Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-27

FOR THE ERECTION OF AN EIaHr-sroRY BUILD
INa-woRK GOING ON RAPIDLY.
Supervising Architect Edbrooke left the CITY
at noon today for New York in company with
Assistant Secretary Nettleton for the purpose
OF inspecting some government work now in
progress in the metropolis He will return on
Monday and will endeavor to get his sketch for
the new Washington city post Office before the
Secretary Foster is still confined to his
house, but will be able to give
his attention to this matter by next week. It
Is not the custom for this commission, which
Is established by law for the purpose Of pass
ing upon all such plans. to meet when u sketch
is submitted, but the papers are passed from
department to department. ::and signed. This
smplifies matters considerably, as it is a diff
cult thing to get three cabinet officers together
for any length of time except at the White
House on Tuesdays and Fridays.
THE JOURNEY OF THE SKETCH.
The sketch will first be submitted to Secretary
Foster, with an endorsements. probably, by
Assistant Secretary Crounse. WHO has charge
of all matters relating to public buildings It
will then go to the Post Office Department,
and after going before q board of experts will
be laid before Mr.. Wanamaker. 1t is next
passed to Secretary Noble. and when his sig
nature is added to the other two the plan is
approved. The sketch is accompanied in these
travels by ground and floor plans descriptions
and as many details as possible.
TO BE ERECTED BY CONTRACT.
The building will be erected, according to
law. by contract let to the lowest responsible
bidder, the award being determined in some
degree by the length of time that he proposes
to take in the construction. 1t is estimated by
Mr. Edbrooke that at least two and not more
than three years will be needed in this case.
The building will occupy the entire space of
the square fronting north. of course. The ex-
cavations will therefore be very extensive and
the preparation of the foundation will be a
matter Of the greatest importance in view of
the large size Of the structure. This work alone
will occupy many months.
PLING WILL PROBABLY BE NECESSARY
The difficulties encountered at the site Of the
power house, two squares above. in the form
of soft soils TO a considerable depth will prob
ably be duplicated in square 1913, as there are
records at hand to show that the streak of soft
ness extends over a large space and undoubt-
eddy includes the ground to be covered by the
post office. 1t Is understood that Gen. Meigs
made soundings' in this square when
he searching for, site for the
pension office and found this to be the case
The architect has come to the conclusion that
pilinS. such b has been used at the power
house. will be necessary, hut he thinks that it
will be well, in view of the greater size of the
building to be put up for post office, to Use q
large amount Of steel In the construction Of the
foundation.
SOLID FOUNDATION NEEDED.
An eight-story building, such as the law re-
qnires in this case, needs very solid pedestal
and no efforts will be spared to insure perfect
rigidity.
In the case Of the power house 2, 200 piles
were driven to an average depth of about
thirty five feet where they struck something
hard. 1t is thought by the contractor that this
substance was rock, but of this there is NO alb
solute certainty. A very hard clay exists some
distance below the surface in this region and
this is considered by some to be the base for
the pi!ing. In the of building of the
size OF the power house such base is undoubt-
edly sufficient, but with an eight-story granite
pile 1t Is essential to get down to rock bottom.
THE CONTRACT Fer ExcAvArIoS.
The contract for excavation will probably be
awarded before the buildings now occupying
the square are destroyed, The limit on MIR.
Nash contract expires about January Is, and
this gives ample time for the approval Of the
plans. the final establishment of ground lines
the preparation of specifications, the al vertise-
ment for bids and the award of contract, and
with enough of a margin Of time for the con-
tractor to make ready for the work.
Meanwhile a nine-fOot fence will be erected
around the square just as soon as the progress
Of the work Of demolition will permit. At
present the buildings are melting like wax, and
1t looks as il the square might be quite cleared
before the expiration Of the sixty days.