Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-04
SAYS SITE IS SAFE
Architects View of New Post
Office Location.
TESTS AT GREAT DEPTH
May Be Necessary to Sink Concrete
Piles to Secure Stable
Foundation.
ESTS AT GREAT Depth

Edward Wilmann Of the firm Of D.
H. Burnham, architects. in charge of
| the construction Of the new city post
office at Massachusetts, avenue and
North Capitol street. today made a
statement to a Star reporter to set at
rest rumors to the effect that build
ing could no be erected on that site.
Owing to the difficulty in obtaining
good foundation, the tests Of the soil,
which were begun early in November,
have been prolonged, but those in
charge Of the work say the preliminary
task is about completed. It may be
necessary, it is said. to drive concrete
piles into the ground to insure stable
foundation, as was done in the erec
ton of the Library of Congress and
at the new Municipal building.
Will Report on Method.
According to Mr.. Wilmann, a report
will be submitted to James Knox Tay-
lor, supervising architect of the Treasury.
within three or four days setting forth
the best method to be pursued In COM
pleting the foundation for the proposed
structure. He states that the tests will
materially aid the government in OBJ
tanning bids from contractors competent
to carry the work to completion.
There have been hundreds OF instances
III the past where contractors have ac-
cepted awards from the government and
then, after beginning work, have with
drawn them because conditions were Ell
| countered which made it too difficult and
Mr.. Wilmann. Our tests have been SO
complete that the firms who desire to
bid for the contract will know exactly
what conditions they will encounter be-
fore beginning the work.
Nineteen Holes Drilled.
1--WE have drilled nineteen holes into
the earth on the site OF the new building,
and from these we have taken samples.
numbering in all 1900. These samples of
earth are varied, and We have them pre-
served in bottles and properly labeled.
After having obtained q sufficient num-
Der of samples we had three pits dug.
One is % feet deep. another is 40 feet
deep and the third is 40 feet below the
| surface: Into these we placed cement
columns. This was done to check up on
the observations made in the nineteen
other holes. We will know In a day or
so, after examining the position of the
cement columns just what style of foun-
dation Is most desirable and cheapest"
In explaining the character of the soil
encountered by the excavators, Mr.. viii
mann said: I'VE found three strata of
| earth: The first was the soil dumped on
| the site at the time the grade was made
| for the Union station. This fill extended
about thirty feet down. The second
strata contained a variety of soils and
pieces OF stone, bricks and even wood.
We understand this mass of stuff was
dumped IN that section by order of Gov.
Shepherd in filling in Tiber creek.
Sand and Water in Last Strata.
"The last strata consisted of sand and
| water, probably the bed Of the old creek.
Below this We struck clay bottom. On
one day in particular We pumped 1, 800 600
gallons Of water from the pit nearest the
Union station.
ut may be necessary to construct what
| is known as a spread foundation; that
is. construct flooring of cement upon
which the building will stand. But pres
| ent indications make it apparent that
cement piles will be sufficient to insure
| stability"