Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-16
0MAHA'S NEW POSTOFFICE
Rapid Strides Being Made Toward the
Completion Of the Building.
CAUSES OF DELAY ARE REMOVED
Government Appropriation and Build
Ing Of the capitol Avenue Sewer
Open the why to Finish
ing the Structure.

II one will call at the new government
building now and see the progress the worl
has made and the activity that is everywher,
present, 1t can be learned that Superintend
ent Latenser knew about whereof be wal
speaking when he promised some time age
that II no Interruptions occurred he would
have the first floor and basement of the
building ready for the postofice by the lat
ter part OF this year. over sixty men are
now employ cd, and one can almost see the
work move along. The beauty Of 1t is that
,he contracts now being tuihlled are on the
heavy 81 bulky work, nnd when they are
completed ant the other contracts begun,
progress will be much more rapid so far ae
apparent results are concerned.
The two CONTRACTS nov beini, pushed are
the wiring OF the building for the electric
lighting and the plastering. The former
consists OF laying brass armored conduits
through which the wires will be strung
This work has been completed in the base
ment and on the first floor. The plastering
engages the attention of a majority Of the
employees on the building, while the swish
of the trowel and the splatter of the plaster
constitutes the music on the interior of the
building.
The plasterlng in the basement has been
completed and the walls and ceilings shine
In their snowy Wilderness. The toilet rooms
have all been completed in the basement, as
well as on the first floor. excepting water
and sewer connections. All that remains to
be done in this part of the building is to lay
the floor and put in the furniture.
CONCENTRATING III WoRKMEN.
The plasterers who have been engaged in
the basement were brought to the first floor
last week, and the whole force concen-
trated on the work there, with prospects OF
having the plastering all completed within
office has reached that stage where 1t can
be completed within a week when 1t Is de-
cided to put on the finishing touches. The
marble contractor had a representative here
last week taking the measurements for the
marble work. which is being prepared at the
quarries, Contractor Jobst has visited the
quarries and places where other branches
of the work are being prepared to try tC
rush the contracts.
The frames for the windows are all In
place on the first and aecond floors. Pat.
terms for the ornaments. work to grace the
interior of the buildin" are being made, and
will be photographed and sent to the de.
partment at Washington for approval. These
are generally the caps for the pillars In
the building, and A-e made OF plaster. The
ornamental work itself, however, will be
made of narble and wood, while there will,
be some in plaster.
The main hallway on the first floor, ex.
tending from the north to the south end of the
building, will be simply magnificent. There
will be two rows of half octagon pillars
one on either side of the hall, which will
be finished in marble and handsome wood
capped with attractive ornamental work. Tht
walls will be also finished in marble. A,
either end of the hall will be an entrance
in addition to the main entrance from Six.
teenth street. Over these end entrances
are large windows. Along the west sidl
OF the hall there Is a row of windows from
over the roof Of the working room of the
postoffice, which will contain art glass t,
furnish a soft and mellow light to add to tn,
general beauty OF the hall. n
READING ROOM FOR CARRIERS.
In the basement of the building will b.
fitted up a large room for the carriers, which
will be used as a reading room, and a place
to lounge While not on duty. This conven'
fence Ia looked forward to with pleasant an
ticipation by the carriers, as they now are
compelled to stand around in the lobby o.
the old building while waiting for the time
call. There is an order in the department
which prohibits the carriers from being in.
side the postoffice when not on duty. In
the new building their leisure moments will
not be SO burdensome.
The handsomest part Of the new building
will be the main entrance from Sixteenth
street. This will be a triple arrangement
at the right of which will be two elevators
to accommodate those who wish to go uI
to the other floors. The ceiling of this en-.
trance will be on a circular plan, and made
OF glass mosaic work, which alone will cost
S12, 800. This item will furnish some idea
OF the general magnifcence which will char.
acterize the whole building.
The approval by the city council last
week of the contractors bond for the
construction of the Capitol avenue sewer
will dispose of an obstacle in the completion
OF the building, in that the building Of the
sewer will enable the connection with the
new postoflice to be made at an early date.
This branch of the work was discontinued
several weeks ago because the sewer in its
present condition was too small to accom-
modate the building, land for the further
reason that 1t was too high. making 1t nee
essary, II connection was made, to use
hydraulic pressure to raise the water from
the drain pipes into the sewer. This was
not deemed practicable, and work was con-
sequently suspended till the city con
cluded to enlarge and lower the sewer. The
contractor for that work for the city is ex-
pected to complete the contract as rapidly
as possible, after which connections will be
made at once. completing that portion OF
the construction.
CONTRACTS READY TO LET.
Two important contracts which may be let
at any time are for the heating of the build
ing, and for grading the block upon which
the structure stands. The plans and specif-
ChtioHs lOT III tnis WOTK nave Deen prepared,
and the money Is available with which to
pay for 1t, In both cases the letting OF these
contracts has been delayed owing to lack
OF facilities for sewer connections. Superin-
tendent Latenser thinks now that bids on
these contracts will be called for shortly, in
&smuch as the Capitol avenue sewer Is to be
enlarged to accommodate the building.
Much OF the plumbing work In the base
ment. which was put In on the theory Of the
sewer remaining unchanged. will have to be
torn out and new work substituted, as 1t
Will not answer for the changed position OF
the sewer. This will be done at once and
the work Will be pushed simultaneously with
this sewer contract.
IL the heating plant shall be put In this
year, which seems altogether probable. 1t
will enable the contractors to work all
through next winter. and with no delay com
plete the building In all its parts by about
this time next year.
In grading the block the west half will be
allowed to slope with the street from Dodge
street to Capitol avenue and will be con