The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-02
Representative 0verstreet Confident
Indiana stone VIII he Used I'm
Construction OF the building,
STATE PRIDE is INVOLVED
BOTH SENATORS ARE IN FAVOR OF
USING HOME MATERIAL.
Architects Prefer the More Costly
Granite, but VIII Not strongly op-
pose the Wishes of the People.
pecisl to the Indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, April IL feel reasona-
bly, certain that Indiana limestone will be
used in the construction OF the new federal
building" said Representative Overstreet
this evening II would be satisfied
If / could feel as confident that an Indiana
firm would be selected as the contractors.
but that is something which must be left
TO the regular competition Of business, and
there is nothing more TO be said about it.
Often the lowest bidder is not selected, for
good business reasons. and IL may be in
the end that an Indiana firm will secure
this contract, but this is something with
which 1 can have nothing TO do and need
not discuss"
Mr.. Overstreets confidence that Indiana
stone will be used as the material for the
new building is shared by the other men,
bers of the Indiana delegation especially
interested Senator Fairbanks has consist
emily favored as proper and. desirable the
use of native material, and has impressed
his convictions on the public officials who
have to do with the selection. Senator
Beveridge also has urged that, inasmuch
as an Indiana product met the require
ments OF the new building both as TO dura-
bility and architectural beauty. IT would
be only fair 20 the people OF the State that
a foreign stone was not selected for this,
the most pretentious public building In the
State.
The suggestion is made that because the
bids for limestone are all within the amount
OF the available appropriation 81. .4s0. .0OO and
the lowest granite bid. that OF Pierce. for
Sl.497,9OO. is over the amount. that the selec-
tionn is certainly TO be Indiana limestone
While this is reasonable. it is not conclu-
sve. The building is certain to cost more
than the sum now mentioned in the appro-
priatiOn bill. The bids OF to-day do not
include the cost OF installing heating and
ventila ting plants and electric light plants,
elevators and electric conduits, or of the
furnishings and other fittings In fact,
these extras will run the cost of the build
ing TO a half million dollars more than the
sum mentioned. This will be taken care OF
in later appropriation. While IL is not
likely that this will afford the means OF
accepting a granite contract, or the excuse
of recommending one, il is mentioned as
one of the possibilities
ATTITUDE OF THE ARCHITECTS
1t is an open secret that the architecta
Rankin & Kellogg. favor granite material
but it is further known that they are dis
posed to build in sympathy with the wishes
of the people of Indiana and to work in
harmony with the wishes OF the Treasury
Department, and these give reason for ex-
pecting at this time that the architects
will recommend limestone bid. The sec
retary Of the treasury to-day said he felt
that il would be wise TO meet the wishes
OF the people who were 10 use the building.
and that in these cases it was eminently
proper. 10 recognize state pride.
The bids are now i'm the hands of the
architects, Rankin d Kellogg They will
make report TO the Treasury Board Of
Awards the latter part Of this week or
the irst of next. This board is composed
of J. Knox Taylor. the supervising archi-
tect, his assistant. c. z. Kemper, and ].
+. Low The architects are expected 10
report to this board the bids OF three
firms. one of these will be John Pierce.
of New YORK city. who proposes to com.
plete the building in thirty months. and
has deposited with the treasury 10000 10
guarantee the fulhllment Of the contract.
lie is the lowest bidder for both granite
and limestone. II is expected the archl-
tects VIII include also the. william p.
Jungclaus Company, OF indianapolis. It's
bids clearly entitle the company to final
consideration. II Is hardly possible 10 e.
consideration This plan may be slightly
deyiated from.
The report of the architects to the board
viii include analysis OF the bids I'm this
report. and many things will be considered
bearing the selection. The Board of
Awards probably will take from two TO
three weeks for its consideration OF the
report OF the architects. II accepts the
side OF its recommendations. but in prac-
tice the decision will be reached by con-
sultations and conferences. In short. IL
will come 10 agreement. The report OF
the board will go to the secretary OF the
treasury. and his decision is final IL Il
TO be expected that this decision will 80
up in such form that IL can be approved
without change. In other words. the wishes
Of the secretary doubtless will be obtained
in advance.
TO BE GIVEN A HEARING
When the Board OF Awards has received
the report OF the architects the senators
and representatives from Indiana will have
a hearing and make final representation
in favor OF Indiana limestone. The secre-
tary is disposed TO give serious consider
alton to their wishes. even n Indiana lime
stone Is agreed on the foundation will be
Of granite John Pierce Is now construct
ing the Chicago federal building. and has
the contract for the supersructure OF the
big New York federal building. The nrn
Is favoraby known 10 treasury officials.
The bids opened to-day follow.
William p. Jungeaus Company. Indian
apolis-Limestone. 81, tSS.co. marble N,sla-