Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-11
NEW PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Report Of the Supervising Architect Of the
Treasury.
TWcnty-One Structures Completed
During the Year-The Tnrsncy Act
Cost of City Post Office.

The report of the supervising architect OF
| the treasury Of operations in connection
| with public buildings under the Treasury
Department Is signed by Mr.. Charles E.
| kemper, as acting supervising architect
| 1t shows generally that at the commence
| 1nent of the year forty-two buildings were
| in course Of construction, and during the
year twelve were begun. The completion
| has been secured during the year of twen-
ty-one buildings, leaving thirty-three under
construction. The total expenditures dur
| ing the year from appropriations for pub
! lie buildings were S3905. .795, and there are
existing contract liabilities amounting to
| S55S3, ,352
Attention is especially invited to the large
number of completed and occupied build
| ings, entailing much expense for repair and
preservation, and also for such renovation
as may be necessary.
AS far as practicable, in all cases. the
| policy has been maintained of embracing
| in one contract many of the building
branches as possible. This has resulted.
Mr.. Kemper says, in the saving of both
| time and money, and made the work of ad-
ministration easier
For years the necessity for a hall of
records has been recognized in the various
executive departments" says the acting
supervising architect "and much attention
has been given to the subject. The neces-
sity becomes daily more pressing for the
construction of such building. in order
to prevent further encroachments upon
valuable space and the increasing danger
of fires IN the various departmental build
iSgs. Congress, by act approved June H.
| 1896, evidently took this view of the mat
ter; but as the act referred to carried no
APPROXIMATION, the efforts of the depart
ment were hampered and the whole ques-
ton has remained in allegiance since the
report made to Congress on January q,
1897, by Secretary Carlisle. Tentative plans
are now in course of preparation, and will
be transmitted to Congress at its next
session. as required by law"
Competition Among Architects.
In regard to the enforcement of the
"Tarsney act the report. which is ad-
dressed to the Secretary of the Treasury
says:
Your determination to enforce the so
called 'Tarsncy act marks a new era in
federal construction and 1t Is sincerely
hoped that results will vindicate the judS-
ment of those who claim that competition
among the architectural profession at larS :
will secure better buildings, both as 20 de-
sign and construction. and at less cost than
under the present system.
Your Instructions in the premises have
been faithfully carried out. although at
tended by many difficulties in preparing the
regulations necessary to enforce the law:
and it is the purpose of this Office to aid
ment, of the law
1T is apprchCnded that supplemental leg
iSlatiOn may become necessary to strength
On and simplify the administrative features
OF the laws relating TO the construction Of
public buildings generally, and bring them
into complete accord with the act of Feb
ruary 20 1893, but the character of such
legislation can best be determined aft II
the law in its present state has had fur
ther practical test"
The New City Post Office.
In a financial statement regarding the
Washington city post Office. it is shown
that the total amount appropria ted is s.. .o6o,-
43l; the total expenditures. s2,56l, ,6O4. leav-
ing balance September 80, 1897, of s503,-
SS7. Contract liabilities against this bal
a1ce reduce it to an actual balance of 500,
106. The principal expenditures were as
follows: Amount expended for site and in
cidental expenses, s655, II; amount eX-
pended for builling prior to September 70
1886, $lG.,S4.15: amount expended for
building during the year ending September
80, 1897. S5Go.21S92.