The Washington herald., 1908-08-02
new CUSTOMS HOUSE
Baltimore Structure WasDe-
signed by WashingtOnians.
INJURED BY THE FIRE OF 1904
Constructed of Granite from Guar
ries Near Laurel, Md, and from
Mount Airy, n. C.-MarbIes for In
terIor Are from France, Italy,
Vermont, and Tennessee.

One OF the handsomest and largest Of
the structures recently built by the United
states government is the new customs
house in Baltimore
This building. which occupies a site
equivalent to a square OF ground, was
completed and turned over TO the govern
ment about three months ago. II Is now
occupied by the government Offices. and
is one Of the acknowledged architectural
beauties Of the Monumental City.
The new building stands in the district
covered by the great FIRE Of 1904 Il was
then under construction. and the walls
were up TO the third story The FIRE
storm ragged ali about the incompIeted
structure, greatly injured the standing
walls and twisting some Of the steel work
which had been placed in position II
became necessary 10 remove much Of the
granite facing stone in the walls. and
Congress voted a special appropriation TO
cover the cost Of this work
Washington Architects Designers
This building was designed by Marshall
& Hornbloyver. OF Washington. the award
Of the design being the result of a com
petition. Invitations were extended TO
1 architects TO submit designs by the Treas
ury Department. and an agreement was
reached among the competitors that the
one who was successful should pay 500 70
each OF the others.
The cornerstone OF the building was
| laid June g. 1893. and completed within
/ the time limit OF five years. James Knox
9
Treasury. superintended the construction
of the building throughout The original
appropriation for the building was sl.50o.-
I O00 including the decorations and fixed
furniture Of the interior. 20 which was
added the special appropriation OF 1sJ3
10 cover TIE cost OF the IRE damage
The building stands on Gay street. be
tween Lombard and Water streets It's
general plan Is E-sLaped. with q frontage
/ Of 80 feet on Gay street and about 10
! feet on the side streets
! The Washington Herald IS indebted 20
/ the American Architect for the ulustra-
I tions and the following description. OF the
( building:
Plan of Building in Detail
The central feature q the plan 3 the
"cau-room. On the re-entering court.
I lighted on three sides.
The material Is granite. and the motive
OF the design has been 20 attain a scale
+ and simplicity of elevation suitable 10
that material. The exterior walls and
main partitions are entirely OF masonry.
Steel columns and beams with terra
Gotta floors. make the rest OF the interior
construction.
The stone Of the twO-st0rfed base was
quaried near Laurel. II Maryland. and
! for the three stories comprised within the
: column-height Of the Ionic order. granite
( from Mount Airy. in North Carolina. was
substituted. while The enJablature IN
whose height Is an attic story. lighted
! from the roof, is again Of Maryland
I granite.
Of the interior, the first-foo- piers.
I pilasters. 6ado. and doorways are fn-
I ished n marble from Hauteville. France
This marble has a yellow-grsy tone. and
has been rubbed 10 a fiat-not polished
surface.
/ On the floors above the first floor the
finish Is Of white Vermont marble
+ Throughout the building the stairways.
I the floors Of the halls. and the corridors
are OF pink Tennessee marble. with &
bordering OF yellow Sienna. piuk-aud-
unber veined on the first floor. ana Verde
rOseate marble on the second floor The
main stairway Is paneled at the sides
with -RoseaT- Tennessee marble The
/ principal entrances have large panels.
placed high in the walls. and these are
I finished in Italian BresCia viOletta marble
Z from near Carrara- Rubbed 70 a fat
finish. il is set in slabs. thus richly en-
hancing the almost pictorial illusion OF
J the rich veinfng- In the sUbtreasury the
marble IS sreen-veined. from the AIassa-
Carrara district in Italy
Beautiful Marbles Throughout.
Throughout the interior the sklIful Sc
/ lection Of marbles. both IN texture and in
color. presents a beautiful effect. and
shows rare artistic perception. The wood
finish OF the interior is in oak
/ In the basement the walls are faced well
up 10 the slight cove Of the ceiling in
wFite-giazed brick. on a base Of brown
glazed brick Secondary partitions on
| this floor are of iron and glass.
/ On the granite blocks hanking the Cay
street entrance are placed bronzed stand
ards, bearing lights II the form OF old
Z ship lamps
The dominant feature Of the interior is
/ the spacious tcaIl-room," which forms
! the center OF business activity in the
/ transaction Of custOm-house business
| The plan is rectangular. Of approximately
I 90 feet by 81 feet, and Il is "a feet in
height. AS viii be seen its proportions
are admirable. and its lighting skillfully
I handled
I The architectural treatment is Of coupled
Ionic pilasters. standing against the piers
! Of a continuous wall arcade. and support
/ ing a paneled and bracketed frieze. sur
mounted by q dentu and modiIIion cor
nice. above which a depressed cove