Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-10-12
RAPID PROGRESS
IS BEING MADE
ON PENV-HARRIS
Construction Work on Loung-
ing and Dining Room
Is Completed

what is to be the largest and hest
hotel in Central Pennsylvania, and
the most up to date hotel in Harris
burg, is being built at rapid rate,
ana the pedestrians in Third and
walnut streets, have become accus-
toned to seeing the Penn Harris rise
in height daily.
At present the foundation has been
laid and the lounging and dining hall
floor has been completed. The Nelson
and Levin Company, of Chicago and
Washington, the contractors in
charge of the building are rushing
the work at the highest possible
speed, and it is expected that by June
l, the nine floors of the building will
be completed and the formal OPEN
ing arranged.
Many Difficulties
Since the start of the work the con
tractors have met with not a few
difficulties. The task of securing suf-
hclent labor proved to be a hard one.
Labor wages have mounted skyward
and in order to compete with the
government and other large corpora
uons, the contractors on this lob
were forced to offer almost fabulous
wages. The digging of the founda-
uon was also another great task
stone, rock. gravel and other hard
substances had to be removed and
required considerable time. The lay
ing of the foundation was also diff
hcult. Steam shovels and cement
mixers were worked overtime in or
der to overcome these obstacles.
However, E. A. Johnson, general SUI
perintendent for the Nelson & Levin
Company, cleverly directed the work
a 10 nf
the foundation, the work has made
rapid progress.
Starting next week every effort will
be made to advance the work to the
gr eatest extent before the weather
sets too cold. Mr.. Johnson has also
made provisions for cold weather,
and temporary heating plant will
be installed to heat the building and
make it comfortable for working
purposes. The next step to be taken
will be the building of the mezzanine
floor which will be between the
lounging floor and the first floor that
will be used for rooms. The entire
building is to cost S1,0OO,OO0 and
local residents are the chief sub
scribers to the fund.
Let Work For Speed
The Nelson & Levin Company in
their contract. have sublet Il large
number of contracts to various con-
Germs throughout the country, prin-
cipally of Washington. Practically
all the various work that is to be
done in the building will be done by
different contractors. The firms who
have been awarded contracts and the
work that they will do is as follows
1ronwork, Stone & Cook, New
York; partitions, Ebsary Fire Proof
ing Company, New York; plumbing,
G. Albin Nilsson. Chicago, Thomas
Bailey, resident superintendent; heat
ing, Biggs Heating Company Wash
ington; electrical, r. P. Foley Co.,
Washington, Bancroft Foley, superin-
tendert; concrete. National Fire
Proof Co., Washington, Edward
Montour, superintendent; plastering,
j. d. Fitzgerald, Chicago; metalwork,
j. d. Thompson, Washington; ele-
vators, Otis Elevator Co., Chicago;
weatherstrips, Athey Co., Chicago;
glazing, Williamsport Planning Co.. F;
vault lights. Kepplar Vault Light Co.,
Washington; terrecotta, Atlantic Ter
recotta Co., New York; painters,
Plamomdon & Tetze Co., Chicago;
metal windows, c. ID. Pindler Co.,
Chicago.
r. E. Halves, representing w. l..
Stoddard, the architect, who drew
the plans of the new hotel, is CO.
operating with the general superin-
tendent and will remain in Harris
burg until the work is completed.