The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-18
Five Stories High and Sur
mounted by Two Tall,
Stately Towers.
HANDSOME STONE TO BE USED
Inspector Clarke Here From Wash
ington to Examine the Nature
of the Ground.

Work on San FranclSco's new Postoftce
building is to begin November 1. Reliable
information from the architects Office in
Washington indicates that by that date
the contracts for material and work will
all have been placed upon the market.
John J. Clarke, Inspector of Govern
ment Buildings, arrived here Wednesday
and is at the Baldwin Hotel. The princi-
pal object of his visit to this City is to
make a careful examination of the charac-
ter of the ground on which the new Post
Office is to be built. He wishes to ascer-
tain the stability of the soil, for upon that
will depend the particular kind of ma
terials to be used for the massive founda-
tions and the superstructures. The inves-
LEGATIONS will be completed this week.
The information will then be sent at once
to the Government Architect at Wash
ington, who is waiting for it, that he may
decide what pres sure can be put upon
the ground and what style of work will be
required. He will then draw up his speci-
fications preparatory to letting the con-
tracts.
Mr.. Clarke is authorized to call upon
and consult with the leading local archi-
tects in regard to the nature of the soil
and as to the loads that can be placed
upon each square foot. Local information
on this subject is preferable to actual tests
as the great number of large buildings
erected here during the last decade is evil
dence that considerable study has been
given 10 this subject.
The building is to be five stories high
and surmounted by two lofty towers. 1t
will be one of the most beautiful public
structures in the United States. Those
vino have seen the recently completed
perspective drawings of the exterior say
that the new postofhce is very slightly,
beautiful in detail, and designed especially
to conform with the locality in which it is
TO DE built.
Mr.. Clarke is here to decide what stone
shall be used. Granite, white marble and
some sandstones have been suggested.
The feeling, however, at Washington is
that San Francisco's postotice should be
built OF some handsome, imperisha bic
stone, with such trimmings or embellish-
ments as may be in keeping with that ma
terial.
The architect is now at work upon the
details of the plans for the interior of the
building. These will be completed within
q month, and in six weeks the plans for
the entire building will be ready for speci-
fications to be made from them.
The foundations and the basement up to
the water-table, or first floor of the build
ing, Will be completed by the middle of
next May or by June 1. The progress of
the building from that time on will de-
pend upon the amount of money available
each year, but chiefly upon the energy of
the Congressman from this district In
securing appropriations.
Mr.. Clark wishes to have dealers in
building material call upon him next
Tuesday noon N the Office of the Collector
of Customs, that he may get an expression
of opinion from them.
So far he has inspected the old Custom
house, the Postoffice and the Appraisers
buildings. The result is that about $40 600
will be spent in general repairs. Leaky
skyiights, ceilings and walls bleached by
SCOT from poor gas, and plumbing will be
attended to in the old CUSTOM house
And generally speaking the offices will be
puttied, plastered, patched and ventilated
wherever sucn work is necessary to make
them brighter and more tenantable.
A contract has been let for lighting the
several Government buildings by electric
ity. About $4,000 year is spent for gas
in the Custom-house and the Appraisers
building. 1t is thought that tie use of
electric lights will result In yearly saw
ing, as the smoke from the gas necessl-
tates an annual whitening OF the ceilings
and walls. Electric light wires are al
ready being put in the old and the new
Appraisers buildings.
The remoteness of these Government
buildings from the Washington Office has,
it is said, resulted in these repairs being
neglected to a certain extent, and largely
because of the modesty of the custodians,
who have refrained from asking for minor
Improvements when they were needed.
The Government appropriates $780, 900 a
year for incidental repairs to its buildings.
After completing his investigations here
Mr.. Clarke proposes to inspect the quar-
antine station at Angel Island and to re-
port on the protection necessary to pre-
serve the piles in the pier at that landing.
Next he will visit the Marine Hospital to
ascertain what Improvements are neces-
sary in order to obtain more light and
better sanitation in the buildings. He
will also report upon what is needed in
the way OF apparatus for protection
against fire.
Before coming here he inspected the
Government buildings in San Diego and
Los Angeles. The latter city is to have
increased postoffice facilities. Mr.. Clarke
drew up a plan for the improvements
which was agreeable to the postmaster and
to the citizens and he has sent it on to
Washington. A special fund secured
through Senator White will be applied to
this work. Because of the great changes
in tourist population the directory divi-