Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-02
ALL HOPE NOT LOST.
The POstofice Will be Moved October
/, Says Mr.. PattisOn.
MAKING THE FIRST FLOOR READY
Mr.. Butz Says the Slow Stone Setting De-
layed the Iron Work.
ARCHITECT MALONE REFUSES TO TALK

There is every indication that Colonel
Andrews remark that he could complete
the new postofice building, or put 1t in
such shape, at least, that it could be occu-
pied by October 1, has done some good. In
spector Pattison is still in the city. He
spent all of yesterday at Superintendent
Malone's Office, and was so busy that an
ordinary person would have thought he had
assumed control.
''You can say to the Pittsburg people
now, that the first floor of this
building will be occupied by the
Postoffice before the snow falls next winter"
he said. ''I think can safely fix the time
as October ]. know the public is consid-
erably out of patience with the manner in
which this work has progressed, and can
not find fault with them for being 80. 1
fully appreciate the situation, and we are
going to push things from this out to our
utmost ability. As soon as one part of the
work is completed the contractors must be
ready to proceed with the next without de-
lay. This will be our policy from now un-
til the completion of the building, and I
am assured that it will be pursued to the
letter."
The positive manner in which the 1nspec-
tor expressed himself would seem sufficient
to justify the belief that Mr.. Pattlson knows
what he is talking about, and what ne says
will no doubt be carried out.
MALONE OUT OF HUMoR.
Superintendent Malone was not in q very
good humor yesterday. Heretofore he has
been extremely genial with newspaper men,
and seldom, if ever, has he refused to give
out a news item, if he possessed one. The
following will show how he has changed:
81 will positively have nothing to say to re-
porters In the future, said he. ''I have
talked too much now, and what have said
has been exaggerated"
"When will work be commenced on the
iron roof?" was asked.
II suppose it will be commenced in few
days"
"How long will it take to complete it?"
II don't think the public will be benefited
if answer that"
''It has been stated that the iron work
was detained by the slow progress of the
stone work. Is that fact, Mr.. Malone?"
ut is reasonable to suppose that the iron
work could not be put up until the stone
work was there to support il"
''Willit be possible to put up any Of the
interior work, such as fire. proofng and
plastering, before the roof is on?"
well, refuse to answer any more ques-
tions- The public has undertaken to die
tate to the supervising architect as to what
ought to be done. We are under his direc-
tions, and we cannot proceed beyond his in
structions."
THE IRON WORK DELAYED.
Mr.. Malone positively refused to answer
any further questions. Mr.. j. A. Butz, of
the Pennsylvania Construction Company,
was seen, and he made some very important
statements. The first contract for iron was
for the work on the first floor. The contract
was made in 1886, and was to be completed
in four months. Mr.. Butz asserts that they
were kept back by stonework for several
months. The second contract was made in
September OF 1887, and was to be completed
in February OF 1883. The contract included
the iron work for the second, third and
fourth floors, and it is still unfinished. Mr..
Butt said they have had iron work on the
ground for two years and a half, which
could not be put in place because the stone
work was not ready for them.
The work of putting up the pavilions on
the four corners will be commenced on
Monday, February 10. The corners are
ready for the pavilions, and the iron is
about ready for shipment from the works at
Uniontown. The mansard on the Smith
field street and Cherry alley sides will also
be commenced at the same time. Supervis-
ing Architect James H. Windrim has ap-
proved the plans for the remainder of the
iron work, and the material for the roof is
in the course of construction. 1t will take
about 95 days to finish it, and it will re-
quire about four or five weeks to put it up.
Several other contracts are depending on
the iron work, so that if the latter is de-
layed it is not absolutely certain that In
spector Pattison's promise can be made
good. Mr.. Butt, however, says there will
be no delay on their part. None of the in
terror work, such as the erection of the stair
ways or plastering can be done before the
roof is on. Some of the fre-proofng might
be done. Mr.. Butz thinks by pushing the
work, the POstofice can occupy the building
by October 1.