Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-13
A GRIM DETERMINATION.
Wen Are Working On the Post Omce
Despite the Rain.

Despite the Rain.
Were 1t not for the grim determination of
the managers of the farce that is being en-
acted on the square bounded by 1lth, 18th.
and ID streets northwest, in this city, to
hrish the trench on the north side of the
new city post office before another week
shall have begun. the total of men al work
on that slumbering pile would today be very
meager. Yesterday the eight-hour law was
again smashed into smithereens, and The
laborers were kept at work until after G
o'clock, without any extra money. The
emergency was created by the fact that
one small contract. let long after it should
have been, was in danger of treading on
the heels of a large contract itself very
much behind time. But the extra effort did
not succeed in finishing the work, and so
the laborers were hired once again today,
thirteen of them, and set to work in the
rain. which normally puts an end to outdoor
efforts.
This was not the only sign of a Grim De-
termination to get through what has proved
to be very dIsagreeable job. The coming
of a little rain did not effect stoppage OF
the work on the great stones for the main
entrance, for an awning was stretched over
the east end of the portico and there three
men worked all day. careless of the mois-
ture and happy in the chance to add to
their earnings.
These two facts of themselves should
demonstrate that there is no disposition on
the part OF the brains of the enterprise to
let the Drawn Of Washington suffer from
lack of employment. Sixteen men working
daily every working day of the year would
finish the building on or about the 4th of
March, 1909, on which day would be inaug-
urated the third national administration fol-
lowing the present one. These sixteen men,
as is seen by the experience of today. could
work right straight through all kinds of
weather. rain or shine. They are hustlers
the way.
There were 40 men at work on Monday,
AZ on Tuesday, 35 on Wednesday, 10 on
Thursday-Ihe Stars original figures will
have to stand until actually disproved-
50 on Friday and 1G tcday. This makes an
average for the present week of 30 IL men,
as against an average of 3S 1-6 for last
week. The average of the two weeks end
ing today, therefore, Is 81 1-3 men. There
has been but one unfavorable day in that
period. and. today. as said. there is no ces-
sation of the work.
That fraction of a man quoted in the
averages must not be mistaken for Little
Willie, who has gone from the site without
promise having been given Of when he is
to return. He may be still waiting for
schooners or he may be looking for a job
as water boy on scme other building. He
Ho %sy =. sof s,s seeso 81 be HDteciasea over the
The mention OF conE ari0ons the other
day has brought into the ONCE Of The Star
several instances Of quick work on large
buildings. There il space for only an oc-
caaonal instance. The most recent con-
struction In this city tf large dimensions is
the Cairo Flatn. which 10 now nearing COM
pietion.' This - an siron-frame building,
like the city post once. with a masonry
wall around the beamAs The iron work was
begun on the 25th Of A4afth last, and the
stone work was started on the 10th of May.
The proprietor says that he will open his
house on the LIST OF December, which will
make record of en- ptirely completing this
great pile. thirteen stories in height, In
eight months and Ave days. The city post
once. which is of course. much larger in
ground space, though not SO tall. has now
been under way two years. seven months
and twenty-four days. and is now but
about one-ffth finished.
The rosy hopes Of the superintendent of
the building about the start on the second
story stone work have been shattered. The
iron vork at the Northeast corner is still
undore. several ue-beans remaining to be
put In place. and the blae derrick that is
to hoist the stone to the walls has not yet
been elevated The finishing touches to
this corner fr9ns have, ,been under way for
about three days. aIsd little or no progress
has been made. Mr.. Kinoey said to the re-
porter three days asp that he would have
the stone work starred this week, but to-
day II does not look sas though 1t would be
begun much before Wednesday of next
week. IL then. There was no work done on
the ircn frames toesy.