Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12
WORK To BEGIN
ON POSTOFF|CE
CONTRACTORS FOR FEDERAL
BUILDING IN LOS ANGELES
Imposing Structure to Be Finished by
July I, 1909 - Outline Of the
Specifications for $780, 900
improvement

Ground soon will be broken for the
new federal building to be erected on
the northeast corner of Spring and
Temple streets at a cost Of about ST.
200, 900.
Contractors T. A. Bringham and ]. M.
Dougan of Seattle, Wash, are now in
Los Angeles for the purpose Of letting
the contract for the excavation and to
prepare for the great undertaking In
general way. The bond Of the contrac-
tors for 100000 has been filed with the
government and it has been approved.
The new postoffice building will be
one of the finest and most substantial
federal. structures In the entire. country.
The building is to be completed on
July 1, 1909.
Six Stories and Attic 81
The plans and specifications provide
for construction Except elevators,
plumbing heating apparatus, electric
wiring and conduits) of the United
States postoffice and court house build
ing in Los Angeles. The building will
be of stone, brick and concrete, six
stories and attic, and covering the
block bounded by Main, Temple, New
High and Commercial streets. The
main entrance will be at the corner of
Main and Temple streets.
On the Main street elevation, which
will be the most imposing, four huge
columns will be reared between the
second story wall and the roof cornice,
supplemented by eight lesser columns.
Ornamental columns each surmounted
by four arc lights, stand on either side
of the doorway, above which a large
stone eagle spreads its wings The
entire front and cornice are elaborately
decorated. Eight square windows give
light to the lower floors on this side,
while the attic has seven rose windows.
,rhe plans of the building comprise
forty-eight separate drawings, and to
the practiced eye these show the i'm
posing building as it will appear when
completed. The first floor is largely
taken up by the postoffice workroom,
with wood floor. wainscot and trim
mings. A public corridor extends along
the inner doors.
On the Temple street side are the
offices of the postmaster and assistant
postmaster with oak floors, and the
vaults. A public corridor passes them
on the inside, from the corner entrance
at Temple and Main streets. The ele-
vators are placed inside the corner en-
trance on either side. Along the Main
street side of the building is the public
lobby. On the New High street side
are bicycle rooms and tank room. On
Commercial street are three cashiers
offices, vaults, money order room and
stamp room.
Offices on Upper Floor
The middle section of the second
floor is occupied by the United States
internal revenue department and the
postoffice inspectors. Rooms on the
Temple street side are assigned to
possible naval officer of the port of
San Pedro. The rooms of the surveyor
of the port, examiner and appraiser are
on Commercial street. The Main street
side gives much space to store room,
on either side of which are offices for
the custom clerks and collector.
On the fourth floor are the circuit
and district courts, judges rooms, dis
t let attorney, marshals and clerks.
The court rooms extend through the
story above.
Immigration departments, land office;
grand jury room and geological survey
occupy the fifth floor, while the sixth
floor is devoted to the reclamation
service, railway mail service, United
States engineer and the weather bu-
reau. Storage rooms take up most of
the attic, where there are dark rooms
and blue print rooms.
Granite Finish
The stone steps, platforms. cornices,
ETC., are OF light colored granite. In
this connection the contractor is spe-
Officially forbidden to allow any stone
to be set Sin freezing weather." The
carving is to be cut with spirit, retain
ing tool marks. Arches must be the
full thickness of the walls. The arches
for the mansard roof will be of terra
Gotta, the best porous variety nodded
fair and true. Marble of various kinds
and colors will be used in the flooring
of the postoffice lobby and corridors,
columns, ornamental mantels and mo-
sale floors. There will be interior
decorations Of the best Mexican ma
hogany. The stairway will be of iron,
steel framed.