Mexico weekly ledger., 1913-06-12
REPRESENTATIVES, OF LEDGER
VISITS NEW FEDERAL BUILDING

tractor E. M. SlieS, OF CnlcdsO, lol
here overlooking the work and Gov
ernment Inspector Webber Will
leave the 10th of June for Harris
burg. ILL.,, where he will have charge
of another government building. Mr.
Webber took a Ledger representative
ever the new building this week and
explained the entire structure.
One of the features OF the build
ing that is sure to prove inter
esting to the general public in that
it hints of the mystery always sur
rounding anything the Govern
ment service, is system of hidden
stairways covering the entire build
building so that an inspector may
enter them through any Of six doors
and watch, unknown to anyone in the
building. every working room. Only
the inspectors will have keys to tit
these doors, the lookout portfolios
are SO arranged that you can see out
of them but not into them and you
can walk freely inside the hidden
halls without the sound reaching else
where in the structure.
The furniture. safes, etc, all made
from Government drawings, have been,
ordered for delivery in July. Thel
lease on the present postoffice quar-
ters will expire with July, SO that thel
postofflce will undoubtedly be moved
into the new building by the end of
July at the latest.
The interior finish OF the public
lobby and the postmaster's office is
made of ornamental plaster. marble,
fumed oak, waxed and ornamental
iron and bronze.
Revolving doors, with glass vesti-
bules. will be placed at the two
main entrances. The wood finish in
the balance OF the building will be
of yellow pine, stained to match the
oak and vanished. The carriers toi-
\ let room is furnished with very fine
marble shower bath, and the carrier
will have individual lockers in larg
rest room, All toilet rooms and
the public lobby have marble wains-
cot and terrazzo floors, and are as
sanitary as can be made.
The mezanine floor has offices for
an inspector and the railway mail
clerks
New granitoid walks are to be laid
on both street sides of the building,
with granite curbs, and a large grant,
. told driveway is being built from the
street in front to the alley in the
, rear A heavy retaining wall sup
ports the driveway above the alley,
and there will be a terrace along the
Clark street side OF the building. The
only other improvement that could be
made outside is the paving OF Clark
Street, and 1t is hoped by all con
cerned that the city will have
this done in the near future.
. H. A. Webber, who is superintend
ent of construction in the building,
!, will leave for Harrisburg, ILL.,, the
18th Of July to have charge Of anoth
er Government building. While here
, he and his family have made many
. friends who will be sorry to sec
them depart. He says he regrets h
:, leave this city. but Southern I'LL
! nois is his home territory, so is
pleasant change.
Mr. Webber has been in the Govern
:, ment service, in charge of Publi'
! buildings for 13 years. and in man!
:, states. He has four children, borl
: in different states Only once has
! he had two towns in the same stat
in succession, and that was in Nilsson
= ri. having completed building at MI
= con Just before starting this one.
Buildings in the same territory ar
!. always in different styles, SO that n
- two towns situated close togethe
have buildings that are alike.
- Mr.. Webber leaves monument,
the form Of Public Building, in e'
- cry town he goes to, and he says tn
- he wouldn't be ashamed to go back
80 see any one of them at any time,
~ either one year or twenty years q
- ter they are completed, as good wor
q is his strong point.
z The experience and push OF the g
=. eral contractors is responsible 4
! this good progress here. The pro
= ress has appeared slow to the gene
=, al public, but when 1t is realized tn
~ about $4,000 worth of work must
l. packed away in the building on
q cry working day during the entire
- contract, ii can be understood th
;, the progress was not in reality sic
at all.
III When all work is finally compile
IA and the building left in care of t
:, postmaster, Mr.. Webber = Il
=. opinion that Me.si o will hare bul
M ing of which she san be to d, and
~ credit to the town for a great ma
~ years.