The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-03
EIGHTEEN MONTHS TO WAIT.
sAVANNAH'S PUBLIC BUILDING FAR
FROM COMPLETION.

The Present Contract VIII BE Fin
ished About Jan. 4, But Bids For
the Interior Work May Not Be
Asked For Several MOnths-It Is
said the Department Has Not Yet
Completed the Interior PIans-WiIl
Require Almost a Year to Do the
work.
The people of Savannah who watch from
day to day with delight and pride the
progress upon the new public building,
which will decorate the city, will regret
TO learn that it will probably not be COM
pleted and ready for occupancy until an
other year and six months have passed.
Such an announcement seems strange in
view of the fact that the work under the
present contract will be about completed
by Jan. l. Messrs. Miles & Bradt the con-
tractors, will have completed the work of
LAYING stone on the tower within three or
four days, and the roof of that portion of
the structure will then be put in place.
The contractors have already begun to put
the finishing touches on the superstruc-
ture The last of the carving is being
done and the small interstices between
the marble blocks are being filed in. With
in another month all of this work viii have
been completed, and will be ready to be
turned over to the government.
This being true, it is to be regretted that
the remaining work, the finishing of the
INTERIOR the plumbing and furnishing of
the building cannot be done at once. But
such is not the case. 1T is understood that
there has been some delay on the part of
the department in Washington, and the
plans have not yet been completed for the
interior work.
Until these plans are ready to be submit
ted to contractors bids cannot be called
for, and it is believed now that bids for
the interior work will not be asked for be-
fore May or June of 1895 If the plans
were ready now it would seem that bids
might be called for at once, so that the re-
naming work could proceed as soon as the
work under the present contract is COM
pleted.
1t is said that after the contract is
awarded it will probably take from ten to
twelve months to complete the interior
work and get the building furnished. This
being the case, it is unfortunate that there
should be such delay in making prepara-
tons for carrying it on. This will be the
case il is said, in case the rest of the work
IS let as one contract. Should 1t be divid-
ed up into several contracts, more time
would be necessarily consumed.
1t is not known yet just how the interior
will be finished, but some of the govern
ment inspectors who have been here to
look over the work are in favor of mahog-
any, and it is understood this wood may
be recommended. 1t is considered mahog-
any would give the interior a handsome
finish.
The general verdict is that the new
building will be one of the handsomest to
be found anywhere in the country. It's
exquisite detail is a feature that is re-
markably attractive and makes it an OBJ
ject of study to those who are fond of
architecture. There is but one feature
which many consider detracts from the
appearance of the building and that Is the
circular and diamond shaped pink and
green pieces of marble just under the cor
nice work. The contrast with the white
marble seems too great. There is, how
ever, a difference of opinion on this SUBJ
ject, and many think that this feature
rather adds to the attractiveness of the
building A great many have noticed the
black shining columns in the upper sto-
ries OF the tower, and the question has
been asked time and again why iron col
umns We're being put up there. It hap
pens, however, that the columns are of a
dark green marble and highly polished
These it is considered, add much to the
appearance of the tower