Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-14
DELAYED PUBLIC BUILDING.
Secretary Carlisle in Communication to
 Congress Explains the Trouble.

Secretary Carlisle in e Communication to
 Congress Explains the Trouble.
 Washington, Jan 13.-Secretary Car lisles communication today in response to a resolution of inquiry adopted De- cember 7 in regard to the delay in erect ing public buildings in Oregon, covers the whole ground as to the delay in con structing public buildings all over the country. The secretary says
 At tl.e date of the converting of the fifty-first congress 0he congress which authorized the public building at Port land Ore.,) there were upon the books of this department appropriations for 163 buildings all of which were in various stages of construction. That same con- gress authorized the construction of seventy additional public buildings and provided for the extension of seven ma rine hospitals at an aggregate limit of cost of $12,916,S90. The ffty-second and ffty-third congresses authorized alto gether the construction of twelve addi- tional public buildings, and improve ments of five marine hospitals and other structures, at a limit of cost of $5,843, 900, making an aggregate of ninety-four buildings authorized to be constructed and improved at cost of $17S,79O,S7O, which, In addition to the 163 buildings above referred to, make total of 257 DullulnSS, upon WHICH cOnStTuCtlUll Opti- ations have been in progress since De- cember 1889, of which number there are at this time twenty-five buildings for which no drawings have been prepared. It has been the general practice of the department to begin work upon the vari- ous public buildings in order of their authorization by congress. Notwith- standing the large number of public buildings authorized by congress, no in- crease in the force of the office of the supervising architect has been provided for, although specific request to the committee on appropriations Of the house of representatives was made by this de- partment on January 22, 1885. that the amount allotted for that officer for the year ending June 30, 1886, should be increased from $200,0 to $250,0 the reason given being that such an increase was neces- sary in order to enable the department to employ sufficient technical force to bring the work up to date. This request, however, was not complied with and the usual allowance of $200,OOO was made. Since the 9th of March, 1893. this depart ment has made every effort possible with the limited appropriation allowed by con- gross for the support of the office of the supervising architect to expediate the preparation of drawings and specified tions for the various public buildings un- der it's control and to take up new work as rapidly as the force would permit. and to proceed with the construction of build ings with all possible expedition. The sum of $200000, which the secretary Is au- thorized by congress to use during each fiscal year for the preparation of designs plans, specifications and drawings for public buildings, does not exceed the amount of the usual charges of a compe- tent architect for the preparation of de- signs, plans and specifications and su- perintending the construction of single public building of the first-class, and 1t must be evident, therefore, that the office of the supervising architect must be re- lieved from a very considerable part of the labor now imposed upon 1t, or ade- quate provision must be made for the pay of sufficient number of skilled employees or the work upon the many public buildings must continue to be delayed as heretofore.
 "I c. CARLISLE. Secretary"