The record-union., 1893-12-11
TIE new FEDERAL BUILDING.
Some Account Of the Handsome
Structure.
The Beautiful Woodwork-The Stone.
Brick, Iron and Wall Work
of the Edifice.

The Federal building at the corner OF
Seventh and X streets nears completion
under the efficient superinfendence OF
General Cosby, who succeeded In that
Office Architect Seadler. When 1t was
announced some years ago that Congress
had made an appropriation for Federal
building in Sacramento, it was forecast
that it would be full decade before the
city would be able to congratulate itself
on the completion of the building.
A DECADE.
They who thus prophesied were more
nearly correct in their forecast than the
great mass of the people believed they
were, for the appropriation was mace
May 3, 1885, and the building Will be
ready for occupation February, 1894. so
that the prophecy of decade falls short
but one year.
On the Sd of March, 1885, Congress ap-
propriated 100000 for the constructor! OF OF
a Postoffice and Federal offices building
in Sacramento. The late Senator Stan
ford. when asked about that approprla-
ton, remarked: at will not give Sacra-
mento such building as 1t needs. III VIII
not give you the proper building-lt is
only a beginning. and it is better 10 pe
patient; more will come"
MORE MONEY.
So il did, and June Z, 1888, Congress
gave S5O, 900 more for the Federal build
ing in Sacramento, and March 5, 1871, II
added to the sum Sl5O,OO0. 80 toat SoOG;,
600 was finally appropriated. AS IL VIII
cost fully $1,000 to complete the ap-
nroaches. and as it required the expend-
iture of 81. 400 for the Postotfice boxes,
and as the furniture, payment Tor Whlch
comes out of another than the construc-
ton fund, will amount TO propably p;
900, the building when completed VIII
cost nearly S3O3,OOO, for to date S''4of ol
the 100000 is uneXpended.
The site for the building was purchased
April 20. 1887, and cost when the trans
fers were all complete S40,17 30. The
expense Of preparation and other details
necessary to the beginning OF work was
50, sos So, and the whole amount spent to
this date is SZ92, SIC 81.
AREA OF LOT AND BUILDING.
The area of the lot upon which the
Federal building stands is indicated by
the bounds which are l6l feet Z inches
and l6l feet 4 inches on two sides. and
40 feet 81 inches and 40 feet 81 inches on
the other Two sides.
The length of the building is lis feet
inches and its width ION Seventh street,
IS feet 4 inches. But as it is irregular In
its outlines, these figures must be under
stood to represent the EXTREMIST reach OF
any part Of the building in length and
width.
THE BUILDING.
The building rests upon a foundation
sunk below the basement floor 10 feet
and inches. The hight from the base
ment to the first floor Is 10 feet .; from
the first TO the second floor, Is feet l;
from the second to the third floor, 10 feet
2: from the third to the fourth, l3 feet 2;
from the fourth to the fifth, IL feet 4;
from the fifth to the root of the tower, is
feet; from the roof to the hood or apex, ~
feet Z. Thus the total hight is ia feet 80
inches and from the footing, I2S feet 50
inches.
THE SEVERAL FLOORS.
The building is one of three floors, and
the remaining three floors are in the
spacious tower. On the main floor there
are besides the vaults, corridors, elevator
and halls, four large rooms; the work
room, one of the largest apartments in
the city, the PostmasteI's room, the room
Of the Assistant Postmaster, and the
money order and registry offices.
On the second floor are three looms for
the United States Land Office, one for the
Land Register with vault five rooms and
vault for the Internal Revenue Depart
ment, and great central corridor, into
which the elevator shaft opens.
On the third floor are rooms for the
mail clerks and carriers, and for the
Weather Service agent. and besides four
large unfinished rooms beneath the hip
roofs, main hall with elevator landing,
and the entrance to the tower.
The heating of the building is to be by
steam from three large boilers with plant
attached, which is being now put in place
by an Eastern firm, represented by Mr..
Lyons of Washington, d. c.
OF WHAT CONSTRUCTED.
The foundation OF the structure is OF
granite, and is of the most massive char
acter. The walls arising from this sub
structure are of Arizona red sandstone,
with brick lining. The stone is rough
hewn, except about the entrances and
along the story lines and cornice borders
where it is dressed and richly chiseled in
handsome scroll and other ornamental
designs.
Except the main entrance, all the open
ings of the building are severely plain
with rigid straight lines and a total alb
sence of curves, save in some of the up
per and the tower floors, where the open
ings are crowned by arches, as indicated
on the small cut printed herewith.
AREA RAIL.
AS the building sets back from the
street a short distance, with an area wal
intervening, there is to be placed along
this area wall, which is level with the
street grade. galvanized iron railing
supported by ornamental cast-iron posts
Where there is space between the ares
wall and the line of the sidewalk the
ground viii be sown to grass.
FINISHING
A contract is about to be let which i:
the last of all in the completion of the
structure, and that is for the building o
the approaches. These include the cement
sidewalks and platforms from them tt
the several entrances. and the semi-cir-
cular driveway in the rear. This drive
opens out of Oak Avenue with an IS
foot entrance on the west, and circles
around to the main rear entrance porch
where mails, fuel and supplies will be de-
livered, and finishes with All exit on the
east on Oak Avenue 10 feet wide.
will be constructed probably of bitumen
possibly of roughened artificial stone.
Between the curve of this drive and tht