The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-04
PUBLIC BUILDING DELAYS
Why Work on the Savannah Marine Hospital Has
Not Been Begun

portant part in expediting work on a
federal building. Supervising Archi-
tect Taylor says the force in his office
is working faithfully and conscientious
~ 10 push along the unusually large
number of projects provided for by the
last Congress. He cited a number of
instances where some of the delays are
unavoidable because of complications
surrounding the selection of sites. and
acquiring of clear titles to the prop
ertX desired.
lie referred to Savannah as one of
the cases in which an unavoidable de-
Jay occurred. Two years ago an ON
HIpus Dill was passed authorizing the
establishment of marine hospitals at
Savannah, Buffalo and Pittsburg re-
specuVeIy. Representatives Lester for
savannah, Alexander for Buffalo and
Dalzell for Pittsburg effected a combi-
hatlon IN the House by Which they Sc
cured the passage of a bill notwith-
standing the stubborn opposition of
speaker Henderson and Uncle Joe"
cannon, chairman of the Committee on
appropriations. After the passage of
the Dill there was long delay in Sc
curing the site for the Savannah build
ing. A special act of the Georgia Leg
lslature was necessary to enable the
government to acquire a certain piece
OF property which had formerly been
used by the United States through a
special grant of the state of Georgia.
Ihen there was another hitch about
the purchase of the remainder of the
square which belonged to private in
dividuals. After these tangles had
been Strengthened out there was a long
delay in the preparation of the plans.
owing to differences of opinion be
tween Surgeon General Wyman of the
Marine Hospital Service and the su-
perVising architect of the treasury At
present the drawings for the building
are uncomDleted and a draughtsman
engaged upon the work is on leave of
absence. 1t NAV be a month or more
before the drawings are completed
and approved by the Secretary of the
Treasury before bids for the work can
be called for.
Buffalo has not made much more
progress with her marine hospital
building than Savannah, although If
was provided for in a similar bill at
the same time. There was not much
delay in choosing a site, but there was
considerable backwardness on the mart
of the Department of Justice in secur-
ing clear title to the site selected bv
the government commission The de-
lay was not due to any flaw in the
title, but was simply charged tn tba
which took precedence in the office of
the Attorney General and his assist
ants.
The present indications are that the
plans specifications and drawings for
these two buildings will be ready for
the inspection of prospective bidders
some time before the Christmas holi-
days.
There is also considerable anxiety
anifpCfad hHy he
over the site for their new postoffice
building, which was authorized during
the last Congress through the combined
efforts of the Georgia delegation, per-
sistently led by Col. Lon Livingston.
In Atlanta the atmosphere is heavily
charged with activity and advance
ment, and the citizens of the Southern
metropolis demand quick action for
their money in business and in pleas
ure.
There was some slight delay in the
selection of the site, but all the diff
ferences were promptly adjusted. and
the case was referred to the Depart
ment of Justice for review. Owing to
the various interests and influences in
Volved, it was deemed inadvisable for
the title to such an important trans
action to be passed upon in the alb
sence of Judge Bentley, the veteran
and reliable chief of the division of
titles in the Attorney Generals office.
Judge Bentley is at present in the
mountains of Vermont enjoying his
annual vacation. and upon his return
the Atlanta case which is now pre-
pared and awaiting his coming, will |
in all probability, be taken up and |
promptly referred back to the Treasury
so that the work of pre-
pairing the plans and specifications may
begin as soon as the force in the sup |
cruising architects office is relieved of |
some of the pressure under which it is |
now laboring.
These few instances are but sam |
pie of many similar complaints, which |
are daily made at the Treasury De- |
partment, and the amiable officials, |
without losing their TEMPER have ready |
plausible excuses why work on certain |
buildings has not advanced as rapidly |
as ambitious members Of Congress and |
other interested parties desire.