The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-17

| two stories higher than the old building
| with it, and has been partially completed
The contractors say that, although the
| work had to be carefully done, the opera
ton of removing walls and leaving other
walls standing without their accustomed
support. has not been especially difficult.
In order to carry out the plans it became
necessary to remove the central portion
of the front on Pennsylvania Avenue and
take out the wall on the west side. For
this latter purpose the floor beams were
shored with upright timbers. The south
wall was left standing and pierced with
openings to admit light and permit the
passage of the workmeu to and fro.
The work OF remodeling and enlarging
was commenced in May, 1899. The con-
tractors have just begun the task Of rails
ing the original structure two stories. in
order to make it conform to the new addi-
ton. The enlarged building was designed
by Henry Ives Cobb. and the contractors
are New Workers.. TIE work when COM
pleted will cost nearly s2500G0. In gen.
eral style the new structure has been
made to conform to the appearance OF the
original edifice. The whole, when COM
pleted. will appear as though designed
and completed at the same time.
The two new stories and the roof Will
differ from the old building somewhat, and
will cover the entire structure. The base
color win be of red Seneca. enlivened by a
liberal use Of Ohio stone and terra Gotta
in the trimmings to harmonic with the
general color scheme. The main entrance
Of the remodeled offices viii be through a
broad porch. with an overhead balcony
carried upon clustering columns. A clock
tower will rise to a distance Of sixty feet
above the new roof line. The whole will
have frontage of 100 feet on Pennsylva-
mia Avenue and depth Of 104 feet on
Thirteenth Street.
The building Is to be made model In its
every detail. Primarily the entire struc-
ture will be of fireproof design. the floors
being OF hollow tile and the partitions car
ried on steel beams and columns. The
roof will also be OF iron and slate of man
sard design, the outside window trim
mings being of terra Gotta. The old roof
will be permitted to remain in position
while the two extra stories and the new
roof are being constructed. A snoring
will be constructed in order to allow the
building to be carried up while the lower
floors are undisturbed. The contractors
have just commenced the work of increas-
ing the height of the structure.
The clerical force employed In the South
ern Offices has meyer been obliged to va
cate the premises or suspend its duties
during the progress OF the work. and 1t
will continue undisturbed during the
process OF adding the new stories and cap
ping the whole with roof.
When the contract has been completed.
about next September. the force employed
by the railroad company which has been
located In the Builders Exchange will be
transferred and will occupy Offices in the
new structure. The Southern clerks who
we're formerly located in the Washington
Loan and Trust Company building have
headquarters.
The building has most interesting his
tory. 1t was erected in 1871 by William ].
Murtaugh, then owner and publisher Of
the National Republican" AT that time
it was one Of the most important private
structures on Pennsylvania Avenue. and
conspicuous US the first pretentious news
paper Office erected in the Capital. 1t was
designed by William III. Searle. local
architect, and cost, exclusive OF the ground
upon which 1t stood, S116. 000-in those days
a heavy expenditure for a private enter
prise Of that character. Mr.. Murtaugh. In
1875 sold the property to syndicate
headed by H. d. Cooke. For time the
building was used by the Government to
branch of one of the de-
partments. and 1t subsequently passed
into the possession OF Mrs. Mckee Dunn.
by whom it was sold to its present owners.