Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-28
WITH IMPOSING CEREMONY.
Laying Of Corner Stone Of Municipal
Building to Be Made Memorable.

It is expected by the Commissioners that
the laying Of the cornerstone for the new
municipal building, on the old power-house
site, will take place some time next March
or April. Capt Chester Harding. supervisor
Of construction of the new building, stated
today that he hopes the work on the build
ing will have progressed sufficiently to per-
nit of the cornerstone being laid not later
than the middle of April. The date, OF
course, cannot be determined accurately
at this time. owing to the fact that the
work on the superstructure has not as yet
been even commenced.
Commissioner Macfarland states that the
laying of the cornerstone of the new home
of the District government will be made
the occasion of a ceremony, which II rs
hoped will be distinctly notable in the al
fairs of the District of Columbia. From
the samples of stone for the building, DDS
for furnishing which were opened yester-
day, and from the prices submitted 1t Is
anticipated that the District building COM
mission will be enabled with the funds
available to select a stone which will meet
all the requirements for a building monu-
mental in character, such as it is proposed
to erect 1t is desired that the structure
shall be one which the officials and citizens
of the District may view with justified
feelings of local pride, and the laying OF
the cornerstone will be an event In which
the whole District will desire to partici-
pate.
The Commissioners have outlined no def
mite plan for the proposed ceremony. but
when the work on the foundations and
superstructures have progressed sufficiently
the matter will be taken up and program
arranged.
The Commissioners express themselves as
highly pleased with the samples of stone
offered by the various quarries for the
building, and also with the prices submitted
in the proposals. Several samples of mar
BILE and granite seemed to please the Com
missioners very much. 1t is not known
exactly how much the District can spend
for the stone for the new municipal build
ing, but it is roughly estimated that APP
proximately $60O,000 will be set aside for
that purpose. Capt. Chester Harding, in
conjunction with the architects, will soon
begin an inspection of the quarr1eS from
which it is possible that stone for the build
ing may be taken, and it is expected that
no decision will be reached by the COM
mission until about three weeks have
elapsed.
1t has been suggested that as the sam
pies of stone submitted by the various
Quarries are on exhibition on the first floor
of the little District building" at 14th
street and Pennsylvania avenue, that the
citizens Of the District might view the
stone and thus be able to form some op1n-
ion as to the most desirable stone to be pur-
chased. 1t is pointed out that the District
building commission, composed of the three
District Commissioners and Secretary Shaw,
have authority to select the stone for the
structure, but it is understood that the
members of the commission are willing and
glad at all times to give consideration to
the views of the citizens of the District,
especially in matter in which the people
of the District are SO deeply Interested