The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-11
MAY BEGIN WORK NEXT MONTH
THE REBUILDING AND REMODEL
ING OF THE CATHEDRAL.

Bids VIII Be In on Sept. "a, and win
Be Opened the Day Following by
the Committee - Successful Bidder
Expected to Commence Work
Right Away-BuIIding VIII Proba-
bly, Be FireprOOf Throughout.
Some of the Changes That VIII Be
Made-PIans for the New Structure.
The work of rebuilding the Cathedral of
st. John the Baptist will, in all probable
ity, be begun early next month. That is
the present intention of the committee
which has the matter in charge, and with
everything favorable, there will be no
trouble in taking up the work at that
time.
The Cathedral will not only be rebuilt
and remodeled, but according to present
plans it VIII be made entirely fire proof.
That is the desire of the committee, and
it is likely that plan will be carried out.
The plans and specifications for rebuild
ing and remodeling the Cathedral have
been ready for some time, and they are
now in the hands of the contractors, who
will bid on the work. The bids must all
be in The hands of the committee on Sept
"A, and they will be opened and passed
upon on Sept. 25.
Among the changes and notifications
proposed by the committee in charge will
be the opening up of the vestibule clear
across the church by putting arches in the
towers, so as TO give free access between
the north and south ais!es without the
necessity of going inside the church. The
wi IAa
removed, and the stairways to the base
ment ana to the choir gallery will be To-
Gated there. The depth Of the choir gall
lery Will be considerably reduced a light
and more modern gallery being sub
stituted the approach to which will be
through narrow galleries.
The towers will be reinforced by brick
interior facings, and tied by heavy steel
or IRON rods, sixteen to each tower, 10
make them absolutely secure. The late
storm seems to have tested their strength
to the satisfaction of every one The tow
ers Will also be made fire proof by the
use of hollow brick floors resting on steel
beams.
The main floor of the Cathedral will be
made of hollow fire-proof brick resting on
steel ~ beams and iron columns The
principal aisles will be foored with thing.
The window stills will be lowered and cap
ped with stone, and the metal sash frames
n
crease the ventilation of the building The
wainscotng around the inside of the build
ing will be of colored marble, instead of
wood, as heretofore.
The roof and aisle roofs will be of steel
or iron framing, and absolutely fire-proof
me only extensive addition to the build
ing will be the Sacred Heart chapel on
the northeast corner of the building, in
place of the present altar. This chapel
VIII extend back about forty feet ending
IN half octagon, in which will be located
the altar, and the ceiling here will be the
same hight and style as the groined arch
ceiling of the side aisle.
The altar, on the south side of the main
altar, will be recessed back about fifteen
feet, and the ceiling will be of the same
| night and style as in the north chanel
The triforum galleries will be remoyed
on account of the increased hight of the
ceilings of these two chapels
The main altar will be brought forward
INTO the sanctuary about eight feet These
changes in this part of the church will re-
| quire some considerable changes in the
altar railing, and will also add much 10
| the beauty of that part of the church
| The outside of the Cathedral wiz he ~.
nented over in a manner similar to fhe
old building
For the present the windows will he Of
plain frosted glass, until some of the lib
eral members of the congregation are in
cited to restore the handsome stained
glass windows that formerly adorned the
church.
The successful bidder will be expected
to begin work at once and will be REQUIRED
to complete the building by Dec. l. 1899
This work does not include pews, organs
affairs, pulpit, confessional or any of the
interior furnishings or paraphernalia of
| the church.