The Washington times., 1903-11-05
Plans Are to Be Formally
Submittedto the Com
missionerS Saturday,
WHITE GRANITE BEST
Anderson, of Burnham &
Co., Explains SubStitu-
ton of That Stone.

Plans for the new Union Station VIII
be formally submitted to the District
Commissioners next Saturday morning
by D. H. Burnham & Co. architects,
and representatives Of the Baltimore and
. Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroads. 1t is
practically assured that white granite
will be accepted as the material for the
exterior. Work of actual construction
! Is TO commence as soon as the Commits
sioners have approved the plans, which
VIII probably be early next week.
\ Pierce anderson. associated with d. H.
Burnham & Co., arrived in Washington
this morning from Chicago He called
Immediately upon Col John Biddie. En-
gineer Commissioner. Concerning the
plans. Mr.. Anderson gave out some in.
terestiag information.
Popular Fallacies.
This idea said Mr.. Anderson. that
the railroads are substituting a cheaper
and less desirable material for the ex-
sterior of the station is a popular fallacy.
rhe granite which we recommend to the
commissioners is a better quality than
as ever before been used in construction
public buildings. With the exception
a small blue fieck. II IS pure white
nd when in place 1t viii present an i'm
naculate and dazzling front. It is not
Sluch cheaper than marble a great dea'
ore durable. and much more satisfac-
5ry in every regard
New Material.
This is the first time it has been
hsed in large buildings. and 1 believe
when experts see the Union Station
when the granite is in place that the
dea of building materials viii be revo-
3utionized. We obtained IL IN a peculiar
IMAM r.
''Ths quarry was discovered a num-
Der o. years ago by an eccentric New
Engla,ider With his son. he declared
h's intention OF opening it up or a large
scale and realizing an immense fortune.
Before any of tie stone could be deliv-
cred TO the market the son was killed
through rn accident in the quarry. The
father closed down the works. and since
that time has sold none of the granite
except for tombstones-
About three years ago the cid man
died, and his heirs have thrown the
property open. This IS the first time
contractors and builders viii have an
opportunity 10 see the stone in use.
The quarry is IN Bethel. Vt
Roman Architecture.
1t IS SAFE 10 say llrlner LudL llH
small saving in cost viii not materially
affect the value OF work 10 be put into
the station. and the railroads will with
out doubt exDeEd the fun s5.0o5,09O.
They dad an opportunity Of substi
tuting lin estone. which would have re-
suited in I. ssssIIg Of half a million dol
lars but Burnham & Co. insisted
on the particular granite. and the roads
aequiesced. The same granite Is 70 be
used for the Mckinley monument IN
Buffalo.
The style OF architecture will be
Roman classic, Inspired by the ancient
Roman triumphal arches. the idea be-
ing as Washington Is the capital OF
the nation and the gateway 10 the
United States the scheme will be especi-
ally appropriate Washingtonians have
q great deal 10 pc thankful for in this
r. sspect. New York handles more than
40 coo tourists daily. but il viii be many
q day before a station is built there
which can compare with this one. The
railroads believed that as Washington
occupied a peculiar position in relation
10 the other large cities, it should be
signaily recognized"