Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-29
NEW MUNICIPAL HOME
ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN
IN FOUR MONTHS.
Selection of Material by the Commits
sion an Important Step-Contract
Under Consideration.

The municipal building commission late
yesterday afternoon. as was announced ex-
clusively in The Star, selected South Dover
white marble as the stone to be used in he
construction of the structure which IS
to be the permanent home of the District
government. The stone to be used in the
new District building is the same as that
to be used in the new House of Represen-
tatives office building, and it's use in these
structures will be the first introduction of
this particular marble into construction
work in the national capital
Within few days the commission expects
to enter into a contract with B. A. and q.
N. Williams of New York city for the pur-
chase of the stone at approximately $685.
coo. The commission will also contract
with this company for setting the stone at
a cost of about $4,000 making the total
amount of the contract about $113,0J0
1t is hoped by the commission that the
actual construction of the superstructure
of the District building can be commenced
within four months. Eleven draughtsmen
in the employ of Architects Cope & Stew
ardson of Philadelphia are now engaged in
preparing the detailed drawings and woch-
ing plans of the building. and Col. Biddle
states that the plans will probably be fin
ished within about six weeks. About SIX
weeks more will be required in which to
advertise for bids and to award the con
tract for the construction of the super
AFTER winch the work Will Degin.
Early Delivery of Marble.
BY the time the contract for the compile
ton of the building is awarded it is hoped
that the marble will begin arriving at the
site Of the building. The specifca tons FOR
stone require that the first delivery Of ma
terial shall be made within ninety days
after the award of contract. The South
Dover quarry is well equipped and has ade-
fya, ny~fi, e@r,
from the works to Washington without un-
usual delay. 1t is expected that all the
marble will be cut in proper sizes for the
building at the cutting sheds in South
lover N. Y, or at one of the company'S
other cutting plants.
The meeting of the District building COM
mission began yesterday in the office of
Secretary Shaw at the Treasury Depart
ment but later the members of the COM
mission adjourned to the little District
building on the site of the proposed
structure. Colonel Biddle reported that
the estimates given him by contra ctors for
furnishing the stone and erecting the build
ing showed that the commission would save
several hundred thousand dollars by buy
ing the stone in contract separate from
the construction contract.
1t was stated that the prices at which the
quarr1es had offered stone to the COM
mission were considerably lower than the
contractors could secure. Since the bids
Tor the stone We're opened last October it
is stated, the price of building stone has in
creased. owing to the increased demand for
material.
Reasons for Rejection.
The commission yesterday first considered
Hardwick white granite, but it was decided
that in order to use this stone material
notifications would have to be made in the
plans. The quarry could not furnish stone
In the sizes required. The price 100000
at which the stone was offered, was also
considered as beyond the reach of the COM
mission. With the white granite eliminated
from consideration the commission then
CONSIDERED South Dover and Cherokee mar
Bile. The latter stone was offered at $780,
GOO, about $4,000 lower than the South
Dover product.
Commissioner West made the point that
he was not In favor of purchasing any
stone or material that would not permit of
the completion of the building within the
appropriation available. The other MEM
berS of the commission preferred South
Dover marble and declared that it could
be secured within the amount available
and that no more money would be asked
for the completion of the project. He then
consented to join the other members of the
commission in the selection of South Dover
marble.
In New York, erected out of South Dover
marble are the Blair building the Spever
building, the Van Cortlandt building Lib
erty Bank, Second Church of Christ (Sci-
entisD, New York Savings Bank and the
interior of the New York Stock Exchange.
South Dover marble is described as a
pure dolomite and unusually free from i'm
perfections The marble, 1t is declared
possesses in a marked degree the qualities
that resist the action of the atmosphere
1t is also said to resist fire better than
granite. In color the South Dover marble
is white, or cream color, with no streaks
in it.
1t is stated that the contractors will be-
gin at once to quarry the stone and that its
delivery on the site will not be delayed be-
yond the time limit stipulated in the specif-
cations.