Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-11
Selection of Material for Mu-
nicipal Home.
PRECAUTIONS TAKEN
SAVING OF TIME REQUIRED FOR
CONSTRUCTION.
The Commissioners to Confer With
Secretary Shaw Of the Treasury
Department.

1t has been ascertained that there Is
strong probability that the District Com
missioners, prior to the award of the con-
tract for the construction of the new mu-
nicipal building at 14th street and Penn
sylvania avenue, will select the specific
kind of stone to be used in the erection of
the new home for the District government.
The Commissioners, 1t is understood, will
also probably let the contract for furnish
Ing the stone before the contract for the
construction of the building is awarded.
This proposition was first suggested In
the news columns of The Star several
weeks ago. and since that time, 1t is stated.
the officials connected with the proposed
construction of the District building have
been considering the plan suggested Of Sc
lecting the stone and awarding the con-
tract to the quarry for furnishing the ma
terial in advance of contracting for It's erec
ton.
Several features of the plan of awarding
the stone for the building in advance of
letting the contract for the construction
or the structure appeal agreelbly to the au-
thorities. 1t is stated. Perhaps the princ-
pal argument in favor of the method is the
saving of several months in the compile
ton of the municipal building. This con-
SderatiOn is deemed one of considerable i'm
portance by the authorities.
While, 1t is stated. the Commissioners
have not as yet definitely determined upon
their course in the matter, yet it is admit
ted that the proposition is now under con-
sideration. Capt. Chester Harding, super
visor of construction of the new municipal
building, it is stated, Is now engaged in pre-
pairing report relative to the plan. This
report will probably be ready to submit to
the District building commission within
about ten days.
Conference Necessary
1t Is pointed out that the Commissioners,
before definitely deciding on the proposition,
will confer with Secretary Shaw of the
treasury, who is also a member of the mu-
nicipal building commission, in order to OBJ
tain his views and acquiescence in the mat
ter. Whatever is done, it is stated, will be
by agreement of the full membership of the
commission.
The local authorities as we'll as the cti-
zenS of the District Of Columbia are great
ly interested in the kind of stone to be
used in the new home of the municipal
government. 1t is desired that the new
headquarters of the municipal government
shall be a handsome as we'll as q SUBJ
stantial structure
1t is conceded that several months time
will necessarily be consumed by the quarry
obtaining the contract for the stone be-
fore sufficient material can be taken out
for beginning work on the building. The
detailed plans and specifications for the
municipal building will probably not be
completed for several months yet, and af-
ter the plans are finished considerable time
Will be consumed in advertising for bids
and in other necessary preliminary work
The Award Delayed.
The award of the contract for the con-
struction of the building will probably not
be made until about the last of this year
and there is a possibility that for various
reasons it may be delayed until spring IN
der these circumstances work on the struc-
ture would be still further delayed because
of the contractor inability to procure suf-
fiCient stone from the quarry in time to
begin work at once.
Ordinarily contracts for the construction
of buildings for the District and the mate
rial to be used in them, have been let en-
tire, the contractor agreeing to furnish GER
tain kinds of material which he specifies in
his bid. In the case of the new municipal
building, IT is estimated the stone will cost
more than twice the cost Of the work Of
construction.
Should the contract for erecting the mu-
niCipal building and furnishing the stone be
awarded In one contract the contractor
would designate the kind of stone to be
used and the Commissioners would merely
approve his selection.
1t Is deemed more satisfactory that the
Commissioners select the material out of
which the building is TO be erected in adj
vance and then the contractors for con-
structing the building will all be aware of
the kind of stone to be used and can base
their estimates upon a specific kind of
stone at specific price. The Commission
ers will proba bly, select the stone by means
of competitive bids. in case they adopt the
plan proposed. and in this way they will he
able to obtain a fair and reasonable pAce
or the stone direct from the quarry. thus
saving any commission the contractor
might make on the stone contract.
Contract for Stone.
BY awarding the stone contract prior 10
the award of the contract for the cOnstfuc-
ton the quarry securing the contract would
have several months in which to take out
stone and it Is believed that by this method
sufficient stone would be on hand for the
contractor when he was ready to commence
work on the building. thus saving several
months delay.
1t Is also believed that the Commissioners
would have a better opportunity to select
a desirable stone by obtaining bids from
the various quarries throughout the coun-
try. 1t Is thought that either white marble
or granite will be used In the structure,
but the plan has not as yet been fully de-
veloped.
Capt. Harding has recently been viewing
specimens Of stone in other cities and has
inspected several quarries in order to OBJ
tain ideas as to the most desirable material
for the building. 1t is anticipated that he
will outline a plan for selecting the stone
In connection with the proposition suggest
ed in his report to be submitted to the
other members of the municipal building