Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-02
MORE MONEY NEEDED
Increase Probable in Munici-
pal Building Fund.
QUALITY OF THE STONE
AUTHORITIES PREFER TO USE
SUPERIOR MATERIAL.
May Ask Total Appropriation of 3d.
100000 Conference to Be
Held Tomorrow.
QUALITY OF THE STONE


Held Tomorrow.
1t was ascertained by a Star reporter TO-
day that there is a strong probability that
the District building commission will ask
Congress at the coming session for an ap-
preparation of 100000, in addition to the
$500, 600 asked in their estimates with which
to complete the. construction of the new
municipal building in course of erection on
the old power house site. 1t is considered
that this additional sum. or large part
of it, will be necessary in order that the
commission may purchase a suitable and
desirable stone and also have sufficient
funds to pay for the construction work on
the new structure.
The District building commission, con-
sisting of the three District Commissioners
and Secretary Shaw of the treasury, will
likely hold conference tomorrow, when
the bids for furnishing stone for the struc-
ture, which were opened last Thursday
VIII be discussed and the samples of stone
VIII be carefully inspected. 1t is also be-
heved that the members of the commits
on at the proposed conference tomorrow
will determine as to the advisabiiity of
asking Congress to increase the total cost
or the structure to $1,000. 600 or $500 900
more than has been authorized up to this
time.
While the District Commissioners DO.
clined to say that the commission does in
tend to ask Congress to appropriate $500 600
aodlt1onal for the total cost of the munich
pal buildings: yet 1t is understood that they
are considering such request in their
minds, and it is understood that they be-
leve that it will be necessary to secure the
additional sum mentioned.
Mr.. Macfarland's Statement.
Commissioner Mcfarland, when asked
by The Star reporter today if the commits
sion has decided to ask Congress for more
money for the new District building stated
in reply that the commission has not de-
termined the question. He also declined
to say whether or not the commission
thinks it will be necessary to make the re-
quest.
Il will say this, however" said Mr. Mac
farland, that if the members of the COM
mission believe they cannot secure a suit
able and desirable stone for the building
and that sufficient funds have not been au-
thorzed for the construction work, then
the Commissioners will have no hesitancy
whatever in asking Congress to increase
the total cost of the structure from 81 OOO-
900 to $2.5OO.G0O. Two years ago, it will be
remembered, the Commissioners asked for
an appropriation of 100000, but Congress
authorized an appropriation of only $780,
900.
"The Commissioners have gone on record
as desiring a total appropriation of 81, 500
ocO Tor the construction of the new munich
pal building. and have believed all along
That IT would be advisable to have the
larger amount
1t is understood that from the amounts
of the bids submitted for furnishing the
stone Tor the structure 1t has become ap-
parent that the commission cannot secure
suitable stone and also pay for the cost
OF the construction work out of the amount
remaining in the total authorized fund
1t is believed that the commission hoped
to be able to purchase a suitable stone for
not exceeding 100000 at the most The
only kind of stone submitted under the re-
cent bids that comes within these figures
Is limestone, and it is believed that
the citizens of the District desire to have
the new and permanent home of the Dis
trict government built out of limestone
Granite or Marble.
While the Commissioners, of course, de-
cline to indicate at this time lust what
stone they prefer for the building it is be-
lieved that the question has narrowed down
in their minds to two samples one a white
granite and the other a white marble
Neither of these stones can be obtained for
less than $4,000. In fact, the bids on each
of the stones was over $4,000. Nearly all
the other samples of stone submitted are
of a dark color and the commission and the
cltlZenS OF the DlStTlcC are understood to
desire a light colored stone for the new Dis
trict building.
1t is not cons lered advisable to provide
a cheap stone Lnattractive in appearance
for the District building simply because
the amount of the present authorized ap-
preparation viii not permit of securing a
stone more suitable and satisfactory. 1t is
pointed cut tina, the municipal building is
to be the home ii the District government
for all tine, and 1t is desired that the ma
terial out of which it is built shall be of
substantial and enduring character insuring
building attractive in appearance, and one
In which the citizens of the national CAPT.
tai may take just pride.
1t is also believed that Congress will take
similar view of the matter and if the
Commissioners urge the additional $500 600
the national lawmakers will deem 1t adj
visable to grant the request
The total amount thus far appropriated
for the building is 81 10000, but the total
amount authorized by Congress is 81 600 600.
In their estimates for the next fiscal year
the Commissioners have asked for 5000 600
for continuing work on the building. When
this is given there will be $3.50, 600 remain
ing under the authorized appropriation.
Expended for Site.
OF the amount thus far appropriated
81 $50 .OOO-S55O 900 has been expended for
the site and S235 $3.50 has been or Will be
expended for work, etc, on the structure,
leaving balance of 1914 434 so to the credit
of the commission in the treasury. OF the
total authorized amount for the building
there remains only $3.50, coo, and it is con-
sidered that in order to secure a desirable
stone more than this amount will be re-
quired. Some provision will have to he
made for constructing the building, and II
is believed that this work will cost almost
$500 600
1t is estimated that the construction work
will cost about 40 cents per cubic foot.
The District building commission will
~probably decide tomorrow, if they hold the
conference, whether not they will ask
for more money for completing the build
ing In the event they decide to do this
they will probably reserve the most desira-
BILE bids and reject the others, and not
make the award of contract until after