Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-14
NEW B. & O. BUILDING
SPLENDID STRUCTURE TO BE
ERECTED IN BALTIMORE.

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany has just started the erection of a mag
innocent general office building on one of
the most prominent street corners in Balti-
more 1t will be the handsomest and finest
puiioihS on its character and size in the
country. also constructed of the best ma
terial and cost over 81, 100000. 1t Is to take
the place of the central Office building that
was destroyed in the fire of February 7
ana g. 1901 which swept over the central
Part OF the business section of the city and
caused a loss of about S5O,OO0OOO
Ihis new office building will be thirteen
stories nigh. front on Baltimore street l59
Feet and IA feet on Charles street, being
entirely separate from other buildings in
order to supply the most air and light to
the various Offices
The Wells Brothers Company of Balti-
more and New York have the contract and
expect to have the building ready for oc-
cupancy about August 1, 1906.
The selection of the design and arranging
Tor the construction of the building were
IN charge of committee of officials of the
company consisting of President Oscar G.
Murray, First Vice President George F.
Randolph, Second Vice President Hugh T..
Bond, jr., Third Vice President George l..
Potter and Chief Engineer D. D. Carothers.
In selecting the design the committee had
the assistance of Prof. William b. Ware,
a United States government expert on ar
chitecture.
Chief Engineer Carothers has closely fol-
lowed every detail, and in every instance
only recommended the selecting of the best
material wherever to be used He will su-
perVise the work of construction
1t Will be the most imposing and expen-
slve railroad office building in this country,
and IT Will stand out prominently as a huge
monument to the development and improve
ments that have been taking place since
the big fire.
The plan of the building Is In the form
OF an H. with the long side on Baltimore
street and Strange alley, while one OPEN
ing is on Charles street and the other to-
ward the party wall in the rear This
scheme for the plan gives maximum
amount OF light and air to the interior of
the building, and is SO arranged as to fur
nlsh the largest possible amount of window
space for the interior Offices
The building will be of the best freproof
construction. and including everything that
is most modern. The lessons drawn from
the great fire have helped to suggest the
best methods in this construction. The first
three stories will be of fine granite and the
remaining stories of Indiana limestone. The
architects drawings show a most dignIfled
facade.
The massive first story with its high
arcneo WINDOWS gives proper idea OF the
large rotunda and entrance to the build
ing above. The Charles street entrance has
been treated In the elevation Somewhat
more prominently than the entrance ON
Baltimore street. This was natural. be-
cause the large court space opens from
Charles street, and the opportunity for a
magnificent doorway Is obvious Above the
center or the archway to this entrance al
iegorical figures are to be carved on either
side of globe, and on either side of the
arch bronze lamps will be placed. carefully
ha
of the entrance
The corner of the four wings will be cut
off, or chambered, which will not only add
to the attractiveness of the offices above
but will serve well for the doorways be-
low. These minor doorways will open into
the city ticket Office. commercial freight
agents office, etc. giving service to the
pubic without the necessity of passing
through the interior corridors
The first floor is to be quite monumental
In character, the lower surface being Paya-
nazzo white marble. One passage from
Charies street VIII lead into the main cor
ridor, directly In front of which will be
eight main elevators. while to the left will
be the entrance from Baltimore street
Marble stairs. that will also be of a monu-
mental Character, will lead to the second
floor.
The second floor will be principally oc-
cupied by the fourth vice president and
treasurer, assistant treasurer and what
might be called the bank of the building.
the Baltimore street front and will be fitted
up with everything that would be REQUIRED
In modern banking house. The other side
Oh TINS moor VIII be occupied by the relief
department, special claims department SUI
perintendent OF police, ticket supply clerk
and industrial agent.
President Murray will occupy a portion
OF the third floor His private Office will
be large room with plenty of air and
light, and be directly on the corner of Rail
timore and Charles streets. Second Vice
President Bond will occupy the wing of the
building on this floor.
The arrangements for the comfort and
convenience of the officers on this floor have
been carefully planned. Besides his private
office and large business office. the presi-
dent will have smaller room and a din
ing room and bath room. These rooms will
give fine accommodations for the assistant
to the president, Mr.. Geo. NJ. Shriver: the
presidents secretary, Mr.. E. A. Walton and
the balance OF the presidents staff This
directors room. which will look out upon
the large court on Charles street The sec
ond vice president will also have q priya te
room with bath room, and near him viii be
the law offices and library, with the neces-
sary room for clerks and with large vaults
for the files and records
A private elevator on the Baltimore street
side win be especially arranged for the con-
venience OF the officers OF the railroad.
The fourth floor will also have an EXCEL
lent arrangement, and the principal suite OF
rooms will be occupied by the first vice
president. Mr.. Geo. F. Randolph. The Of
fees of the manager of passenger traffic
and the manager of freight traffic will also
be this floor. The other floors win be
very much similar In their arrangement.
The wood work in all offices Is to be of
mahogany. and the walls will be plaster
painted.
Since the great fire the officers of the conn
pany have given a great deal of time and
study to this undertaking. The COMMITTEES
in charge thought 1t would be advisable to
have a competition among weil-known ar
chitects to secure a satisfactory design
Competitive designs were submitted early
in the winter by twenty-four architectural
firms of this and other cities. Six of these
were especially invited and received COM
pensations for their designs. The success
full architects, Messrs. Parker & Thomas
and H. B. Hale & Morse of Baltimore, Phil
adelphia, New York and Boston, were