Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-15

there. large part of the interior fit
! til gs have arrived and occupy a portion
of the main floor, where the dust and dirt
settles upon them continually.
The most conspicuous objects on the
m ain floor are the detective boxes lately
| erected. These resemble much the tur-
rets of a warship and are. as known for
the secret service people. who will occupy
them for the purpose of spying upon the
movements of the army of clerks who will
be detailed for work upon the mail One
of the turrets is in the center of the floor
and there seven CT them in all They
are arranged that the men who viii
sit in them and spy out Of the holes pro-
vided for the purpose can enter them from
the sbasement. The clerks will not know
whether or not the '.lookouts' are or are
not occupied.
The Copper slsyIight.
No information would be given out ut
the post office building as to now much
work would be required to put in good
shape the immense copper skylight on the
top of the new building. 1t was admitted
that repairs would be needed, but this
fact was passed ever by the statement
that only few glass had been broken
Which would need replacing.
In verifCaticn of the story published in
The Star recently in regard to the cond-
ton of the skylight, Mr.. Otto L. WoIfen-
stein says that it was true in every re-
spect.
The question of what will be done with
this Y i'll be NEST likely settled when the
approprla ton of s115,oUo for which Con-
Sress has been asked is obtainabe The
work now going on is of a minor charac-
ter.
Mr.. Wolfenstein said in regard to the
skylight:
Il can prove that what 1 said in regard
to the matter was true in every particular,
bringing to bear the best evidence obtain
able. This is that the architects admit
having gotten DroDOS3ls nd
tions. dated November 10. 1897 inviting
bidders TO perform certain repair work on
this skylight. The latter had just been ac-
cepted as first-class work. 1t was paid for
and the bondsmen released. 50 that the
government must stand the loss.
1T must have been considered trfling
job, for the proposal required the work to
be done in the shortest possible time-only
three weeks, rain or shine. The contractor
vas required to go over every pane of glass
ard every piece of weather strip or cap
The latter is the sheet metal strip which
holds the glass in place. The contractors
certified check was to be he'd back until
all the work was satisfactorily pc: formed.
Mr.. Taylor should not be astonished,"
Mr.. Wolfsteiner states. that the skyiight
cannot be repaired. SO to be equal to a
first-ciass job. 1t can only be replaced
No wonder the local bidders refused to
| tackle the job. as anxious as they were TO
secure government work.
Interest of Fair Dealing.
In the interest of honest workmanship
ard fair dealing all around, 1 have a num-
Der Of defects which / might bring 10 the
notice of Mr.. Taylor These would not be
VI derstood by the general public as they
are of purely technical nature, but they
would be readily by contractors | might
cite defects in the. building by the hun
di eds. The government has admitted it
n.ade costly mistake.
i am glad to see the cement floor filings
re- hn Il.
was prepared WAS defective in the first
place. According to, it, mixture was pre-
Pared which disintegrated SO that it would
blow away like ashes. OF course, Uncle
sam paid for this experience.
In regard to Mr., Taylor's statement
that a mistake was pade. in constructing
the skyifght too large, l reply that there
are to-day skylights faf lafgsr..y~-~~' era
Il cannot understand why old, practical
experienced skylight makers are not sent
for to come here and pass judgment on his
work. Action should not be deferred until
the building is occupied and All the risk Of
damage by The elements is undergone
Mr.. Taylor should remember all the costly
damage done to the contents Of the Treas
TRY department, not SO long ago to be for
gotten, when the copper roof was renewed,
and the utmost precautions had been taken.
II there is any money available the new
skyllghf should be erected soon as pos
sible. a system of skylight construction
should be selected which has stood the test
- 'ii-iN. IL INC ptltcHt o!HCe IcCoiuS SHJutl
be examined it would be that no in
Ventor ever relied upon putty to keep
metal skyl!ght tight"
In Course of Construction.
Mr.. Wolfsteiner says there is in course of
construction in the post office building a
lower skylght of the same general con-
struction as the outer. The glass is only
falf as long, which makes twice as many
leaks to guard against. The contract for
tfls says no putty is to be used, and none
has been brought into requisition.
Mr. Wolfsteiner is Of the opinion that
work should be stopped the lower sky
hsht, and the other fully repaired or prop
cry constructed, SO that the public can be-
lieVe In the ability of the supervising
i.rchltect to have charge of such matters
EIIIRl' STI.RIkI. ~ u,rI1, I1o..c.,