The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-25
Some Of The Great improvements at Uncle
Sans Norfolk Headquarters.
.ElEC1RlcIIY, NEW ROOF, STEAM, PAINT.
Colonel 81. esas Has succceacd in
Ss, Hnving The government Take Ex.
ceedingiy Good Caro- of HIS Quar-
S Sys ters-rhc Building Is Sow Pro.
nonuccd in IL Perfect Condition.

scient official Is now here, and during
q hts stay has Inspected the plans and
other necessary details, for an ent!re.y
& new and extensive steam heating plant
ling, which all these years has been
cheated. or partially heated, by means OF
ordinary gates and coal stoves.
1ts5 This innovation, which has long been
8needed, sis the result of the efforts Of
y Mr. Leroy II. Shields. collector of Gus
q toms, to whom the present building al
q ready owes nearly. all Of the improve
ssments It has received within the last
three years. which, In truth, represents
practicallya sum total, for prior to MIR:
;@Shfelds' term Of office, the handsome ed
ssifice# had not been embarrassed with
s. kindly little attentions from the gov
ssetnment.
AT WORK THREE YEARS.
8Sssss1 IT is one Of the most imposing struc-
ssstuIes Of It's size In the South, and one
aofs the most substantial. 1t Will stand
.Sor ever, and Is a 5 nearly fire proof as
they can make them, but when the pres
Y Hnt Il collector came In, he found that
much was needed to- make it attractive
~ and convenient as to its Interior. Ac-
3bcordingly he went to work, and has been
& atfwoik ever since, endeavorng to OBJ
h tain for the Norfolk custom house those
n improvements that were wanted 20
make It first class in all or its appoint
4 ments. In this he has been s!ngulary
{ successful, as Will be gathered when it
as stated that the average Of the annual
sappropriat tons for such purposes Is only
&hbout 81, 900 or $1,000. In the past two
years the present collector has obtained
g1or{ this building repairs and improve
Il ments amounting to somewhere be-
tween 5.oc0 and, $4,000, and Mr.. KEN
Il per, the assistant supervising architect,
SS3himself says that this building has le-
8 ceiyed ,more money in that time than
has been spent on all the other gov
eminent buildings in the State.
S3$sEs5 ELEC'NRICI1YY AND NEW ROOF.
The first thing accomplished was in
Is the spring Of 1895, when fine new cop-
Sper6roof was put on the building. This
9SWas followed shortly by the substitution
S&of electric lighting for gas which had
Y formerly been used. The change was
81 an especially gra t:fying one to the en-
Il ployees In all Of the departments, and
Fps rticularly In the postofiice, very
81 dark and gloomy looking pace.
isSSIt was still further improved after
Is this by being painted In lighter color
i&than the .unsightly d-ab which had deck
ED Its walls. In good time, every inch
ss%of the Interior of the ed!fice has been
e painted. and following a general rule.
also In more cheerful colors than for
81 merry. New carpets have been placed
oiA tAS WIVES ana the Ola worn ones
disposed OF 10 the best advantage. New
81 seWering has been put in all over the
building, and connected by new and
II ample main on the outside with the
M'city's system. D
Ssigel was once the case that hardly any
r water could be obtained from the pipes
higher than the second floor. but this
difficulty has been overcome by placing
II q thousand gallon tank in the attic. and
II now when the faucet is turned there
81 are always results O;her improve
n Inents have been noted from time to
sS5tlme, among them being the storm
s&Goors IN the front portico; changes in
Inc postofiice Of minor though useful
.E nature, and also the erecting of two
ina g siaffs Instead Of one, for the Two
Il OF f1ags-the stars and stripes. and
IS the marine.
ft. Mr. Shields has also obtained the con.
& sent OF the department TO have the en-
ire yard IN the rear Of the building
b paved Win some good noiseless pave
81 Fsiment, and will convert the present ram
SS erss Tragedy" lot into handsome
& SQUARE, This will be done within mo
q next few months. The new heating
Ri plant Will be in within the coming nine.
Il ~ days.
il NOTHING MORE NEEDED.
SIS. After this, SO far as can be seen
$ !here lie absolutely nothing mora to hn
81 zone unless It Is to put in an elevator,
IS thtng which Uncle Sam will scarcely
II consider urgently necessary. The hir
IS fe,uilding Is now even in better condi.
lion than 1t was the day it was first
" occupied, and when the new nrhIfc
~ psulidlng Is erected. which, by the wov
aces not seem to be remota cnn
3; 3 ztingency by any means. the revenue re
E$Eartment here will be admirably situ-
atso. At present It is crowded. as is
known, but this will no lonrar no
5$;t the case when the othe. edifina hos
sepeen erected. nee
~ this event, the first floor, now oc-
Il sapled oy the postofIice. viii be used nc
Isl IS g Dohded warehouse; the second. rnr ~,
81 s.Im mouse and marine hospital ser.
and the third for the Interval
4 revenue, photographic. and pension na.
u p tsit. The United States corr
80. go the other building. -
THE DOROTHY"
ne collector has also secured tha sar.
s. llaaunch, as boarding vessel r. p .ana
81 &c place Of the Anticipated and uncer.
S 4t..sLn SAL boat which formerly aycit ad
So - tn -, lc1uaIlosity Of incoming vessels
s. -. ., ne iaunch Is the trimmest trippae,
l.I 9, craft Imaginable, so N1r. shisISs
Sss;ailss tened her the Dorothy" for b;:
e sg-s ans e,year;old girl. who Is said hx
Bs aast,s , - her partial parents 10 de.
u = , IN highest degree the ad1ect;ves
q applied to the launch. 'ee'''eS
!Ss.s Ihirty years IS a long time to Oabt .,
'sssaih.ui; 1 trouble as piles, but Ion,l
IS .asasteneli, pf Unlonvi:le, Pa. strupaiet
tIas t2ng before he tried De Wits Viz,
w. save, which quickly and perma