Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-05
GRANITE FOR DEPOT
Architects Suggested the Ma
terials to Be Used.
DECISION DEFENDED
QUARRY OWNED By ECCENTRIC
RESIDENT OF VERMONT.
Registered Vow That Stone Should Be
Used Only for Monuments
and Tombstones.
DECISION DEFENDED

which has arisen over the kind Of material
to be used in the construction Of the new
union railroad station In Washington was
presented by Architect Pierce Anderson,
who Is associated with D. H. Durham Il
Co., the Chicago firm Of architects which
has charge of the construction Of the ter
minal building. Mr.. Anderson called upon
Col John Biddle. Engineer Commissioner,
this morning and conferred with that OFF,
cial relative to the plans for the new depot.
In an interview at the District building Mr..
Anderson confirmed the published reports
to the effect that the railroad companies
propose to build the new station out of
granite instead of white marble. In dis
cussing the matter, ne defended the deci-
sion Of the railroad companies, and re-
lated an interesting incident in connection
with the stone to be employed in the rail-
road building
Mr.. Anderson did not submit the plans
and specifications to the Commissioners to-
day. He stated, however, that next Sat
urday morning the representatives Of the
Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road companies. the architects and en-
ginears OF the companies. will meet with
the District Commissioners. when the plans
for the new station will be formally pre-
scented and explained to the District au-
thorities. He felt confident that the Com
missioners, after full consideration Of the
plans and the material proposed by the
companies. will give their approval of the
specifications and the materials to be used.
Mr.. Anderson stated that the stone to be
used In the union station is a new kind of
granite and that until two or three years
ago 1t was not used at all in the construc-
ton of buildings. According to the story
related by Mr. Anderson, the stone was
discovered a number Of years ago in a
quarry near Bethel VT, and this Is the
only quarry In which this particular kind
of granite found The ulYa
owned by an eccentric New Highlander, and
before any of the stone could be placed
on the market an accident occurred in the
quarry by which a son of the owner was
killed. The latter was very much grfeved
over the occurrence and registered a solemn
VOW that while he lived none of the gran
lite should be used for any purpose other
than for monuments and tombstones. This
decision was adhered to by the old gentle
man until his DEATH which occurred few
years ago. Since that time several large
buildings have been constructed out of the
granite from the Bethel quarry, one of
which is in Philadelphia. 1t is also stated
that the Mckinley monument in Buffalo is
constructed of this particular granite.
At Once Approved.
''-As soon as the architects set eyes on
this stone,' said Mr.. Anderson. they de-
cided that Il was the best material to be
used for the Washington station in case
they could induce the railroad companies
to agree with the proposition. 1t is con-
siderably more costly than other granite,
and only less expensive than white marble.
Had the railroad companies been DESTROYS
of keeping down expenses, 1t is said, they
could have 'decidedlupor Indiana limestone
or some other material cheaper than gran
ite. They wished, however, to make an
exception in the case Of the Washington
station, and agreed to the proposition of
the architects to use the Bethel granite in
the new railroad building in this city.
by using this granite in the station 1t
will cost more than 100000 without the
power house and other small buildings. l
believe the total cost of the buildings will
approximate $5,O00,0OO. The difference be-
tween the cost of the material proposed
and white marble 1 am sure. would not
be $3.50 600. as has been reported, although
1. is admitted that white marble Is more
expensive than granite.
The stone to be used has a gray feck
in It, but 1t Is different from the material
out of which the treasury building Is con-
structed. The Bethel granite will not pre-
building will face the south. and it will
present a dazzlngly white effect. In fact
the architects have decided that 1T Is the
n oSt beautiful material possible for such
a building. as we'll as being more durable
| than other material and having other ad-
vantages Granite is admittedly the most
desirable building material with the single
exception that its color is usually against
it when compared to white marble. But in
the case Of the stone to be used in the union
station building the objection as to color Is
not nearly so pronounced. 1 am sure the
people of Washington and of the country
generally will be pleased with the terminal
building constructed Of the granite pro-
posed. 1t will retain it's brilliant effect
longer than other stone. and it Is easily
cleaned with soap and water when 1t be-
comes dirty.
Style Of Architecture.