The times., 1897-09-05

plered, nd the carpenters, pIasterers,
and others cannot proceed till the floors
are laid.
1t was said that these hot-air ducts were
being cast by a little foundry at Baltimore,
whose output is only about six lengths a
week Friday is the casting day at this
little foundry, and six lengths is COLI
sidered enough Work to hold down the
Contract. The cement men and all those
contractors who are to follow are out of
patience, but one OF these men told the re-
porter that it IS waste of energy to pro-
test. There is talk on the part of some OF
The contractors of entering suit for the
recovery Of the money they claim to have
lost by reason Of this undue delay.
The contractor for putting on the glass
covering directly above the court brought
on the glass and was about to proceed with
the work when he vas stopped. This con
tractor tnen had to cart the glass to ii
warehouse, and is now paying storage
on it OF course, he expects TO be com
Isensated for the carriage to and from the
building, and for the amount Of storage
which lie has paid.
The firm which is to cement the street
floor has partially done its work, but is
delayed because the plumbers are be.
hind, and the plumbers are not at Work be-
cause there is report that the system
aTgeed on is to be changed.
A contract waslet for putting In the heat
tre and lighting outfit on the rnezzanine
floor, but when this contract was half car
ried out IL was discovered that the man
who lad furnished the drawings had made
no provision for the chandeliers which are
to light tie rooms below, and so this work
came to a stop, and some of it will have 10
be done over.
The contractors who are to put in the
screen partitions and fret brass work and
the onyx wainscoting are ready to proceed,
but cannot until the plumbing contention
as settled.
Acting Supervising Architect Of the
Treasury Lowe talked TO the reporter yes
terday. He said that no date for the COM
pletion of the new city postoffice building
haG been officially ann ounced lately,
and his manner suggested that no date
Cor completion would be announced. So
many unlocked for delays had been en-
countered that there wa S no certainty when
the building would be finished
One Of the principal drawbacks expert
enced was the proposition 20 remove the
PostoIfice Department While this propo-
sitiun was pending work had been pra actically
stopped, because it was the desire of the
department that the postal people should
he made as comfortable as possible. Had
tie work been pushed ahead and then had
it been determined TO house the Postoffice
Department. then it would have been
necessary to remodel the interior OF the
building.
Then, when it was determined that the
Postoffice Departments should be transferred
down town, the Postoffice Department
itself was Slow in indicating just how it
wanted the interior of the new quarters
arranged. The erearrangementof the build
ing made it necessary to alter the position
of the heat radiators, and this necessitated
change in the entire heating system.
Contracts for the heating could not be
let till il was determined where the ducts
and radiators should be installed Work
on the drawings was going merrily ahead
and it w2s but the question of few
weeks when the new city postoffice would
be as busy as q beehive.