The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-24
MORE MONEY FOR BUILDING.
Attorney General Griggs Urges nm
Appropriation by Congress.

Attorney General Griggs yesterday
transmitted to the House Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds a communi-
cation in support of his request for an ad-
ditional appropriation of 100000 for the
new Department of Justice building. The
letter of the Attorney General in part fol-
lows:
II beg leave to report. in addition to the
matter stated in my annual report sub
mitted to Congress under date of Novem-
Der 80, 1899, with reference to the new
building for the Department of Justice
that the plans and specifications in accord
ance with the design Of the architect. Mr..
George B. Post, were completed and sub
mitted for competitive bids to twelve Of
the most responsible and best known con-
tractors, eight OF whom submitted bids
which were opened April IA.
The work covered by the plans and
specifications upon which these bids are
based comprehend not only the ordinary
and principal contracts of masonry, car
pentry, steel and iron. stone heating and
ventilating of the most approved charac-
ter, electric plant and wiring for lighting,
bells telephones, interior marble work
and exterior sculpture work, etc, but is
believed to be SO full and complete that
no further expense need be incurred to
complete the building for comfortable oc-
cupation.
THE estimate does not include fixed
furniture and interior decorations. other
than marble thing and pilasters, plaster
cornices and panels. The building. as
planned. not only provides for future
growth, but forms by its arrangement
mezzanine stories, a hall Of records for
the Department and the Court of Claims
absolutely secure and fireproof and per-
fectly ventilated.
In my annual report pointed out that
on account of the extraordinary increase
in the cost of building materials and labor
it would not be possible to complete the
building according to the designs selected
within the appropriation, but that at least
30 per cent more money would be re-
quired than w,iu!d have been necessary
if the building could have been contracted
for when the act was passed. The bids
submitted not only confirm that impress
sion, but seem to indicate that that tie
percentage of increase would be consider
ably larger than estimated. One of the
reasons for additional expense is that it
is ascertained from borings made on the
site of the building that a very cons der
able and unexpected expense will be in
CURED by reason of the necessity for sink
ing the footings OF the building to depth
of nearly thirty feet in order to secure a
safe foundation.
ITO complete the building within the
period of eighteen months, in accordance
with the bids, would require, exclusive
of architects fees, which are per cert
sum approximately s1,600,000 The
architect estimates that an additional sum
of 5000 900 will be required TO provide for
the following items: Arthitects' fees Ii
brary stacks and filing cases, desk and
NaiDScOte in cOIIrt room mantelS eiectrie
light fixtures, decorative and plain paint
ing and furniture.
Il accordingly respectfully recommend
that an additional sum of 100000 b0 ap-
propriated to authorize the completion OF
the building and its furnishing"