Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-16
DECIDED ON A DATE.
The New Postoffice to Be Ready for
Occupancy by August l.
EVERYBODY Is READY TO MOVE
Out of the Dingy Old Quarters as Soon as
the Word Is Given.
WORK Is PROGRESSING RAPIDLY

After II years of waiting Pittsburg now
has the assurance of being accommodated
with a new postoffice within a very short
period of time, and unless some unforeseen
obstacle turns up to stop the progress of
work as mapped out by those in charge
the lower floor of the new Government build
ing on Smithfeld street, set aside for the
use of the United States mail service, will
be completed and ready for occupancy on or
before August 1.
Heretofore the date of the completion of
matter of speculation, and nobody was GER
tain Just when it would be ready, but the
work has now progressed SO far that definite
calculations can be made. The first day of
August will certainly see the lower floor
completed and probably the new postofice
fitted up.
Pushing the Work Forw ard.
Ever since Architect Pattison took charge
of the work things have been pushed for
ward with all possible haste, his only object
being the finishing of the work at as early
date as could be.
Nobody is better pleased over the speedy
master Mexican. When he entered his off ce
he contemplated among his first labors the
preparations for moving. Future circum-
stances, however. showed him the fallacy of
such thoughts and he settled down to another
dreary winter in the crowded quarters of the
old building. The postmaster can get every
thing ready to move on very short notice. and
promises that there will be no delay on his
part.
'All our efforts are now being centered on the
completion of the postofice apartments" said
Architect Pattison yesterday. ''Government
work cannot be hurried along like private en-
terprise owing to the fOrmalities necessary to
be gone through with the Department at
Washington. To illustrate this we have found
it necessary to make the foun dation of the rear
building several feet deeper and 1t requires sew
eral weeks TO get an order from the department
TO do il. We have devIated from the regular
method of construction in order to get the lower
floor finished for the postoffice. Other parts of
the building have not been hurried SO much. as
they are not needed SO badly, and work on them
can be pushed on in the regular way after the
postoffice people are in."
Putting ON the Final Touches.
The pasterers are practically through with
the building. having only few places to finish
which cannot be worked on until some of the
other contractors get through. Work on the
marble wainscoting is well under way. The
screens separating the working department of
the postoffcc from the corridors running
around it will be on hand in ten days ready for
putting up. The money order and registry
rooms are being rapidly finished up. The
private Office of the postmaster, superintendent
of carriers and others are yet i'll a state of in
completeness, but can be finished in time for
the rest. Work on the iron stairRays has been
started.
Down in the cellar the big boilers to furnish
steam for heating the building are being
blocked into place, and the concrete work is
almost done. The large skylight in the center
of the building covers the entire space set
aside for the working department of the post
office, and everything below it will be painted
pure white in order to afford the greatest light
possible.
Some of the frames for the big windows have
arrived and others will all be on hand soon. In
the registry room the glass is being put in the
sash. All the court rooms and offices on the
upper floors are practically completed leaving
only few minor finishing touches to be made.
While some of the contractors have been
little tardy about getting their work started,
Architect Pattison Is hopeful of a speedy COM
pletion of the entire structure.