Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-03
HALF MILLION MORE
TO BUILD THE NEW MUNICIPAL
BUILDING.
Congress to Be Asked by Commission
ers to Increase Appropriation
Already Made.

As anticipated in The Star yesterday, the
District building commission today decided
to ask Congress at the next session to in
crease the total cost of the new municipal
building now being erected on the old
power house site, from 81 600 900 to 81, 500.
900 the amount originally asked for the
building by the District Commissioners.
This action was taken by the commission at
a conference held at noon today in the office
of Capt. Chester Harding. supervisor of
construction, and participated in by the
three District Commissioners, Supervising
Architect James x. Taylor. representing
Secretary Shaw and Capt Harding.
The members of the commission inspected
all the samples of stone submitted last
week, and they carefully went over the bids
and prices submitted by the prOprietors OF
the various quarries. Capt. Harding pre-
scented for the consideration of the COM
mission a detailed report relative to the
cost of the stone and the probable cost of
construction. and from this report and the
personal examination made by the men,
bers of the commission 1t was clear that
nothing but n brick building with stone
trimmings could be constructed out of the
amount thus far authorized for the build
ing 49,.
Col Biddle executive officer of the COM
mission, also made a report corrobOrating
that of Capt. Harding, and he recommended
that the commission ask Congress to APP
propriate 100000 in addition to the $1,000,
900 already authorized for the structure.
After the reading of these reports and
discussion of the matter, Commissioner
mcfarland moved that the commission ad-
here to it's original estimate for the total
cost of the building, and ask Congress to
increase the total cost to $500. 900. This
motion was adopted.
No Conclusion as to Stone.
The members of the commission reached
no definite conclusion as to the particular
stone to be used, but they indicated that
either granite or marble is preferred. Capt.
Harding requested to Immediately in
vestigate the quarres he has not already
Inspected and also to examine the buildings
constructed out of the various stones, sam
pies of which were submitted in the compe
tition.
1t is understood that only granite and
marble will be considered in the final con-
sderation of the stone and that the SAM
pies of other kinds of stone will be elm
mated. 1t is also believed that the COM
mission will eliminate all but a few sam
pies of granite and marble.
The members of the commission state that
they will not make their definite selection of
material and award the contract until after
Congress convenes and they have assurance
of the increased appropriation. 1t is con-
hdently believed that Congress has never
desired the District building to be con-
struCted out of brick any more than have
the CommiSs Oners and the citizens of the
District do, and it is believed that when the
situation is presented to Congress it will
readily consent to the increase requested.
While the members of the commission de-
cline at this time to state officially what
stone they prefer. 1t is we'll understood that
majority of the members of the commits
sion personally prefer the white granite
similar to the stone being used in the con-
struction of the new union station, and
which Architect Burnham declared is 1.-The
realization of the architects dream for
building stone 1t is believed that if the
commission finds it will have sufficient
funds with which to purchase the white
granite. that stone will be selected for the
new home of the District government.