Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-03

The plans for the new city post Office are
now on their rounds Of the Post Office and In
terror Departments for approval They have
been signed by Gen. Spaulding. the acting
Secretary OF the Treasury. and are now
being examined by the experts in Mr
Wanamakers Office. 1t is not expected that
the process will take very much time. In fact,
the Postmaster General has assured Mr.. Ed
brooke. the supervising architect that he would
permit no unnecessary delay in the examination
OF the plans. 1t is in his Office that such
matters usually hang fire. and the signature
of the sketches by Secretary Noble. the third
member of the commission. is not accom-
panied by any delaying forms or processes.
LOOKING AFTER THE FOUNDATION.
The architect is paying a good deal OF atten-
tion at present to the subject of a foundation
for the structure. Several schemes have been
suggested to him, but before he decides
or any plan he will have test borings
made on the square for the purpose
OF obtaining some accurate data as TO the char
acter OF the soil and the depth of the "hard
pan or rock bottom. That there is such a bot
tom near the surface he has no doubt and
he hopes to find it at depth Of not more than
forty or forty five feet.
In THE event he will undoubtedly use piling
ana Will drlve clear down to the hard pan.
Among the plans sent in to Mr.. Edbrooke for
examination in this connection is that of pat
ent caisson pile hollow cylinder of sheet
iron sunk into the soil and filed with concrete.
though the architect has not gone into any
examination of the details of the plan. he does
not believe that II lis sufficiently economical
Tor the present purposes. especially the
chances are so great that solid bottom can be
reached comparatively near the surface. Yet
he has made no decision.
GOT ALL THE SPACE HE WANTS.
The superintendent of the construction, Mr..
Steward. has gained his point from the District
Commissioners in the matter of the space to be
allowed around the square for storage and shed
purposes. He asked for five feet from the
curb on c and 18th streets. ten feet on ID
street and twenty feet on llth street. There
was some objection TO the last item of twenty
feet, but Mr.. Steward convinced the Commits
sloners that the space for which he asked will
really be meager when the building begins TO
grow and there are cartloads of materials 10 be
stored and handled, derricks to be erected and
engines to be planted.
THE NINE-FooT FENCE.
The fence, nine feet high, that is to inclose
the work, will be erected on the line indicated
by the figures given, twenty feet from the curb
on llth street, five feet on and 18th streets
and ten feet on ID street or the avenue front
This. of course. includes tine sidewalks and
trees, and care will be taken to preserve the
latter from injury.
Where the fence line on ID street strikes the
avenue line II will be DETECTED and continued
on diagonal course until 1t meets the llth
street line.
This will be done to avoid the presentation of
an awkward and unsightly corner jutting out
into the thoroughfare
The superintendent's office will be located in
a temporary structure built within the fence on
the north side.