Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-20
ADOLF CLUSS HERE.
An Inspector of United States Build
ings Reaches Pittsburg.
HE VISITS THE OLD POSTOFFICE.
This Morning he Will Call Upon superin-
tendent N. L. Malone.
GREAT POSSIBILITIES IN THE AIR.

Adolf Cluss, the veteran Inspector of
United States Buildings, arrived in this
citysyesterdsy morning and is stopping at
the Hotel Central. He came here directly
from Detroit, and will remain here two or
three days. His visit will probably be an
interesting one for Pittsburg people.
Mr. Cluss is an architect of 30 years
practice in Washington City. For many
years his business was with Government
buildings, being called in by the official
architects as an adviser. Upon the ap-
pointing of Mr.. Windrim as Supervising
Architect of the Treasury Department, Mr..
Cluss was called to his present position.
He is tall German, with gray hair and
beard.
Mr.. Cluss remained inhis room nearly all
day yesterday. He caught a severe cold In
Detroit, and is somewhat under the weather.
During the afternoon he visited the old
postofice and looked over its crowded
quarters.
To reporter for THE DISPATCH he said
last night: 1.-THE business of the Supervising
Architects Bureau has grown to be so i'm
mense that it has become necessary to have
q man travelling all the time, generally over
seeing the construction of public buildings.
make the rounds regularly, so that my
coming here at this time is no reflection
whatever upon the management of Mr..
Malone, the superintendent Of your new
building. No complaints regarding him
have been put into my hands.
HAS NO INSTRUCTIONS.
81 have been away from Washington for
three months, so that 1 have no direct in
structions from the department. in regard to
my work here. 1t is probable that instruc-
tions have been sent to me by letter. If so
the letters would be sent in care of Mr..
Malone. have not been able to get out to
see him to-day, but will call on him at his
Office In the morning.
''My business will have to do with both
the old postofice and the one now under
construction. Your present postoffice is very
much overcrowded, and some plan of relief
must be found. Besides inspecting the Gov
ernment buildings, have business here of
another character. Some of your Pittsburg
firms have contracts for making structural
iron for federal buildings in other cities. 1
want to drop in ON them and see how they
are performing the work.
"Since nv visit here last October have
been inspecting public buildings as far
West as Nevada 1 spent some time in
Chicago, looking over the postofice and Gus
tom house there. For several years the
building was settling, and large cracks in
IL resulted. The. ceilings and floors we're
badly injured. Repairs made from time to
time were not altogether effective, because
the settling was still going on. Now that
settling seems to have stopped, so that other
repairs can be made. They will not neces-
sarily be very extensive, some plastering
and the laying Of new tile floors. Iron rods
were put through the building about three
years ago.
WORKING IN EASEMENTS.
Notwithstanding the fact that the build
ing is a very large one, the postoffice
quarters are already crowded. Chicago's
business has Inc reased so rapidly. About
700 men are engaged at work in the base
ment, where it was not intended that they
should work. It is proposed to build large
additions. of iron and glass, on the sides. to
accommodate the postoffice work. My work
there was done in conjunction with Mr..
Bell, who was formerly Supervising Arehi-
tect of the Treasury, and is now superin-
tendent of repairs in Chicago.
''In Detroit my work was to see what
could be done to enlarge the quarters of the
present postofice. The building there was
erected in 1854, when Detroit had a popu-
lation of 20, 900. Now its population, am
well satisfied after careful inquiry, is 25O,-
900. The Office is very badly overcrowded
'fMy work in Detroit will give some idea
of my work here. It is impossible to say
now what recommendations ] shall make
concerning the present postofiee. My visit
to-day showed it to be badly overorowded." !"