The Washington times., 1901-12-15

In keeping with the national policy Of
worldwide expansion, Uncle sam is now
building at the Capital Of the Nation the
most gigantic printing establishment on
The globe. Work upon this huge strue-
ture commenced in the summer OF 1892,
and today is about two-thirds completed.
The building is located at the northwest
corner OF North Capitol and c Streets,
and its massive frame of steel, which is
filed in with granite and brick as high
as the fifth story. spreads itself over nine
and one-half acres OF ground.
The edifce is 4oS feet long by 175 feet 3
inches wide, and is seven stories high, in
addition to the basement and an attic.
There is also storage vault extending
under the sidewalk along the entire
length and width of the building.
In the erection Of this structure 12,7O0,
coo pounds of structural steel have been
used, and. when completed. there Will
have been utilized in construction be-
tween II .00O goo and 100000 bricks.
There will also have been employed 4.O0c,-
GOO pounds OF iron and brass fittings, and
over 100000 feet Of hardwood flooring.
Would Lay Railroad TO baltimore.
The structural steel in this establish
mert, if wrought into rails, would lay
railway track a distance OF forty three
miles 1t would build three gigantic
bridges across the Potomac River at
Washington. From it and from the other
iron and the brass fittings could be con-
structed seventy-four locomotives Of the
most powerful type.
The building is to be equipped with its
own heating and lighting plants, embrac-
ing within its walls a power house from
which could be generated sufficient heat,
illumination, an9 general commercial pow
er for city OF 1900 inhabitants. There
viii be in this structure 5000 incandes-
cent lights, while in the ncighborhood Of
1C0 arc lamps Will be used in and around
the building. Some idea Of what this
number Of electric lights means viii be
disclosed when it is stated that cities like
Richmond and Atlanta. with nearly l00,-
eco population each, illuminate their en-
tire street systems with less than 800 arc
lights.
To De Finished Next Fail.
The structure will be finished some time
next fall. and within twelve months will
house the 4000 mechanical operatives Of
that great branch Of The Federal service
known as the Government; Printing Office.
1t VIII be more nearly freproof than any
building Of its character in the world.
1t was found necessary that this should
be the case. not only because Of the thou
sands of tens Of paper, cardboard and like
material, and of oils and inks, but be-
cause OF the fact that the Government de-
sired TO throw every element Of safety
around the thousands Of men and women
who will earn their livelihood within its
walls.
1t was decided in 1898, after prolonged
and bitter controversy, to erect the new
Government Printing Office on the site
where 1t is now building. and Congress.
On March 8, 1899. authorized its erection
under the direction and supervision Of
the Chief Of Engineers CT the Army and
the Public Printer. Congress at this time
appropriated s35OoOO toward the execu-
tion Of the work, the total cost of which
was not to exceed $1,000 600.
In order TO meet the increased prices
OF building material, and Of making the
south end Of the power house extension
the same height as the main building,
the limit of cost was increased to S2.429.-
GOO. The engineer in charge Of the work
yesterday made the statement that the
giant edifce would be completed within
this sum. and that probably quite a fair
sized amount would be left in the Treas
ury from the appropriation.
Capt. John :. seweII in Charge.
Immediately upon the passage Of the
law authorizing the construction OF this
great printing establishment. which was
to be marvel in matters Of detail, ap-
portionment, and magnitude, Capt. John
Stephen seweIl, who was then a lieuten-
ant in the Army Corps of Engineers and
an expert in such matters, was, by the
authority Of the Secretary of War. placed
in direct charge Of the work. J. G. Hill,
an architect of national reputation, was
selected to prepare the plans and draw
ings.
on the ground had been removed, and on
July 10 proposals were opened and the
contract for excavation was awarded.
Work began at once. Probably no gigan-
tic structure ever went up with such
rapidity. The great and growing increase
in the volume Of printed matter neces-
sary in the conduct of the affairs Of the
Government had been augmented by the
taking into the territory Of the United
States OF its insular possessions and the
extension OF its authority over the island
Of Cuba, and it was necessary to push to
its speediest possible conclusion the com
pletion of the building.
Progress of the Construction.
Such progress had been made by the
last OF November. 1900. that all the struc-
tural and architectural plans had been
completed except as 10 some details Of
interior finish; plans for the mechanical
plumbing, wiring elevators,
etc, were well advanced; the steel frame
as high as the third story was nearly all
in place; the masonry of the basement
story and the underground sewerage work
were nearly finished, and the fireproof
construction had been satisfactorily be-
gun.
Today the foundations, the underground
drains, and the huge steel frame are com
plete. And the massive granite and brick
walls have been built as high as the fifth
floor. About S. per cent Of all plans and
drawings have been done. and consider
able progress has been made upon such
parts Of the mechanical equipment as