Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-20
WANTS NO MISTAKE
RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY INTRO
DUCED BY MR.. McANDREWS.
Seeks Information Regarding Bethel
Granite, of Which It is Proposed
to Build the Union Station.

Representa- tive James McAndrewS of Hi
nois, member of the last District commit
tee of the House. today introduced a reSo-
luton calling upon the District Commits
soners to furnish to the House at the eari1-
est practicable moment definite informa-
ton concerning the Bethel white granite.
with which the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company proposes to erect the new union
station Mr. McAndrews has taken deep
interest in the station building, especially
since it was announced that the company
had determined to substitute granite for
white marble.
Mr.. McAndrews recently called upon Col.
Biddle, the Engineer Commissioner of the
District and talked with him regarding the
Bethel granite. 1t is said that the knoWl-
edge of the local authorities on the subject
at that time was not definite, as they had
just begun their Investigations. Mr.. NC
Andrews is from Chicago, the headquarters
of Messrs. D. H. Burnham & Company, the
architects of the station. The resolution
which he proposed today is as follows:
The Resolution
"Whereas it is reported that the union
station in the city of Washington is to be
constructed of Bethel granite, and
Whereas it is also reported that the
quarry from which said Bethel granite is to
be taken has never been developed; there
fore be it
.Resolved. That the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia report to the House
of Representatives at once whether said
quarry, which is located at Bethel, Vt, has
been fully opened and developed; whether
the granite to be taken therefrom for the
exterior construction of said union station
is CT a uniform quality and color, and IN
sufficient quantity for the purposes de-
sired.
Resolved, That said Commissioners of
the District further report to the House Of
Representatives whether the granite de-
sired can be furnished in a reasonable time
and whether the foregoing Information is
based upon knowledge obtained by the said
Commissioners of the District OF Columbia
by personal visit to said quarrfeS or upon
the testimony of reliable and impartial eX-
perts who are fully informed as to the
producing capacity of granite qnarries'
Purpose of Representatives MeAndrews.
Representative McAndrews WIS seen by
a Star reporter and asked. II he had any
definite reports regarding the Vermont
quarries He replied that he had never
heard of building of any size being con-
structed with this particular quality OF
granite.
I'VE simply wan. to know" said the
gentleman from Illinois. whether this
stone can be furnished IN quantities suf-
station within a reasonable time, and
whether the quality of the general mass
will be up to the standard bf the sample
ok submitted to the House committee
on the District of ColunibiaS and the Dis
trict Commissioners -haFe no, criticism
whatever to offer as to the quality or ap-
pearance of the sample stone.
The new station, however, is to be q
monumental structure, according to the
legislation under which it is authorized
1t is to equal almost the Capitol itself in
size For such structure I don't think
there should be any experiments in so
essential matter as the construction
material. This quarry, as / understand
it. has never been developed. We would
like to feel that thorough inquiry had
been made into the possible output. The
people of the District are up in arms to
have this work completed We don't
want it half finished and then have it
hang fire for want of material"
The resolution has been referred to the
&c NIT