Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-15
Granite Corner of the New
Union Station.
CONSTRUCTION BEGUN
BUILDING TO BE COMPLETED BY
JULY 1, 1906.
Ceremony Today Attended by Numbef
of Interested Parties, Including
Architects and Engineers.

The first piece of granite to be laid in the
construction of the new union station was
put In place this morning, and the cere-
mony was witnessed by quite an audience
of architects, engineers, inspectors and oth-
ers interested in the work. While the stone
which was first placed is not in fact cor
ner stone" in the ordinary acceptauon OF
the phrase, 1t is located on the northeast
corner of the terminal at the opening to
the driveway concourse. This particular
stone is beautiful specimen of the Bethel
white granite, which is to be the material
for the entire superstructure.
When Foreman G.. s. Kline of the Thomp-
son-Starrett Company. contractors, gave
the signal at l0:o5 o'clock the chains on the
great derrick began to move and the stone
was swung directly over the spot which had
been selected Then Mr.. Kline dumped
couple of buckets of mortar on the base,
and Mr.. Harlow Lewis, superintendent or
construction, took the trowel and began 10
level the mortar This the signal for
contributions. and nearly every one present
dropped a nickel or a dime or quarter
In the mortar where the coins Will md an
abiding place for many years to come The
stone then lowered into position, !eN-
eled, and after photograph had been taken
by The Stars staff photographer the cere-
money complete.
Makes Brief Speech.
Some one in the audience requested a
speech from Mr. Lewis. and after consd-
erable pressure and pleading that gentle
man said:
"'When il the course of human events
1t becomes necessary to lay corner
stone we lay 1t. That'n be about ALL
The laying of the stone this morning
marks the beginning of the work on the
superstructure. The foundations have prac-
tically been completed and much of the
steel structural work-about 1000 tons-has
been placed in position. 1t is predicted by
those in charge that the Improvement will
be completed in July 1905, although they
are making no promises and offering no
odds that this will be accomplished.
First Steel Column.
The first steel column to be placed in
position and reaching to the roof line of the
new station, was riveted in place today,
and from its top there floats an American
flag the first to be hoisted over the vast
area of what is to the average eye nothing
but chaos.
1T looks as if we had been tearing things
up a bit" said one of the engineers today
to a representative of The Star, and there
is little actual construction to show for
our fabors, but now that the superstructure
work is under way, the station will rise
like magic and within six months you will
see that have accomplished something"
Among those present at the cornerstone
laying were Mr.. Edward Whitman, repre-
senting the D. H. Burnham Company of
Chicago, the architects; Mr.. A. G.. Norton.
member of the American Society of Civil
Engineers and representing the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad; Mr.. Harlow Lewis
perintendent of construction for the Thomp-
son-Starrett Company: Mr.. Frank Holmes
of the Burnham company; Messrs. II. c.
Cresson, G. S. Kline w. P. Tunstall and
VIM. H. Feigenson, representing the
Thompson-Stawett Company; Messrs.
James Finley, VIM Houghtling. Michael
Broidy, w. S. Wilkerson, d. E. Davis and
Z. Smith.