Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-17
RECORD OF ENTIRE SEASON.
DRIVING THOUSANDS OF PILES.
The Work of the Site on the New City Post
ONCE.

The Work of the Site on the New City Post
once.
''Sav. what are you building here?" said q
well-known business man At the Office con-
nected with the new city post Office.
The clearing Of the big square opposite THE
STAR Office would seem to have made such a
gap in the city that even without the talk and
columns which have been printed in the papers,
every citizen of the District should be fully
aware that huge city pos. Office building was
in course Of construction at that point. Sad.
however, is the commentary on human in
telligence such is not the case, and not a day
passes that several persons and residents of the
city many well known, drop in the superintend-
en,s office and asks In all innocence what is
going on.
They all realize. however. that something is
going on, and such Is certainly the fact BY
large majority. Inside the fence, from the su-
perintendents Office clear back to the rear
fence. there is a scene OF activity. In Mr.
Stewards Office are enough maps and plans,
seemingly, to build city. although exam
nation shows that each one has a purpose and
tells clearly some story Of the construction.
THE PILES ALL NUMBERED.
One map shows the excavations and is dotted
over in all points with little rings showing the
1000 piles which are to be driven. The map is
complete in every way, showing the work to be
done and that which has been accomplished
each day. Each ring. representing a single
pile. is numbered in such a way that by refer
eEce TO a file hook the inquirer can find at a
glance just what day such particular pile was
driven, which pile driver did the driving and to
what depth the timber descends The system,
in short, Is perfect and the same thorough
decentralization OF detail will undoubtedly be
carried out by Mr.. Stewart
LIKE BIO PrNcUsHIox.
Inside the Enclosure a number of different
operations are going on. In the deep e1cava-
ton the north front the surface looks a good
deal like huge pincushion. Hundreds Of piles
have been driven in at close intervals, while
two steam pile drivers pound in others with
the regularity OF the ticking of huge
clock. Some Of the piles have been cut of
close 20 the surface while others are still TO be
sawed Up on the high ground men are cut
ing and sharpening the long timbers and haul
ing them down TO their places. There is some
little water In the hollows although no trouble
has been met with In this particular. As the
piles are driven further and further through
the different strata some water usually comes
up, first making its appearance on the top of
the timber, having come up through the wood
itself by capillary attraction. Afterward some
water appears around the timbers.
-FOUR THOUSAND IN ALL
In all 1000 piles are to be driven, and al
ready l,loO are in place, and the work is going
on more rapidly each day. The piles are driven
In at a varying depth, ranging from II feet to
246 feet, and averaging 1871 feet. They are
simply driven until a Arm foundation is
reached. This work must be finished BY the
last day OF October. Nearly all the excavation
has been completed.
The piles are cut OF so that the tops are o
foot and half belows low-water mark On
These piles viii rest heavy timbers, which are
already being unloaded at the wharf. Before
these timbers are placed, however, the surface
OF the excavations will be concreted up to the
top Of the piles. The cross timbers will then be
placed and the concrete filed in to a level with
their tops. On this foundation the stone foot
ing will be laid.
The contracts on the post office will con-
stantiy be kept tapping each other.