The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-24

cat II = to b ccczpsea ~ the govern
lfnrnry. and Is roo<as have been pecias-
" dest<.Sd fer she<e
4 happy plan has been adopted With
fefsieEcess 20 al the tnterfo- woodwork
O. the bss.1Slnx. II il Of native growth.
aa1 IN EnaI setting wiz furnish . Per-
pesnai exposition Of the building and Ers-
sains material Of the province. The
Ascni;ees has made point o. shss. s,s
N the future no visitors attention via
oe alioEed 10 escape H. Cedar and maple
hass been chiefly adopted for the Join
efs work ard a careful effort Is being
made 10 select cnls the choicest specs-
mtnA The Constructive earrerterss
work o. which there ID not . e-ea, deal,
= all Of Douglas nr
The preparation OF the Specifications
sor the buildings occupied the .rchires-.
ana corps o. assistants for fve months
OF unrernirting labor. For thfs task lie
received per cent OF the entire cost cf
the building: but n has been estimated
that the care with which the work was
ueae resulted In q saving Of ahou, ten
tines thit amount Probably no spect-
ssauocs were ever more Thoroughly
erawh- They make up a heayy printed
volume, IN which each item Of work oo-
eopses distinct space with double eol-
unns on the right hand margin for NIL
ing IN rates and extending totals The
lett hand margin h eopiously Illustrated
with working drawings and sketches.
30 complete b this work that ccn.rac-
tors at distance. in bidding nd not
have 10 SEQ the plans Of the building az
all This itemixed filing In Of each sep
arats piece Of work even 10 the smallest
details has insured the greatest economy
In construction. and leaves positively no
ground for dispute ~ 10 the value OF
work performed
The Specifications divided the entire
work into seven distinct departments. On
each Of which bids were entertained sep
srately. with the following result. no coz
tractor. a. II CHANGED. securing more than
one line Of work:
Masorfs work. Fred Adams S,eo "a
Carperfer's work. Bishop Z Sher-
Piasserer;s work. Richari Drake. ~
Iron founders work. Albion Iron
Plumbers work. II. 7. Fleft........ Ass
pHo ,sa,ss H. w9rk w =, Perry 100
Add 10 these the foundation work
Joseph E Phillips 4 Conn. slTst
1osai ....-- ..........-......-....--sse 81 al
This. Of course. does NOT Include the VAL
liable site on which the buildings stand.
Deputy Commissioner Gore Of the lands
and works department through whose
thoughtful courtesy the reporter secured
all necessary Information. states that the
legislative hall and committee rooms WI
be realty for occupation by the first OF
next year. and the entire building viii
be completed year hence.
Postoff1ce and Customs Building.
Another stately stone edifice now rising
rapidly into beauty and prominence 10 she
new postofhcs and customs building. which
d k<lr 49, 49, - n,x~ ~
ment at . cost Of more than 80. 600. It
occupies the entire block bounded by
Courtney, Government, Humboldt and
Wharf streets, and Is situated on the north
side Of James bay. directly opposite the
new parliament buildingA II was begun
In April. 1888 ana = to b completed BY
June. 1897.
The main portion Of this building, 'front.'
ing on Government street, - TO b three
stories In height. besides q basement
twenty-one feet deep. and . mansard
which Is practically equivalent to another
story. 1t 10 to be devoted. Of course. en-
tirely to government purposes. The first
floor IL TO be set apart for the postofiice,
TO the main room OF which 13ox6o feet OF
door space will be allotted The second
floor Is to be shared By the customs Offices
and the postofilce. while the third and
fourth floors are assigned entirely to the
postoff2ce. The building has 4 beautiful
design. the exterior being all ''clean cut"
work with carved caps and cornices. II
viii te well adapted to the uses for which
It Is constructed. aad all the interior equip
ment is to DO Of the most modern and i'm
proved type. Back OF the postos,ice proper
Is q paved court. with side entrance and
driveway for mail wagons.
Extending westward from TITS portion Of
the building II wing which Is to contain
the bonded warehouse and the examining
warehouse. each looxsa feet. This part az
the structure has the same heavy granite
basement rs the other. and the exterior
is to be finished in rough rockfaced work.
The stone is pretty gray sandstone. quar-
ried from Gabr.older island. while the
granite comes from Birds inlet. near VAN
couver. At the extreme west end there 10
an arched driveway by which vehicles may
drive Immediately up to the elevator lead
Ing to either warehouse The eastern por-
tioa of this wing contains the Offices OF
the appraiser and the weights and meas
ures room.
and the building IL evidently being put Up
to stay. All the floors are laid In heavy
concrete, and the walls are thick ard
massive The inside finish Is mainly Of
hard wood. maple and cedar being the
chief material used. The water closets and
lsvatories are finished In marble and thing.
The contract for the erection OF ths
not include equipment or fixtures OF any
kind. and Contractor Smith assured tbs
reporter that at least $so.opo more would
be needed 20 cover the cost OF putting IN
lights, elevators. heating apparatus and
other fixtures. The entire building Is l4ox
"A feet In It's construction l70.0D brick
are necessary, TO say nothing OF q, 900 feet
OF stone and 81. 60 feet of granite. When
completed It VIII be . source Of just pride
TO the city.
Beacon Hin Park.
No visit to Victoria would be complete
without embracing Beacon Hill park II
les at the south end Of the city and Is
easily accessible. being reached either by
street car line or by delightful drive or
walk. The route from the business center
OF the city to the park IL one well caicu-
lated to mako favorable impression on
the visitor. As he passes cut OF the hum
and hustle OF Government street ant ap-
proaches the James bay bridge. the new
postoffice and customs building is on his
right. and as he crosses the bridge he has
fire view OF the hzrbor ard shipping.
with Point Macsulay In the background.
On the south SIDE Of the bridge. facing the
bay. stands the magnificent parliament
building. Then. with a bit OF quiet turning
IN and out among such streets a. Rirdcags
walk. ana q sharp left wheel past tho
handsome South Park school. the visitor
finds himself II Just the sympathetic mood
TO enjoy the little world OF beauty On the
threshold OF which he pausss to note the
play Of flashing fountains and the far
vista OF a limpsd little lake showing
through woodland glade.
A. he pauses there his guide VII tel, h.ra
the history and dimensions CT the park.
sfth perhaps a psreorahie word or two OF
ecassing as he compares the Advantages
and attractions Of Beacon hin with other
parks. Years ago Sir James Douglas. real
.rl- - - e. q -