The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-01
FITTING UP ROOMS
TO BE TORN DOWN
Department Of Justice Speeds
Mucl, Money On Offices
for Judges.
PUZZLES FEDERAL OFFICIALS
Custodian Looks for New Quar-
tiers While Worknen Improve
Old Place.

u (
While the Treasury Department at
Washington is preparing to tear down
the present Federal building and erect
a new one, the Department Of Justice
is spending $4,000 to $4,000 in fitting
up and furnishing private offices for
the United States circuit judges on the
second floor of the structure.
Officials directly in touch with Fed
eral affairs here can explain the appar-
ent inconsistency of the Washington
authorities on no other ground than
that the two sides of the work arc
under separate departments, and that
perhaps one is not officially advised
of what the other is doing.
Curious situation.
An official in one Of the departments
suggested yesterday that one of the
proposed plans for new building
called for another story on the old
place; the tearing down OF the Shafer
Building and the construction on that
site of one similar to the old, the two
being connected by an arch. In such
an event the money now being eX-
pended on the interior would not be
lost, as the improvements being made
would stand. But this is looked upon
as both improbable and infeasible. The
walls Of the present building would
probably not stand another story, and
again it is believed to be the purpose
of the government to raze this and the
Shafer Building and erect a splendid
new structure on the two lots.
VIII Move Out Shortly.
Though there has been no very tam
III. t1., xx,it I, .afn NJ
the matter, 1t is the belief Of we'll.
posted officials in the various depart.
ments that all the offices will be To-
| Gated in temporary quarters within
the next few months, and that the
work of tearing down will then begin
Custodian Joseph B. Stewart has been
instructed to provide offices for all the
departments, and he is now In search
of suitable buildings. The post-office
will be temporarily housed as near the
present building as possible, though
up to last night Mr.. Stewart had no,
determined anything concerning the
matter. The internal revenue and Gus.
toms departments will probably take g
| building together, and the courts will
| be to themselves in another, carrying
with them. of course. the clerks and
United States marshal and his staff.
Other Offices.
I Then the Bureau of-Animal Industry
and the office of the marine hospital
Will have to be provided for, and al
these together will require much space
1t will be the policy of Mr.. Stewart
as far as 1t can be done, to locate al
the departments in the downtown sec.
ton. for the convenience of the Off.
Gals as we'll as the public.
Even If it shall be determined tt
add another story to the present post
office. the various departments woult
still have to vacate, as it would no
be safe for them to remain while tn,
work Of Improvement is in progress
The Department of Justice is pro
ceeding with Its work of renovatio,
and improvement as though the build
ing were not to be disturbed. Thu
entire second floor formerly occupied
by the Internal Revenue Department
and the United States district attor
4 ney's Offices, has been turned over t,
the United States circuit judges and tt
the clerk of that tribunal. Rooms hav'
been handsomely fitted UP and fur
nishcd for each of the judges, and tn
entire cost of the improvement Will
reach about $4,000.
Electricians are rewriting this por
ton of the building for individual
desk phone service and for electri
call bells. and when the tearing dow
begins these handsome private room
will be demolished along with the res
of the building.
The POst-Oflce.
The supervising architect OF tn
Treasury Department Is expected her
shortly after the holidays. by whic
Fl time Mr.. Stewart hopes to have all tn
Offices located. The work Of the post
Office has grown to such an extent an
the mail has become so heavy in re
cent years that it Will require a larg
building for this one department, al,
1T may be that after all q temporar
wooden structure will have to b
erected 1t is believed that all tn
fighting is over concerning a site fo
the new building, and that the preser
r one will be utilized without any seriou
/, opposition.
WALKING AROUND WORLD