The times., 1897-12-04
4 FIRE WITHOUT SMOKE
No Chimneys in the Wonderful
Postoflice Building.
WHAT THE OFFICIALS SAY
How the Concreting of the Floors
Was Ruined and Repaired-Doubs
full Material and Rough Handling
-The Problem About Chimneys-
Completion Next September.

architect, Oh liic - 'rOA
struction care TO say out loud. Enough is /
known abont it to say that it is
Pile OF blunders, and yet II
IS a beautiful building. a great many peo-
pie think that the crazy pyramid on top OF |
the caseellated spire spoils the exterior
effect, but that is matter OF aesthetic
taste. Anything goes in the name OF the
renaissance.
The present status of the building ndf-
Gates tnaJ it viii not lie an accomplished
fact for more tnan year after the time
originally set for its completion. ammo
Domini 1897 appearsto DC an architectural
joke.
II is a difficult undertaking to ascsI
tam all that is the matter, and especially
all that has been the matter with the ron
stiuction and the builders. representa-
tiye OF The Times called yesterday after
noon on tie superintendent and related 10
him several ciia rges about Inefficient woTS,
defective material, and blundeTs in design.
The superintendent was told that it was
Widespread report that the roof was iiE-
perfect that there wasno chimney through
cut the " hole length and breadth " the
splendid eGifice; that bad cement had been
used; that good cement had been used
b. the exigincies OF contract work at the
wrong time, and several otner examples ii
the strictly renaissance.
The superintendent lifted his eyebrows,
but was very polite. He did not care TO
verify o. deny anything. II would be
bad taste to criticise predecessors, 6nd,
III fine, the proper place TO get such in
formation WAS direct from the office of
a. ~
however, object to IN examination Of The
thebundiug. Thesuperintendent was asked
If the common report was true shat it
was intended to ship the roof up North
and put il off at Buffalo. 1t was all news
paper talk, he said, and u Joke, so far
as he was concerned.
The reporter took a stroll through the
building, where some Of the allegation
were found to be true and others We're
noted 70 be probably true. 1t was i'm
possible, OF course to examine the roOf,
it being nearly out of sight, except at
| the great central skylieht. 1t was noted,
however, that in several places On the
floors the cement had been patched. There
was a sad story in this, and a lot Of ce-
ment that might have been better, &C
cording 70 an official statement.
/ 1HPfe was HDt Il sigh Oh d Cbttll-lsg
nor 4 bole III the roof for the smoke Gf
the future 10 escape. Subsequently 1t was
| ascertained that the smoke Is to be dis
| posed of by some kind OF special delivery,
| to use rostoffice phrase.
Application was made at the office Of
/ the Supervising arehitsCt for explanations
of the apparent and actual defects. Mr.
| Z. G. Kemper, the assistant architect,
! answered the questions.
| He said that there was nothing che
! matter with tn roof; that IL would remain
as IL is. He merely smiled at the rumor
Of its translation To Buffalo But there
was something wrong with the concrete.
BE explained that in this way:
| The teTracotta floor arches Df the
| building We're covered with conCreting
which was designed as filler upon which
the undcr-flooring was to be laid. That
portion Of tine work proved 70 be defect1 e,
| the principal reason being that the in
terror finish of the building was not ready
to go in at the time expected. Other
contractors for the building, principally
| the steam heating and plumbing con
! tractors We're, therefore, obliged to use
the surface of the floors during the
| prosecution OF their work, aud the Dir 3-sging
of heavy material over the concreting
had much to do with disintegrating the
| same"
WAS the concrete what it should have
have been?''
ut might have been better"
| Proceeding, Mr., Kenper said: The in
terror arrangement OF the building was
originally intended to accommodate the
various offices and bureaus OF the Govern
ment which occupy rented quarters, but
the office OF the supervising architect y as
informed about the commencement of the
last session OF Congress that the Postoffice
Department would be removed TO this
building, which viii eventually be done,
This caused d change of the plan, in so fan
as the interior arrangement is concerned
anG delay in placing the same under
contract"
Mr.. Kemper said this to explain why
the whole building VIII not be perfect until
September next, but the postoffice peopl,
hope part of it VIII be in good shupe about
February next.
MI. Kemper's attention was then calico
TO the fact of the non-existence OF chin
neys.
why. it doesn't need any chimneys,' HI
replied. "A steam heating plant VIII b'
putin to cost about $4,000"
Mr.. Kemper said, nevertheless, thatther
would be smokestacks, and plenty Of them
These smokestacks are presumably TO carr,
off the smoke in lieu OF the chimneys tha
are not needed. The observation of tn
building, which was permitted at the super
intendent's office. did not reveal any hole
in the roof through which these spectacula
smokestacks are yet to flout the autum
skies. Mr.. Remper was asked then IL j
2 would not be necessary to bore holes o
otherwise produce them in the roof to Civ,
l the smokestacks chance. He sail TIA
I the office had assurances that the smoke
{ stacks would be all right, or words to tina
I effect, the assurances being from the smoke
| stack contractors.
II is, OF course, idle, however interest
ing. to conjecture what viii become OF tn
smoke in case they can'6 make holes TO
. Them in the roof. They may let tn
smoke out of the windows, or they ma
; thrust the stacks out of the sides of III
l building; just as the elbow of the ancien
stove was stuck through the logs OF cabi
on the other side OF the Potomac. The
may, again introduce crematory in tn
unfinished interior, in which the sinok
may be utterly consumed before it set
=, anywhere in particular. Whatever the
do with the imprisoned smoke VIII ce
tainly be matter of some curious con
ulent until next September. 1t is possibl
that the roof may be ripped up again
4 accommodate the snlokestacks, and as tha
n to n