The Washington times., 1904-11-12
FAIR BUILDING
REMOVAL, $4OO,OOO
Commissioner West Hears
This Would Be Cost.
CHEAPER TO TRANSFER
Macfarland and Biddle Are in Favor
Of the PIOject-TO Raise
Funds
CHEAPER TO TRANSFER

Estimates of the cost Of removing the
Government Building at ST. Louis TO
Washington. 10 be used here as per
manent exhibit. convention hall, and va
ious other purposes. have been received
by Commissioner West.
The estimates are prepared by Gratz
y. StriCkler who -.gp s"intendoI the
erection Of the building, and show that
the total cost. including the transfer OF
the structure, and its re-erectiOn here,
would probably be about 100000.
In connection with the receipt of these
estimates. the announcement is made
by Mr. West that he will put the protest
before the Board OF Commissioners, tith
a view of obtaining their sanction 10
recommendation 10 Congress that an ap-
preparation he made TO remove The
building TO Washington. AS Commis-
sioners Macfarland and Biddle also eN-
press themselves in favor OF tie project,
il is probable the prODOsitiOl will 80
before Congress at The next session.
Got the Idea During Trip.
Mr. West said today that the idea
OF transferring the building 10 Wash
ington came 10 him during his recent
visit 10 ST Louis. Recognizing the need
of such a structure in the Capital, he
thought it would be an excellent OppOr-
tuniJy Tor the city 10 obtain the much
desired structure at a cost less than
that which il would require to erect a
new building.
The estimates of the probable cost of
removing the building are contained In
a letter received by Mr.. West this
morning from W =. Van Wickle, of
IVasbiUetOp who has interested himself
NT- n1
obtained the estimates from Mr.. Strick-
Ter. and that they have only been
roughly prepared.
Estimates Of Cost.
Mr.. strickler estimates taaJ various
expenses incidental 10 the work Of
transferring the building would be as fol-
lows:
For taking down iron frame, SD 900.
Freight from St Louis 20 Washing
ton on 100 tons of structural iron,
$500.
To placing iron frame in position, not
including foundations or wall covering,
81 000
He estimates the approximate cost Of
erecting the building IN Washington,
with "A substantial foundation OF granite
bur brick walls. and light stone trim
n!ings, Including the cost OF removing, 10
be about $4,000 10 100000
Less Than New Building.
In regard 10 these estimates Mr.. West
said that the total cost OF re-erecting
the building IN Washington would be
considerably less than the cost Of a
new building OF the same size. The
building is SO feet long. 175 feet wide
and is constructed on tie exterior of
cement. II the building were brought
here, the only portion which could not
be transferred would be this cement
exterior
Mr. vest says the building could be
put TO many uses here. In addition 10
maintaining IL as a permanent exhibit
he believes IL would be suitable for a
convention hall. for inaugural balls.
and similar purposes IL viii not be pos
sible under the law 10 use the Pension
once in the future for national func-
tiOns, and Mr.. West therefore holds that
IL is Imperative that a building such as
the ST. Louis structure should be erect
ed In Washington without delay.
Vests Associates Agree.
Commissioners Afacfarland and Biddle |
alike signify their intention OF support |
ing the project when II IS presented TO /
them by their associate on the board. 1
Air 1facfarland said. however, that he I
does not see how the project could be 1
carried ont, and doubts the willingness I
OF Congress TO maintaining an exhibit /
IN Washington such as the one at the /
exposition.
It is probable Mr.. West viii present 4
the matter 20 the board within a few 1
days. He desires TO devise some practi- /
cal plan by which funds can be OBJ /
talned 10 carry out the project