The morning times., 1896-04-16
CANNOT STOP THE ROOF
Even Congress Can't Impair the
Post0ffice Contract.
SUPT. KINsEY TALKS ON IT
Under the Present Circumstances the
Wooden Roof VIII BE Amply Pro
tected as to Render Contact of Fire
observation-disclosures Plaster win
Probably he Used.

The contractor for the ro ofing of the ne W
postoffice is proceeding rapidly with the
work, Notwithstanding the resolution OF the
Senate looking TO the fiTepro Cfing of that
part of the great structure.
Al the builning there is no doubt but that
the Senate resolution will be pat int O effect
and that there will be some complications.
There have been u goodmany complications
since the beginning OF the work on the
building.
The contractors for the roof are Pierce
& Co. OF New York. They are naturally
not much disturbed by Congrcssi Cnal reso-
lutions, as they know that even Congress
cannot pass u law impairing their contract,
and the general belief is that they have
done excellent work ana rapid work ac-
cording TO the Specifications in their case.
The roof is a part of the original plans
OF the building, but the specifications as to
material are said TO have Eeen agreed on
after Architect Aiken took charge.
HAD no PRERoGATIvE.
Superintendent Kinsey said yesterday,
afternoon that neither Mr. Aiken nor the
contractors could have proceeded in any
other way than the present and conformed
10 the original plJns. They had no au-
thority to change the architects plans
and, If Il new roof according 10 the many
suggestions Offered were put on, the pres
ent roof w Oud have to come down, and the
new one would interfere materially with
the design. and make serious encrOd dchmentS
on the outer lines, as for instance, on the
space for the dormer windows and the
cOrnices.
Mr.. Kinsey said that whether or not
there had been Congressional inquiry, il
was never intended 10 permit the pine basis
of the roof TO be exposed on the interior OF
the ninth floor. He was asked what the
proposed protection would be. He said
that OF course he was not positive about
it. but he presumed that adamant plaster
over iron rails would be the ma terial. Should
a space be left between this adamant plaster
and rails. and the pine ma teriai, q fire could
occur on the ninth floor and would be
absolutely incommunicable 10 the wood.
HAS COST A LARGE SUM.
He said that the contractors could not
be made to do this WORK, as it was clearly
not in their contract. but that the govern
ment would see that IL was necessary and
have IL done.
There is another phase of the question.
ii Is said that IL the government insists on Il
new roof. the present one must be taken
off at its own expense. 1tiS estimated that
the present roof work will have cost in
the neighborhood OF fifty-Seven thousand
dollars. and that by the time a new one
Is on the cost will have been one hundred
and fifteen thousand dollars.
Superintendent Kinsey does not take any
stock In the suggestions which have been
made as TO slate roof protected with
Fdrquhar hooks or any other OF the plans.
He thinks the way he has suggested the
most practical. without involving unneces-
sary expense. and that 1t ca mot be re-
garded as makcshift inasmuch as it viii
afford complete protection, and make the
roof as absolutely fireproof as il ii were
all made Of asbestos.