Evening star., 1900-06-30

time. After they had been driven to hard
pan. in groups of several at intervals along
the line of the outer wall OF the building
ana the intermediate piers to support the
to q depth OF six feet and then the piles
were cut of, and upon their tops wsrs
bolted down series Of white oak timhers
foot square. and transversely across ihesa
In series twelve by six inches. This az
forded solid tie between the piles and
gave a firm basis for the concrets. which
was then poured IN and packed solidly.
This concrete was brought up about four
feet above the pile heads, and then a mas.
stve granite cap, Ave feet five inches square
and eighteen inches thick. laid upon 1t.
steel anchor to afford q base for the
steel columns. which form the frame Of
the building.
Another interesting piece of work was In
progress at the same time. The basement
of The Star building being below the sewer
line. 1t was necessary to prevent all possi.
billy of leakage. Accordingly the entire
basement and the walls far up were COW
cred with layers Of five thicknessss of
telt bound by mixture of tar and
phalt. All this work was done with one
most important idea in View. The point
determined upon by the architects to be
what is called the level Of he building, had
to be attained to the nicely OF the fiftieth
part of an inch, in order that every hing
equal detail. should fit exactly and be
satisfactory.
[AhOtuer fmphnttS Lesson.
Then began the work of building the i'm
mense steel frame. 1t was another novelty
for Washington. Great derricks whose wire
ropes seemed like threads when compared
with the apparent burdens placed upon them
picked up huge steel beams and swuas
them around like feathers The floor beams
We're fastened together and to the aachors
with screw bolts, but as the work pro-
sressed the fastenings became hot bolts or
rlVets. Little furnaces containing seethng
fires were employed. and the forgemen would
place in them rivets, and as each became
white hot would seize 1t with a pair OF
pincers and throw 1t deity MANY feet, over
heads of workmen and through interlockinx
beams, to where the riveters We're ut work.
Here would be a keen-eyed workman with
a nail keg. In this would be caught tho
molten rivet and second later plncers
would have it out and insert 1t in the frame
hole, when a stalwart striker with a heavy
hammer would drive 1t home and make it
an everlasting part of the frame itself It
was the most interesting game of pitch and
catch Washington had ever seen and mul.
titudes of people day after day watched its
countless innings.
The Marble Work,
When the steel frame had risen to the
height Of the second floor the work Of plac.
Ing the marble and of laying the brick be.
hind 1t and putting In the other requisite
structural materials was commenced, and
the white walls began to go skyward as IL by
magic. Although many varying processes.
all important and all depending upon each
other most vitaly, were being done at once.
the comprehension that directed them was
never at fault. The plans of architects the
castings of steel forgers. the chiseling OF
quarrymen all fitted in harmonious ncety,
Here derTicks wire rope would be lifting
a great column Of steel, and there anothef
derrick wire would be elevating a block OF
marble. al long ago destined for the place
W hais,
forever. Then as the steel reached Its top
most destination the interior flooring, all Of
terra Gotta tiling impervious to fire or other
destructive elements. was rapidly placed In
position; and as the white walls went hIgh-
er this work almost raced to catch up with
them. At last the magnificent structure was
completed SO far as Its structural and solid
features were concerned. and then the hosts
of artists and master mechanics entered
upon their important duties of finishing the
interior and cutting out Of the exterior
marble the decorations that now make 1t
beautiful. The same fidelity has marked
these last details as has characterized the
work In every particular ever since 1t was
begun, and The Evening Star takes glad
and proud possession of what s believed to
be the most complete and beautiful homo
owned or occupied by any newspaper in the
world.
The work of demolishins the old Star
building and the two adjoining which occu.
pied the site was commenced April II and
completed April %. 1890: the foundation
was commenced May % and finished July
%, 1899; the steel work construction began
September 20 and concluded November %.
1899. and the laying of the marble was
started September 30, 1899. and the last
stone put in place January 81 1900. Tho
roof was completed March 22. 1900.
Some Pleasant Opinions.
mo architects have ever had such help
fulness extended to them by those who
employed them.' said Mr.. Marsh to a res
porter for The Star. Frequently after
plans have been completed to final details
architects are required to change them in
numerous ways and are thus hndered to