Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-07-28

III IS evident t1dL there Is " ut no
competition among architects for the
plans and specifications of the pro-
posed combined town hall and court
house in Westerly, as the state COM
mission on the court house and the
town committee on town hall are
agreed that the Providence firm of
William R. Walker g. Son shall be
the architects of the building. This
firm prepared preliminary plan which
provided for a brick building with
granite trimmings, which was planned
to come within the appropriation Of
E5e,0ee made by the state. and the
$1e5,000 appropriated by the town,
which includes the purchase price of
the original site at the corner Of
Union and Broad streets; the addition
al tract of land in Broad street being
especially provided for in annual pay
1nents of s30e, as long as Rev. Ed
ward Babcock and his wife shall sur
v-ive, the conditions upon which the
land was decided to Christ Episcopal
church and transferred to the town
of Westerly and which includes the
Nestor residence, so-called.
When this building matter was con
sid sreG in town meeting about three
MONTHS ago, strong movement de-
veloped to have the joint building of
Westerly granite, after advocacy ;.y
local granitemen The result was fhe
adoption of vote that the building
be of Westerly granite, if possible,
which means if a building Of granite
can be constructed within the appro-
priation.
1t was argued that a change in the
exterior architecture would bring
apaut the desired result, and it was
suggested thai the architects submit
plan for a granite building; there the
matter rests. The joint commission
has been patiently awaiting the pres
entation of such q plan, but none has
hRaH reppiNa1 he a rfIoi al
though the commission has made per-
slsteHt endeavor to have the plans
hurried so that definite decision could
be reached as to material and the
work OF building commenced. The
commits sion declares the delay is not
with them, but with the architects.
1t is distinctly understood that the
$4,000 appropriated by the state for
the court house section will not be in
creased, ard that sum is to include
the furnishing of the states section of
the building Should it be found that
. granite building would be in excess
of the joint appropriation, and the
citizens of the town of Westerly per-
sisted in the use of granite, then an
additional appropriation must be made
by the town.
Congressman Utter is of the opinion
that the new postoffice building will
be of Westerly granite, and this opin-
ion is strengthened by queries re-
ceived from the treasury department
and suggestion from the geological
department. Postmaster Butler was
requested by the treasury department
to forward list of the granite man
ufacturers whose quarries were with
in twenty miles of the site for the
new postefioe building, and sent in
the nama of every granite manufac-
tufer in Washington county, as they
are ELL confined within that territory.
II the material comes from any of
these quarries it is sure to be West
erly granite and the treasury depart
ment would nor ask for the informa-
ton unless granite structure was
under consideration.
The idea of securing granite for
postoffice buildings at a great dis
tance from the site, when not neces-
safy, Is deprecated by the geological
survey department. According to T.
Nelson Dale of the geological depart
ment, who has collected specimens of
granite all through New England and
elsewhere, it is mistake to
bring granite from a distance for use
in public buildings when suitable ma
terial is near at hand He quoted as
illustration the postoffice building in
Wiilhnantic, which is built of Indiana
granite, while better granite nearer
the site was obtainable. The geolog-
zeal department recommends the use
of native granite in buildings whenever
possible.
Here in Westerly the best of gran
tie is close at hand to the proposed
site and if the department submits
plans for a granite building and
Westerly granite is not used. the fault
will be with the granite manufactur-
ers of Westerly, for with freight
charges eliminated they ought to be
successful bidders. even if their prices
are ordinarily higher than some COM
petitors elsewhere.
1t has been decided that aside from
the trimmings. the new railroad sta
ton will not be of Westerly granite,
although considerable of the native
stone will be used in the general work
Of improvement.