Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-06-20
IS A BIG BUILDER
Fonty Thousand Dollars a Day
Spent for Structures.
Uncle Sam Invests Sum Of $12 100000
Outside City Of Washington on
Construction Work--Distrlcts
Dotted With Edlfices.

Washington-rhe.s sum OF $4,000.
900 a year Is spent by the national
government outside or the city OF
Washington, for the construction OF
public buildings. Sandy. a frugal per-
son in red whiskers coming down
from the lakes. complained that he
had not been in Glasgow four hours
when bang went sixpence. Bang
goes $4,000 every working day in the
year for new postoffices and court
houses. and Uncle Sam actually smiles
as he foots the bills and signs his
good name to fresh contracts.
Prudent men in Congress, having
dotted their districts with free edi.
fees, say that It is time the orgy were
halted Many a fierce watchdog OF
the treasury goes suddenly blind and
mislays his voice when his constitu-
ents evince a healthy deisre for an
appropriation. But the orgy as q
matter of fact has just begun. There
are thousands OF towns in the coun-
try with grass-grown streets that are
demanding postoffices Of their own.
on the steps Of which. at once an ex-
charge and a forum, the male clti-
zens may congregate in pleasant
weather.
Nor can the members of Congress
hailing from large cities consistently
deny public buildings to what may be
called the rural regions. 90 far. since
the organization OF the government.
the National Capital Excluded. $780,
$4,000 has been spent Or court
houses, customhouses and postoffices,
and 100000 for land on which to
put them. Most Of the money has
been expended In the great centers OF
population. The customhouse In New
York, for example. cost 37,14O.OOO-
$2.24O,OO0 for the land and 34.900.OOO
for the building.
or the two hundred and odd mil
lions OF money spent altogether. TWEEN
ty-flve and a third millions, or about
12h per cent. has been distributed in
the Empire State alone. Nor can Bos-
ton, Chicago. st. Louis. indianapolis.
Cincinnati Denver or San Francisco
grumble and put a good face on It
when Hell's Oven out In the iron and
steel country, asks $4,000 for post
Office. Neither can Cleveland. where
100000 was spent on single build
ing, $146,000 going to a private archi-
tect for plans and supervision. $4,000
to John W. Alexander for mural paint
ing. $50, 1900 to Frank d. Millet. who
was drowned in the wreck OF the II
tanic. for decorative painting. and
$4,000 to 4. II. Blashfisld for putting
pictures on the walls and ceilings OF
the Circuit Court room.
Small towns will keep on asking for
appropriations and the money will be
voted The rivers and harbors bill Is
not the only pork barrel in Congress
Moreover. the enemies OF greater
navy rather shrewdly say that the
sum spent for a battleship. about $lO.-
100000, would pay for 200 buildings
costing $4,000 each. The naval estab-
lishment, they declare, requires about
$140.000.000 annually. which is within
$20.000.000 OF the total cost OF all the
public buildings in the country, those
in Washington not included. There
are 175 buildings under construction
at this time. and $50 more. the cost OF
which will be $36,000.OO0. have been
authorized by Congress and will be
started as soon as the $12.O00.OOO a
year set aside for the purpose becomes
available.
In the opinion OF Secretary Mac
Veagh Of the Treasury. no more than
100000 month should be expended
for building purposes In the present
state OF the nations finances. 1t will
require three and half years. conse-
Quentiy, to complete the buildings al.
ready authorized. Meanwhile. Con.
gress will have iegalized the construc-
tion Of many others. Since 1906. three
bills providing for buildings to cost
$102.O0O.O00 have been enacted into
law. Therefore, while Congress au-
thorizes an expenditure OF $4,000, 900
. year. Secretary MacVeagh Is only
spending 312.000.000.