The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-19

On Friday, January 10, 1911, the
Sound Construction and Engineering
company of Seattle was awarded the
contract for the construction of Mis-
soula's federal building. About a
month later ground was broken at
the excavation for the basement at the
site, on the corner of East Cedar and
Pattee streets. The week that has
just closed finds the building entirely
completed and as soon as the furni-
ture arrives and can be installed it
will be ready to become the HON of
Missoula's post office and the head
quarters of field distri It No. 1 of the
forest service. The change will be
made before many days nave one by
and the move will be a welcome one to
both departments of the government
In Missoula. The post office is crowd
ed in its present quarters and the ia
cilities for good service are not ade-
quate. The same may be said OF the
forest service which has been in
stalled on two floors of the Hammond
block. since the district headquarters
came into being with the division of
the service into six great field dis
tricts.
The completed building represents
the very latest word in the construc-
ton line. From basement to roof it
is as modern in every feature as arch
itect, mechanic and builder could de-
wise. Government buildings generally
are noted for embodying every adj
vanced idea for durability, service and
rpnVaninnca th9tAiS known tn -5 he
practicable. With each new building
erected the standard is raised a notch.
Missoula's building is indicated by
one Of the topmost notches of the
governments records. For it's size it
has not equal in Montana, SO it is
claimed by men who are in a position
to know. With its site and fittings
the building will cost practically the
sum of the final appropriation made
by congress, $1S0,00O, and in the judg-
ment of those who have taken the
trouble to inspect the completed struc-
ture there is no doubt but what the
money has been well spent and that
1t has been returned dollar for dollar
in this splendid structure, one of
which the Garden City has reason to
be proud.
In it's architectural design there
was no attempt made to make an
elaborate Or overbearing show of the
building on the outside. It's exterior
Is modest but at the same time it is
rich and artistic. Above all it sug-
sests the idea of stability. Not until
spring, however, after the sheds and
rubbish incident to the building oper-
atoms have been cleared away, will it
be possible to appreciate the true
beauty of the building. With it's
grounds prepared it will have a set
ting that is very effective. 1t has
added one more to the group of beau
tiful and substantial structures that
nov face on Cedar street. But best of
all it is to be a useful building and
in this lies it's chief value to Mis-
soula.
Along the Pattee street side of the
building, really the west end, will be
q 10-foot grass plat extending from
Cedar street to the alley between the
building and the sidewalk. Along the
front of the building, Cedar street side
the strip of grass either side of the
front entrance will be a couple of feet
wider and will be decorated with a
number of shade trees. At the rear
there will be a driveway opening into
a spacious court. The court, which will
be used by the mail wagons and rural
delivery carts that will be served
through the rear door, is 40X60 feet in
size. All around it to the property
lines will be more lawn and trees, the
largest open space being on the east.
The Basement.
Most conspicuous in the arrange
ment of the space in the basement is
the boiler room, 27x4O feet, which
occupies the center position. The fuel
room joins this and takes up a floor
space of 21x34 feet in the northeast
cornera
At the, northwest corner is the civil
service examination room, 16x24 feet,
while the southwest corner is taken up
by the j%anitor's room, 13x15 feet. Then
there are two large front rooms on
the Cedar street side, the one on the
west being set aside for postoffice
storage and the other to be used by
the railway mail clerks. On the east
side is the carriers swing room.
Toilets. switchboards and heating APP
paratus. economically arranged, take
UP the remaining space in the base
ment.