The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-09
Contract Lot 10 Washington for Additional
Improvements at the Custom House.
GOOD SHOWING BY NORFOLK. BIDDERS
Some of tho improvements That Have
neen Made During sir. shields'
Term-Anonntto-Nenriy sa5, 1000
mr. Bowden win Probably Not
Take Charge TIL April.

MIR. Leroy H. Shields, Collector of
Customs for this port, returned from
washington yesterday. while there he
visited Acting Supervising Architect
kemper While the bids were being
opened for putting new steam heating
apparatus In the Custom-houee. Eel
Ter d. Co, OF Washington, were the
lowest OF the seven bidders, their
figures being $3.50. The contract was
accordingly let to that firm. The next
lowest bidder was J. J. Lawler. OF Nor
iolk, who offered to, do the work. for
3,0ao. Foster & Son and ]. w. Balm.
or Norfolk, were also among the lowest
bidders. :
MIR. Shields was very much pratifiefl
at the showing made by the Norfolk
iirms and so expressed himself There
were bids from all the large cities in
the East and some Of them ran as high
as $4,000. s.I go :"
: The apparatus will be the latest and
most improved, the low pressure hot
waiter method being used The work
'Will'begin as soon as the contractor can
file his bond and will be finished with
In forty-five days.
This is the last of a long list of
improvements which Mr.. Shields has
succeeded In securing for this Custom
mouse since he came into office. on
April D, 1894. They VIII aggregate
nearly $4,000, which sum represents
more than has been spent on all the
other public buildings in Virgins dur
ing That time for similar purposes.
Inc building, when this latest i'm
provement is made, will rank with the
pest In this country in the matter of
its appointments.
Among the improvements that have
been made during Mr.. Shields term
or ofhce may be mentioned the fol-
He first had the entire building over
hauled. renovated and fitted out with
new furniture and carpets
Inc edlflce was then painted, entire
~ on the interior, and wherever neces-
sary on the exterior What was prac-
tlcally new roof was put on the
building and an additional flag staff
added.
This done, the interior plumbing was
oVerhauled and new toilet rooms and
iaVatorieS were put on all floors.
:" On the outside, the old Government
sewer was entirely done away with
and a connection was formed with the
c.tys system. with obvious advantage.
a large tank was placed in the attic
10 furnish water In case Of an cmer-
gency like the recent water famine.
inc building was fitted out with cleo
tr1c lights from top to bottom Some
or these, in the postofIice department,
nave Just been replaced by $50 Wells
bach gas burners, these being found TO
suit the requirements better.
The lot in the rear has been graded
and returfed. with very handsome re-
suits. and the court has been substan-
tally paved with vitrI1ed brick on a
SIX inch concrete base. The old UNI
slightly railing around this court has
been taken away and replaced with
attractive granite curbing.
o11 tt,t
MT. Shields has used his influence to
see that it was done by home labor,
and in this he has added many TO his
long list of friends and admirers.
With an admirable and efficient staff
of assistants he has handled the grow
Ing business OF the port cXpeditiously
and satisfactorily TO the Government
and all concerned, and has yet the
first complaint, official or otherwise
to hear of the management of the
office, fact Of which every one In
the building is vcr@ properly proud.
The business Of the port has In
creased rapidly but steadily in the
last four years, as has frequently been
demonstrated by The Virginian Mr.
Shields last report. forwarded in July,
1897, and made out up to June 90
showed exports almost treble those OF
the preceding fiscal year: 1873 vessels
entered from foreign ports, against 80
of the preceding year, and vessels
cleared for foreign ports, 55S, against
$40 of the year before, and so on
1t is understood that Mr.. Bowdcn,
the new Collector, will not take charge
of the office until Mr.. Shields term
expires in April.