Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-22
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
Commission Meets at the
Treasury Department.
REPORTS RECEIVED
DELIVERY OF MARBLE TO BEGIN
IN JULY.
Statement Made Today by Commis-
sioner Northumberland Of
Determined Effort.

The District building commission met at
the office of the Secretary of the Treasury
today In the absence OF Secretary Shaw,
Acting Secretary Taylor represented the
Treasury Department. Commissioners Mac
Garland and Biddle and Capt. Harding. su-
perntendent Of construction were the
others present, Commissioner West being
unable to attend. Capt. Harding sub
mitted the completed plans and detailed
specifications of the architects Cope &
SteWardson. Commissioner Macfarland
moved that they be approved, and that the
commission advertise for the construction
OF the building in accordance with this
plan. six weeks to be given for the con-
tractors to submit their bids. after the ad-
vertisement appears, and the limit of time
for completing the building being fixed at
November 1, 1907. This was unanimously
adopted.
capt. Harding stated that the delivery
of the marble. under the contract already
mace with the representatives of the South
Dover marble quarry. would begin in July.
SO mat the general contractors would not
De delayed on account of that material but
could begin work promptly. With the ex-
cnange OF congratulations upon the COM
pietfon of the last important act of the
commission. in preparation for the con-
80 uSSAoh VI tAc the commission
adjourned.
MT. Macfarland's Statement.
Commissioner Macfarland, who ever
since he went into office has especially
worked to get a permanent home for the
district government, expresses pleasure
that the end of these labors is in sight.
after all the difficulties and delays which
the project has met. When he became
the most important material things the
D!strlct must have at an early day was a
DlStrlct government building ADEQUATE
Tor its needs and ornamental to Pennsyl-
9aHla avenue, on the south side of which
IL should be placed. He felt strongly that
nothing in the way of a building would
90 more for the District than this. The
progress of the project has been steadv
and as rapid as circumstances allowed
commissioner Macfarland said today that
ne was thankful that he had had the on
portunlty OF presenting the matter before
congress at every stage of the legislation
and that the result of all that had been
done by the building commission since
would be satisfactory.
i Wo years from next November I expect
to see the District building completed and
occupied he said. 1T will be as fine
structure as can be built within the limit of
cost of s., SOC, 900 and will be of great and
lasting benefit. Considering how long 1t
taxes TO accomplish such great projects or
dinarily. l think our progress with this one
has been remarkably rapid.
Authori+v Necessary.
First, we had to get authority from, Com
gress to construct the building. beginning
with the preparation of the plans and the
purchase of a site. The limit of cost was
estimated by US at 81, 500, 900. but Congress
fixed 1t at first at 81 ,000. 900 less Then the
site was purchased, Congress selecting the
p'itcuiar square under the general recon-
nehdatlon of the Commissioners that II
should be on the south side of PenneyI,,a,ia
avenue, that it should be another stem In
me redemption of that section. The cost of
the site and of the special piIing necessary
70 make good foundation emphasized the
necessity for the limit of cost recommended
by the Commissioners.
MeanWhlIe Il competition for plans con-
90 - Iot me commission by a committee
OF leading architects of the country. includ-
ing representatives Of the park commission
who were consulted also about the best U,av
TO use the site. resulted In the selection out
oil Il number of plans submitted by impor-
tant archtects the design of Cope & Stew
ardson of Philadelphia, who We're made the
architects of the building Capt Chester
Harding, |. S. A. assistant to the Engineer
Commissioner, being appointed superintend-
eut OF construction.
Asked Congress for Increase.
linen we went to Congress for an in
crease of the limit of cost by 81 ,0oO. 900 and
at that time secured an increase of half
that amount. being told by leaders In both
houses that after We could show by actual
bids on material that more would be need
ed. the limit would be again raised Last
ial we got the bids for stone, which dem
onstrated that our original estimate was
right. and that we could not have a monu-
mental building of marble or granite with
out an Increase in the limit of cost We
secured this additional half million dollar
increase, which brought the limit of cost to
the amount Of the first estimate and made
the proper construction of the building pos
sible. The story of the obstacles ana dis
couragementS of these years of effort will
probably never be told, but what We went
through last winter can easily be inferred
from the fact that all attempts to get legi5-
lation for new public buildings or for TIN.
increase of the limit of cost of public build
ings already authorized were defeated eX-
cept this one. Nothing in the long fight
was more gratifying than this victory. The
District building commission has lost no
time since the 4th of March, when the final
legislation became effective in getting the
material-you may imagine my satisfaction
in moving that ii should be white Dover
marble-and in having the plans completed
so that we could advertise for the contract