Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-23
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
COMMISSION APPROVES DRAFT oT
SPECIFICATIONS.
Stone Work to Be Commenced IS Early
as observation-disclosures
d; Of Competition.

At conference of the members OF the
District building Commission held today in
the office of the supervisor of construction
the commission approved the draft OF speci-
fications as prepared by the architects, ana
decided to issue the call for bids for fur
nishing stone for the structure as soon as
possible. 1t is believed that the call for
bids will be issued Wednesday or Thurs
day of next week at the latest.
The commission will advertise for bids for
a period of thirty days, and 1t Is believed
that the members of the commission can
begin their consideration of the proposals
about the LIST Of November. and the con-
tract can probably be awarded by jan
uary 1.
At the conference today were District
Commissioners West and Biddle, the latter
executive officer of the commission; Capt.
Chester Harding, supervisor OF construction
of the building, and Supervising Architect
Taylor of the Treasury Department, repre-
senting Secretary Shaw, who Is also MEM
Der of the commission. Mr.. Taylor was Sc
lected to represent Secretary Shaw because
of the technical nature of the discussion at
the conference.
The specifications as approved estimate
the amount of stone to be used in the
building at approximately 10000 cubic
feet The facesstone is to be from eight
to twelve inches in thickness, and behind
the wall of stone will be thick wall of
brick. The plans for the building provide
for great deal of ornamental carving or
the face stone. particularly on the CAPT.
tails of the columns and about the win
dOws and entrance doors.
According to the program as set forth
In the specifications, the competition will
producing any stone of whatever char
acter. The specifications, however, stipu-
late the quality of the stone, as regards
durability. texture, appearance &c.
A clause in the specifications considered
as of great Importance stipulates that the
successful bidder shall execute a bond
providing that in the event the contractor
for furnishing the stone fails to fulfill the
terms of the contract or is unable to
operate the quarry the District may take
up the work and get out the stone itself.
The bond to be executed will be of suf-
hcient amount to cover the expense of
getting out the stone from the quarry.
Samples of Stone Required.
The bidders under the specifications, are
required to submit to the Commissioners
samples of their stone, together with the
price per cubic foot
After the period allowed for submitting
proposals has expired the District building
commission will then proceed to consider
the bids and the samples of stone submitted.
They will first examine all the samples
and eliminate all the stone that appears I'M
desirable for the purposes of the commits
sion. The samples of stone considered as
available for use will then be examined
and the commission will take steps to ip-
spect buildings in various parts of the
country constructed out of the various kinds
of stone being considered.
The uuarries will also be examined as to
capacity. accessibility and facilities for get
ting out the stone within the time limit.
The specifications specify that the first
shipment of stone delivered under the con-
tract, shall be delivered not later than
February 1, 1905.
The plans for the new municipal building
provide that the base of the building as
high as the betting course, shall be of
granite, but beyond this part of the build
ing the particular kind Of stone to be used
in the structure is yet to be determined.
1t is estimated that the stone for the
new District building will cost approx
mately 100000. 1t seems certain that If
either granite or marble is selected the
stone will cost at least $500 600