The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-26
Thousands Stop TO Tell Post-of-
flee Contractors How Work
Should BE Done.
-
ASK MANY QUESTIONS, TOO
Stone Blocks Sent Away to Be
Dressed for Future Use.
Baltimore Gravel.

II for any reason the new Federal
Building Is not true BY the plumb |
when II is completed eighteen months
hence, there will be at least 100 peo-
pie In Richmond who will rear back
and say. II knew it: told you So"
Every hour of the day people stop
at Main and Tenth Streets and over
see the job despite the fact that the
United states government awarded the
contract to experts and also has SUI
pcrintendent of construction on duty.
These volunteer engineers bcsiege
the district manager and chief engt-
neer for j. Henry Miller, Inc. con-
tractors, with suggestions how to do
this and how to do the other. They
are opposed TO laying the tar paper on
the bottom of the foundation upon
which is then deposited gravel.
Almost every man of the large num-
Der who stand around where the work
is In progress. without being asked.
gives his views about how the big
building should be constructed Thou
sands stop for a few minutes and
watch the builders at work. While 1t
Is true only a small percentage of the
observers offer suggestions. there are
enough busybodies TO anuse the con-
tractors.
All ulve AuN1Ce'
Chief Engineer williams said yes
terday that If the building is not Just
as every man. woman and child would
have IL. IL will not be for lack OF ad-
vice. One man objected strenuously
to the manner in which the founda-
ton is being laid He said he thanked
the man of ideas and told him the con-
tractors certainly appreciated his sug-
gestlons. as j. Henry Miller. Inc. had
never erected such a large building be-
fore.
Where the gravel isNsecured is one
OF the questions that is asked at least
400 times daily. Mr. Williams said
that he has heard that self-same aues-
ton so many times that II has be-
come joke One man said II did not
come from a gravel pit; another said
1t came from the Potomac River AS
matter of fact, the gravel is shipped
from Baltimore, and is of excellent
quality 1t will require tons and tons
TO properly lay the foundation.
What is being done with the granite
that is taken from the old building is
of great interest to the curious. The
stone is removed from the old struc-
ture block BY block and hauled &c
stone yards in Richmond. where 1t ia
redressed and put in shape Tor use IN
the new building There will be nc
loss of granite; but it yin be made &c &c
will be utilized said Mr.. Williams
'The granite is being purchased neal
Petersburg We try to buy everything
in and around Richmond that we pos
sibly can. because, being government
building, the people in the immediate
section should have an opportunity u
profit by selling material. The grave
was bought in Baltimore because gov
eminent specifications call for a Ger
tain quality, which could not be OBJ
tanned here.
To BE Handsome Structure.
IL told one man that IL he paid take
on $1,000 worth OF property he ough
to have his say about how the build
ing should be constructed. / suggested
that he give me his ideas as to HOY
he would like one block of stone laid
Seriously. though. when completed thi
will be one of the finest public build
ings in tho South" explained Mr.. VII
liams.
The old structure will be completed
RACED and everything will be spic
and span The old walls Will all com
down and only such portions of tn
granite as come up 70 the govern
rebuilding. There will be no line
of demarcation or ragged, .unsightl
corners" said the engineer.
Contrary to the belief OF many pee
pie that there Is always lot of gra1
and poor construction in governmer
work. the new Federal building WI
be model in architecture as we'll a
construction. If there was any desil
of the contractors to turn out any
thing but mechanically perfect an
turnkey job, the governments S,
perintendent of construction woul
forestall such a plan. II. F. B. Holls
day. government superintendent
construction. is on the job daily. ar
his experienced eye scrutinizes ever
bit of material and workmanship thi
goes into the building.
There are more than 100 workms
employed in the various department
of the building operations. Ever
ounce Of energy that the men CO
give the contractors from early mo-
until dewy eye is demanded. The "
rious subcontractors see to this. Ba
ring calamity, the big handsor
post-office and Federal building W
be completed and ready for occupant
In December, 1911.