The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-09

The Times is able TO publish piece
of news this morning that will be re-
ceived with much qualification by the
people of Roanoke. The many fears
and misgivings expressed by the aver
age citizen of Roanoke concerning the
erection of the new office building of
the Norfolk and Western will not prove
true. The building will be erected be-
yond all doubt and work Is to begin at
once, as evidenced by the following
letter received by the party to whom it
Is addressed from Jos. O. Nesbit, the
contractor:
Mr.. G. Markedly, Roanoke, Va.
Dear Sir: All matters pertaining to
the contract between the receivers Of
the Norfolk and Western Railway Com
pany and myself as contractor for the
erection OF their handsome Bew Office
building in Roanoke have now been
fully and finally completed. You will
therefore please begin, on Monday
morning next, the removal OF the old
foundation walls, as we'll IS the neces.
sary excavations for the new building.
Some time will be required to get the
necessary building materials upon the
ground, but the work will be pushed as
rapidly as these materials can be had
delivered to the building. Yours truly,
Jos. c. Nesbis.
The letter specifies that work shall
actually begin to morrow, and 1t ia very
probable that such will be the case, al
though It may be delayed for day,
owing to the failure Of Chief Engineer
Coe hearing from Secretary Hemphill
yesterday. This was probably caused
by the Norfolk and Western Phila-
delphla wire being out of repairs, as
Mr.. Nesbit. the contractor, has filed his
bond with the officials and everything
Ia in readiness.
The work, 1t is understood, will be
under the direct supervision of H. E.
Gettys, who has been officially notified
to be on the ground Monday morning,
which is good indication that work
will actually begin.
Il will be remembered that plans
were prepared for the building as soon
as practicable after the burning last
winter and bids received. It WAS I'M
derssood that John P. Pettyjohn, Of
Lynchburg. was the successful bidder,
but 1t afterwsrd became necessary to
change the plans, which was done, and
the work again opened to bids. This
time Jos. c. Nesbit. formerly of Roa-
noke, now OF Harrisburg, was the sue
cessful bidder ard the contract awarded
to him.
The building will front on Jefferson
street JSS feet and on Shenandoah ave-
nue. SO feet, with only main entrance
from the centre of the Jefferson street
front. The building will stand back
from the street front four feet, owing 30
the columns TO the front entrance ex-
tending out that distance.
Tho building will be magnificent
structure, six stories high, including
the attic, the basement story being
built OF Indiana sand stone and the
balance OF the building of Ohio brick
The roof will be OF slate and every pre-
caution will be taken to make it i'm
pregnable against the ravsges OF FIRE.
The building will cost somewhere in
the neighborhood of 500 600 and will
be an ornament to the city. 1t will be
arranged so IS to accommodate all the
officials and clerks of the road now
located in Roanoke. Owing to the
present condition of the road and the
pending sale this matter OF the erection
of the offices augurs we'll for Roanoke,
az 1t shows that the officials are not
lacking in confidence concerning Roa-
pnka,s futupa