Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-07
Col. John NJ. Wilson viii Have
Direct Charge.
PLANS FOR. THE BUILDING


building was designed. and who is now
engaged in making the repairs and addi-
lions to the main building authorized in
the sundry civil appropriation act ap-
proved August 1S, 1894 The plans and
specifications Of the building are already
prepared. and active building operations
will begin as soon as certain necessary
preliminary arrangements have been per-
fected. There are many important details
yet to be perfected before entering upon
the work of construction, but it Is said at
the War Department that there will be no
unnecessary delay in the matter.
The Law for the New Building.
The law under which the new building is
to be erected is contained in provisions Of
the sundry civil appropriation bill APP
proved by the President March 2. 1885.
These provisions read as follows:
For the construction, by the chief Of
engineers. of a fire-proof building, upon the
lot belonging to the United States now
occupied by the stables of the government
printing office, according to the plan and
specifications Of Col. John M. Wilson Of the
engineer, corps, submitted to Gen. Thomas
L. Casey. December II. 1894. and approved
by him, $121, 121.9O, to be Immediately
available and until the completion Of said
work.
"The appropriation of $4,000 made by the
August Is, 1894. for the repair Of the gov
eminent printing office, to provide fire es-
capes. and to put the building in a safe
and secure condition, shall be available
until the completion Of the work.
eat any time when there is no joint COM
mittee of the two houses Of Congress the
power and duties under the law devolvin5
upon the joint committee on printing shall
be exercised and performed by the commit
tee then in existence of either house."
This last provision is made to enable the
completion Of the entire work in accord
ance with provisions of the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill approved August is, 1884,
placing the work authorized on the govern
ment printing office under the supervision
of congressional committee. The pro-
vision in question reads as follows:
ITO enable the chief of engineers of the
army, under the direction of the joint COM
mittee on printing. to repair the govern
ment printing Office, to provide fire escapes
and to put said building in a safe and Sc
cure condition, and to enable the public
printer. under the direction of the joint
committee on printing, to rent If neces-
sary, any buildings for use Of the printing
Office, $15.00O."
Plans for the Building.
The plans for the building call for q six
story fire-proof structure, with a large
roomy basement, plain, strong and stable
in character, nffording a maximum area
of floor space, and provided with numerous
windows and every facility for light and
ventilation. 1t will be erected on the long
narrow lot at the west end of the present
dilapidated structure, fronting on H street
and running back to Jackson alley. This
lot is 80 feet. front by 175 feet deep, and is
now partly occupied by the printing Office
stables. The stl ucture will be typical
steel-skeleton building, carrying all the
walls and floors on steel frames, and
through them to the column foundations.
The walls will be 20 inches thick in the
basement, % inches thick in the first story
and IS inches thick from that point to the
roof. The roof will be finished according
to the most approved methods of fire-proof
construction, and will be provided with q
large skylight. The total volume of the
building, from out to out, will be, approx
mately, 535, coo cubic feet, and its estimat-
ed cost is $121 .121.0O, the exact amount
subsequently appropriated for its construc-
ton.
Repairs During February.
Col. Wilson has made report to Gen.
Casey in regard to the operations upon the
repairs and enlargement of the govern
ment printing office during the month of
February. The project for this work con-
templates the construction of an additional
story upon the southwest fire-proof sec
ton; to erect a new five-story building be-
tween the southwest and south-center sec
tons; to thoroughly strengthen and render
n
three fire escapes, at an estimated cost for
all of $65, 900.
Owing to the continued storms and cold
weather during the month considerable de-
Its condition at the close of the month is
stated as follows: The iron work has been
completed in position. the stone coping
placed in position, the brick work finished,
the timing of roof and construction of gut
tiers are well advanced, all the iron work
has been painted, all window sash has been
placed in position, sash cords adjusted and
and doors constructed; the hollow tile floor
ing has been finished, except small sec
ton In the western portion of the building.
Some Delay.
The construction of the skylights has
been commenced under agreement with
responsible firm, but, Col. Wilson says,
progress has been slow and unsatisfactory,
causing some delay in the other portions of
the work, and keeping open a section Of
the roof that should be closed at once. He
says that every effort has been made to Sc
cure more energy upon the part of the con-
tractors, and that all the facts In the mat
ter will be reported at a later date. The
work of placing wire lathing In position
has commenced and the plasterers will
begin operations today. The woodwork for
extending the elevator in the southwest
have been laid on the top floor. and the
necessary filing over tile work has been
placed in position.
Contracts for Steel Frames.
Contracts have been made for the steel
frames for the structure to be erected be-
tween the southwest and south center sec
lions Of the government printing office. A
very satisfactory test Of the new tile floor
ing was made on the 9th ultimo. sec
ton of the work selected by the officer in
charge and covering an area of twenty
four square feet was subjected to load
of 500 pounds to the square foot with ex-
cellent results. A wooden box or pen was
constructed, resting on the iron beams. and
was filed with about six tens Of damp
sand, the pen being SO arranged that the
sand rested directly on the tile arch. The
sand was weighed In a box holding about
255 pounds and the weight gradually in
creased. The floor showed not the slight
est indication Of DETECTION.
The probable operations during March in
clude laying flooring. hanging doors. COM
pleting plastering, painting. calcimining,
timing of roof and completing skylight in
southwest section. 1t is also proposed to
prepare the foundation and erect stone and
brick piers of the new structure between
the southwest and south center buildings.
Co1 Wileon savs that everv effort will he