Omaha daily bee., 1895-04-14
PUSHING UNCLE SANS WORK
Some Facts Concerning the New PostcfiCe
Building.
GREAT PILE CT BRICK, STONE AND IRON
Workmeu Busy in Completing the Struc-
ture, with Prospect that 1t VIII BE
Ready for Occupancy Two Years
Hence-Cost of the Structure.

In the heart of Omaha busy workmen are
swiftly shaping the new government building,
and in a short space of time former hole
in the ground will be transformed into a
mammoth and magnificent structure, which
will occupy one block and erected at a total
cost Of 81, 100000.
The activity at Sixteenth and Dodge
streets has a tendency to inspire even the
most conservative observer that Uncle Sam
has infinite faith in the stability Of Omaha
and the future increased development of this
city.
The sum OF 100000 was paid for the site
upon which the new structure is being
erected The total appropriation for the
building proper. exclusive of Site is $500 900,
Of which 1858 .35 has been expended up
to date, mostly for labor, stone, brick, iron
and material. The work thus far has been
pushed without delay. and the stone work is
approaching completion. The tower and rear
wall are yet to be finished.
IN TWO YEARS MORE.
The designs Of the new government quar-
ters were prepared by the supervising archi-
tect and subsequently revised.
Dirt was first broken for the foundation in
November 1891 Work on the building was
inaugurated in May, 1894. and has progressed
ever since. The building itself is evidence of
progress in this respect. Compared with con-
struction of federal buildings in course
of erection in other cities, the Omaha struct-
ure has made the best time in shaping itself
into substantial evidence of architecture. The
building is now just One-third finished, and
will be completed and ready for occupancy
within two years.
M,
complete roofing, plasterng and ireproofng,
will be completed this year. The contracts
for roof covering and skyights will be
awarded during this month. The contracts
for freproofng and plastering will be let in
August
The present working force consists Of forty
five men. This number will b. increased to
siXty-fve within few weeks, and work will
be pushed with the energy which has char
aCterized Superintendent Latenser's admin
istraton Of affairs.
The contracts now in force are those Of
Paxton & Vierlng for iron work, $29, 800, and
the DreXel Stone company for stone and brick
for upper structure, S2S5 600 The court
walls are finished with enameled brick,
which presents pleasing harmony with the
granite which composes the outer walls. The
granite is supplied by Geddes & Seerie OF
brick comes from St, Louis, and is of the
best quality Of manufacture.
The building, when completed, will be a
four-story and basement structure, with a
tower which win be 200 feet from dome to
ground, and sixty feet higher than the solid
masonry Of the building and will have a
roof eighteen feet higher than the top Of the
granite-rim border Of the tower.
There will be two elevators, and every
precautiOn has been taken to guard against
a gloomy interior, which Is at present a
Characteristic Of the federal building at Fiji
teenth and Dodge streets
MAY BREAK A RECORD.
The space in the new quarters provides fol
two commOdious court rooms and a mailing
room for the postal service, covering 5000
square feet about four times the present
space In the postoffce.
Precautionary measures have been taken L