The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-19
TO CONTRACT WITH
QUARRY FOR Stone
Harding Urges Plan for
Municipal Building.
TO HURRY CONSTRUCTION
Suggestion to Be Discussed With Sec
rotary Shaw by District
Commissioners.
TO HURRY CONSTRUCTION

Capt. Chester Harding. supervisor of
the construction Of the new municipal
building. is of the opinion that it would
be practicable and advantageous for the
Government to enter into contract direct
with some quarry for the stone 70 De
used in the structure before making the
contract for the construction OF the
building. He has reported this TO the
commission for the construction Of the
building. consisting of the three District
Commissioners and Secretary Shaw, OF
the Treasury Department.
Commissioner mcfarland now has the
formal report on the matter and will
soon confer with MI Shaw as to the
best plan to be pursued. whether TO en-
ter into the stone contract Immediately
or whether TO allow the contractors TO
bid on the price Of getting the stone TO
the site, in addition 10 constructing the
building. II is thought that Captain
Harding's plan will be followed.
Ready for Spring.
The architects" says the captains
report, inform me that the drawings
and specifications for the stone may be
made ready in about two months. which
would probably enable the quarrying
operations TO get under way in October.
and stone to be at the site ready for
erection at the beginning of operations
in the spring.
1T is doubtful if the plans and sPeci-
fcauons for the superstrUcture complete
can be ready in time TO enable a general
contractor 10 arrange for getting out
the stone before the beginning of win
ter. and if the matter is delayed until
l.
tract. there will doubtless be time lost
between the completion of the founda-
lions and the beginning of the super
structure work. I am therefore quite
prepared to recommend that a separate
contract be made direct with the quarry
for getting out and delivering the stone
at the site OF the work.
Captain Harding then explains that
he has given considerable time TO the
consideration of what kind OF stone
should be used for the building. Al
though he has not decided on any spe-
cific material as yet, his report says:
White Marble in View.
THE stone should best express the
design OF the architects. which is for
a building Of monumental character. l
am aware that in the conception and de-
velopment of the design, the architects
nave A2Q WnllG ulalDlt II view ana i
the available funds permit, would de-
fer TO their judgment in any recOmmen-
dalton 1 am desired 10 make on the
kind and color Of stone. II marble prove
TOO expensive. I believe the architects
and myself are agreed that a .light-col-
ored granite would be next satisfac-
tory
The report concludes with the recon-
mendatiOn that the architests and Cap
tain Harding examine stone structures
with a view 10 finding out what kind Of
stone should be used, and with the
assertion that, while due economy
should be used in making the contract
for the stone. enough money should be
used TO insure a handsome building.
In any case, the Commissioners and
Secretary Shaw Will decide on the kind
OF stone TO be used. The only question
IS whether or not 10 get the stone 10
this city in the near future.