Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-02

even many Injuries have been secured
without interfering with the usefulness
of the building or improving the beauty
OF the building. IL is Il complete court
house and postonice.
The elevator is not in yet, and there
are some other details still unfinished,
but they do not affect either the APP
pearance or the use of the building.
OPEN TO VISITORS.
The building was open to the public
on yesterday, through the courtesy OF
Col. George j.. Bowden, the custodian,
between the hours of II and III the
afternoon.
The building has cost 100000. and
the site $4,000 making Il round $250,000
and ut this time there is just $lSS OF the
appropriation left. The appropriation
has not however, been sufficient to
complete the equipment and the ele-
vator will have to be deferred for a
further appropriation. In addition to
the amounts above stated as expended
$4,000 has been spent out of another
fund for the furnishings of tho build
ing.
RENAISSANCE STYLE.
The architecture is Italian renais-
sance style, modified to American ideas
OF grace and by the necessities of the
materials. The exterior is simple, al
most severe, but still in pleasing pro-
portions. The walls are of yellow tint
ed brick faced with Indiana limestone
of a light gray tint. This stone is or
namented with carvings OF classic or
nament. 1T is three stories high, with
Il basement of IL tcn-fOot pitch. 1t
stands as the first of group of fine
buildings TO be gathered at Plume and
Atlantic streets.
PLUME STREET ENTRANCE.
There is n grand entrance in Plume
ncS.itf grh I'll
gates, ornamented with n wreath and
tie monogram of Uncle Sam, into
small arched rotunda of eXquisitely
polished Sienna marble. From that the
visitor goes into the spacious corridor
and stands in front of the general de-
livery windows OF the postoflice. TO
the right are the money order windows
and little private room, fitted with
the conveniences necessary for patrons
of that department, especially the
ladies. To the left and around on the
Atlantic street front of the building.
the same corridor extends showing the
lock boxes and delivery windows for
Sunday use all the way to the Atlantic
street entrance.
THE NAIL DEPARTMENT.
There are 70l boxes and drawers,
about 800 of which will rent for 81 a
year.
The corridors have Mosaic floors
with white notified Italian marble eX-
tending up the side walls ten feet. At
the end of this corridor are the stair
way, the elevator shaft. the entrance
for employees to the mailing rooms,
the offices of the postmaster and his
assistant. These are in the order
named.
The whole of the first floor is de-
voted to the postofice. Inside of the
boxes there is every convenience for
handling letters and papers, packages
and money with convenience and
safety.
CONVENIENT DIVISIONS.
There are distributing cases and
vaults, burglar proof safes and electric
clocks which run for year There is
an abundance OF light and air, natural
and artificial.
Col. ]. r. Waddy, the courteous post
master, who explained the uses of the
different departments 10 a reporter for
the Virginian-Pilot, has a handsome.
the southeast corner OF the building.
lie is proud of 1t, and is satisfied with
the Facilities of the office.
MT >. h. Carney. the assistant post
master, has an Office which has glass
sloes, SO that he overlooks the entire
working department. and the working
force or the poS.office is Immediately
under his supervision. The employees
are ~ clerks. rs carriers and 4 mes
sengers.
RAILWAY CLERKS,
That is exclusive of the railway mail
clerks, who belong almost to a separate
department-that is. they are al work
outside Of the building on the RAILWAYS.
They are provided for in the building
however There are three rooms de-
voted TO their use on the third floor in
the northwestern corner, There arc a