1m, that's what
every man we have sent to PittsburC said. Col
that the building could be hustled to an early
completion, and said that the people he met in
Pittsburg were clever enough to have some
thing special done for them
I'D NJ a1riFa hat Onrl1d hn dnno Il
hurry matters, and he replied that Mr. Pattison
would make an inspection of the building and
hurry back to Washington, and that after
hearing the report immediate action would be
taken. Mr.. Windrim spoke with much energy
on the subject, and said very distinctly that IN
some way new life must be infused into the
matter. He said that he had had note from
Mr. Wanamaker asking that every effort be
made to provide Mr., Mexican with new quar-
ters. Mr.. Window assured me when left the
Treasury building that something radical
would be done right away.
NoAX TO GRIND.
my interest in this matter is simply that of
a private citizen who happens to know that the
entire construction of such building is small
matter, and the finishing of it mere trI1e. I
don't know Mr.. Malone, but 1 cannot help be-
lleving that his course has been dilatory. 1
will Just give you an illustration. You place
contractor in a position where he can clear
would be a fool to consume eight months.
With an architect the condition is just re-
versed. The slow-going methods of the past
have escaped notice, but il Mr.. McKean's
efforts and the influence OF his friends can
cause change in the meter, the community
will applaud no matter whose personalteelngs
are injured.
Il told Mr. Window that Pittsburgers were
exasperated with the slow progress and the
endless delays, and am free to say that such
n has hooT1 he T11l "
is an outrage upon the community, and Mr..
Window said that now that the matter had
been properly presented to him. he would make
a decided change. l am entirely disinterested,
for there is not the remotest consideration
which would tempt me to touch such contract.
/ have simply asserted that any one OF dozen
ing in hand and finish it. would like to see
the work classified, and let out on penalty con-
tracts and Mr.. Malone could draw up specifi-
cations and supervise the work under such
conditions, Just as well as any other contrac-
tor"
Colonel Andrews was asked to instance some
comparisons in the way of laying stone. He
said: Well take the old Government building
for an instance. 1t was built by me; one of my
first contracts, by the way. do not remember
the year, but we started work in the early
spring. The foundry of Bollman & Garrison
was torn down. and the excavations made be-
fore foot of stone was laid. The walls were
up and the roof on before cold weather, and
the cast iron beams and arches were all con-
sUructed as the work went along. Any building
of the size of the new Government building
ought to be easily finished in Is months. The
stone in the St. Louis bridge was laid at the
rate of 450 cubic yards a day. 1t Is no use to
say that anything is impossible in the line of
building l am convinced that there will be a
new deal on the Government building, and that
justifes the agitation in progress"
Mr.. PATTISoN RATHER MUM.
Joseph N. Pattison, whose official position in
the Treasury Department at Washington is
that of Inspector of Repairs for Public Build
ings, arrived in the city yesterday, put up at
the Seventh Avenue Hotel, and spent the day
inspecting the new postofice and talking with
Superintendent Malone.
Mr.. Pattison is the confidential agent of Su-
pervising Architect Windrim. His reports are
made personally to that gentleman. He is an
expert architect, being noted for many years
in Philadelphia. He is about so years old tall,
with sandy sidewhiskers He looked over the
Fedral building very carefully. and spent about
two hours conversing with Mr.. Malone in his
Office. While Mr.. Pattison was recognized by
Mr.. Malone as an important official of the
Treasury Department, and was given every
facility to obtain information, he did not tell
Mr.. Malone the object of his visit, nor did he
reveal the drift of his instructions.
Mr.. Pattison was visited last evening by re-
porter. He was exceedingly reluctant to talk
at all about his visit. He said that, while he
came on public business, the nature of his
work was confidential and to be revealed to
Mr.. Windrim alone. He said that his trip to
Pittsburg was not special. He is on a tour to
the West being directed to visit public build
ings in other cities. He admitted that he had
instructions to make some special inquiries in
regard to the Pittsburg postofice. Mr.. Patti
son said that he thought the new building
ought to be finished within two years, perhaps
in year and a half. He believed that the
first floor could be completed for occupation
by the postmaster within nine months.
Mr. Malone returned home yesterday morn
ing from Washington, where he had a long in
Jerview with Mr.. Windrim. The latter said
that he wanted the work pushed. Mr. Malone
said that better progress could be made only
by working the full force at night as well as by
day. He was asked to sendto the department
a written statement of the manner in which the
work can be hurried. He will recommend the
erection of electric lights all over the struc-
ture. The force will be increased to go, three
times the number now employed. As soon as
his recommendations are approved by the de-
partment the changes will be made.
Mr.. Malone is paying little or no attention to
the petitions which are in circulation asking
for his removal. He does not believe that they
will have any weight with either the Secretary
of the Treasury or the Supervising Architect.
WAS 1T AN ANARCHIST?