Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-07-14
VIM BxpEND $3.50 900 HERE.
The Plans for the New Post-ofico Re-
ceiyed from Washington by superin-
teudent Eeorpc H. Hollis

ceiVeU from washington ny superln-
tendent George II. Hollis.
Superintendent George II. Hollis re-
ceived on Saturday from the office of the
supervising architect at Washington the
complete plans for tho new government
building at Ninth and Shipley streets.
The contracts will be immediately adj
vertised for, and following the award work
Will commence on the new structure.
The significance OF This is an expendi-
tnre of $3.50 O0, the larger share of which
will be IN this city. A sum of slS5, 900 is
Immediately available and in addition the
sale value Of the present Federal Building
can be adued to the expenditure fund in
the future.
1.-THE building can now go on until
finished" was the gratifying statement of
Superintendent Hollis to reporter.
In general terms" Mr.. Hollis added,
''it means the employment OF 100 men for
two years.
In regard to the furnishing Of material,
all The stone, brick, mortar, &C., will be
obtainable directly here, "and,n added
Superintendent Hollis, II see no reason
whatever why the iron work should not
be contracted for and manufactured right
in Delaware
Mr.. Hollis is enthusiastic on the idea of
an extra effort being made by Delaware
iron construction men, so that the whole
Of the new Wilmington post.otiice struc.
ture may 60 on record as having been built
by Delawareans.
"Let MS spend the whole of this money
in our own community" he says, 81 think
if our people bestir themselves they can
easily do ii. We can keep every dollar of
the money right here in Wilmington"
The money for the cash expenditures
will be deposited in the First National
Bank and will be drawn upon in monthly
acquisitions,
The stone work will very probably be
Brandywinc granite. There will be a de-
mand for about 10000 bricks, which conf
modify our local brickyards can readily
supply,
a full set of plans is on view nc the
Builders Exchange and another at Super
intendent Hollis office, No. . East Fourth
street
The work will be put out in two con-
tracts No. | for the lrOnwork and No. .
for the stone, brick and mortar. The
drauGht plans comprise a score of big
blueprint sheets. The bids close August
LIST.
Now that the plans are in hand the old
question arises why it has been that there
was such a delay in the final receipt of
them.
The story comes ont that it was caused
largely by contest between the Connect
cut brown'stUne men and the granite men.
Fortunately, after a long fight and II close
investigation OF the greater advantages of
the two materials the decision has at
length been given in favor of granite,
which means that native Delaware ma
terial will he used for the stone construc-
ton OF the new post-oilce instead of the
product Of another state. Had it been de-
cided otherwise, Connecticut people would
have got all the profit on that share of the
Al. 4t..tEE Ia 4. 1
it, there is little doubt but that the credit
of this bit of success is due almost entirely
to Mr.. Hollis personal efforts.
THE NEW PLANs.
The new plans are for building the en-.
tire walls OF which are TO be of granite,
the doors and window stills, cOpings
mouldings and cornices to be of dressed
stone. The roof is to be of copper and
slate. The ground plan Of the building is
7SXl5S feet; the main walls about 90 feet
high, and the height of the tower, which
will contain Il clock, will be about 100 feet.
The building will sit 81 feet O inches back
from the usual building line, and will have
passagew;ly 40 feet wide in the rear.
The changes in the interior of the build
ing will be reversion Of the order of the
second plans The entrance ut the end of
the building has been removed from
Orange to SIMPLIFY street, and the stairway
and elevator will be built in that end of
the building. There will be but one step
corridor at the Shipley street end, AM, four
steps ut the main entrance on Ninth
street. This change avoids the high steps
at the Orange street end of the building
which formed an Objectionable feature Of
the second plan, and also reduces the mum
Der of steps ut the main entrance from
seven to four.
The first floor and basement of the
building will be occupied by the post
office. A corridor will extend along the
front of the building from Shipley street
and end at the window of the money order
and registered letter department. The
assistant postmaster'S room will be back
OF the money order department, and the
postmaster's office in the southeast corner
Of the building and Immediately in the
rear OF the Shiplcy street entrance. The
basement rooms will be finished for the
Use of the post-otiice department.
The second floor will he occupied BY the
United States court room, judges office,
grand jury room, clerk OF the courts
office, United States marshal's office and a
library.
The third floor will be occupied by the
custom house officials and the internal
revenue officers.
The original appropriation for this
o."i'4iHS was "i"V,oVu' ~ was Hiaue apout
eight years ago 1t was increased by 5lst
Congress to $3.50 900, and the present Con-
sress passed II bill ordering the old Federal
building in this city to be sold and the
proceeds to be applied TO the cost of the
new building. This, it is thought, will
bring the entire appropriation to $3.50, 1000
Of this sum sos, 900 has been spent on the
foundation and Site, leaving $4,000 TO
finish the structure, sum which will be
sufficient fer that purpose.