The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-03-21
INTERIOR BUILDING
COLOSSAL IN Size
New Home of Department viii
Be Ready for Occupancy
May |.
CONTRACTOR IS PRAISED
Work Progressed on Schedule
Despite Difficulties Met At
Every Stage.

On SIay1 the 5000 Government clerks
and officials under the direction of
the Department of the interior will
move from the many scattered build
ings throughout Washington, to the
departments new home-the largest
Government building, with the pos
sible exception of the Capitol.
This structure, which occupies two
entire city squares and which costs
Uncle Sam $4,000. 900 without mechan-
icaI or office equipment, is surpassed
in floor space by only one other
building in the United States-the
WOODWORK Building in New York
city. But in contrast to the towering
Woolworth building, the new depart
ment building is only seven stories
high.
The practical completion of the
building means several things. It
marks another step in the Govern
ment policy of assembling all branches
of individual departments under one
great roof. 1t shifts the center of
Governmental activities in Washing
ton. 1t is so large that the Geologi-
cal Survey has been called upon to
take its measurements in the same
way that il would take the measure
ments of a mountain in the Rockies.
The survey will weigh the building
10 a pound. The number OF tons of
terra Gotta in A. will be determined,
as will he number of miles of water
pipes and electric wires. the size
of the names of glass which all of
its, windows would make, and the
length of time IL would take q char
vo1,an % wash ali M the windows.
c.-,s
ING al s' '''ie
eOhpu1eIions Oh any iase
nave been maze. II is estiHa'eu tha'
II a newsboy should attempt to start
at the ton of the building and leave
D.. ns,y.nsn., a, ZACH of the one thou-
800 rnor.. ,ho 80. ,,,o,,ld he stale
-. ~. .ir,e r. 100000 thc main
e. T, - -. tast ,v.ILer no
49,. n.e,.'H ~ 80, - ,hras
InIS - rt,rs - 49,
- oie -, ~ -ts -.
- tS.I .liSS aI. -,
AIlhousn he sue.u OH!
stoIies N nsn IN NJ i.s ~ spa
dpPrOAiihates 'o''VOV SQUARE rect an
area larger tnah MOST TRUCK idII
near Boston. Inc terra]%O'useu IN inc
entrances ara corrloors WouId pave
a four-acre plot OF lend. IL placed
emo on enc the slate slaos USED TO
trim the bases OF the interior walls
would extend twenty-seven miles |
Nine million bricks are concealed be-
hind the exterior walls Of limestone.
Incidentally, there are 100000 cubic |
"
Inc building Is nearly square, each |
SIDE being approximately four num-
dred feet long. supporting the build
ing are 1900 tons OF structural steel, |
a small amount considering the size !
OF the building, but small because the |
building is low and does not require |
the heavy steel girders which are |
absolutely necessary in towering slSy-
scrapers.
The huge structure will be deliver
ed to the United states on or ahead of |
the time specified in the contract. |
Although it has been the traditional |
procedure for the Government con
tractor to secure an extension en-
abling him to complete a building a |
year or 90 after the time of delivery |
FIRST indicated. and although the !
contractor in this case has been ham
pered by changes in the plans and |
otheT uiincultleh, ne oeIleVes no" that
nancy by the middle Of AnrII- Re n |
important or otherwise, this is the |
nrst experience tnat the Government
~ Sahi,i,s. n. I'll, gu,
10 ~. las,
Hampered In Many ways
This pile of limestone, brick, steel.
,Iat. marble md glass has beon
- -, =, 81
ereeteu or ''''e III '"' ia'e Vi UNI
ncuIties other IMAM those referred 10 !
previously. For instance. there has
been the unprecedented freight con
Restion. resulting in actual embar-
goes for weeks, II not months, at a
time. For two years there has been |
such a shortage OF materials that
many have been unable to fulfill their |
contracts. Some of the steel for the /
building was more than nine months |
behind time in reaching Washington.
Added TO this Washington has shared |
in the labor shortage general through
out the East. Twice the Government |