New Britain herald., 1928-12-14
RED TAPE TIES UP
 FEDERAL BUILDING
GoIanmmt Proceeds Cautiously
 on Construction Program

Washington, Dec. II R1Whel
 citizens of 2 municipality learn tha
 congress has authorized the con
 struction of government building
 in their city 1t may be that the, expect to see the structure shooting skyward in 8 day or so.
 But to those who understand how painstaking government officials must be in selecting sites through acquisition of land in the construc- tion of buildings, the reasons for the delay between the authorization and starting of construction are clear.
 After the appropriation is made. the treasury advertises for bids which are opened publicly. The low est price asked for piece Of prop erty does not necessarily cause 1t to be selected. The bids are turned agent and post office department inspector for joint inspection of the various sites offered.
 From three days to a week are required for this inspection. The agents are experts and they study the sites, analyze the bids, give con- sideration to location from business and transportation standpoints. study typographical and soil condi- tious, and determine whether the sites are large enough to accommo- date the building and approaches.
 Their reports are forwarded to the treasury department. Here they are studied first by architects to de- termine whether suitable building can be designed for any one of the preferred sites: second by estima- tors who decide whether the appro- priaton is sufficient to purchase the site and construct the building: third. to the law division which ex' amines all data and subimts recom- mendations to the joint committee of the treasury and post office de- partments.
 This committee then selects the site, unless, as sometimes happens. another investigation is necessary. It is not unusual for members of the joint departmental committee. in such cases, to make personal inspection of the sites.
 After selection is made, the pa- pers are forwarded to the depart ment of justice to examine the title and clear it if necessary. The United States attorney in the district does this work and makes his report 10 the department. The department in turn submits the papers to the gen. eral accounting office, which issues a check to pay for the property. The check is sent to the United States attorney, who hands it over when 1 the transfer is made.
 Until the site is obtained, draw ings for the building cannot be l started. It is necessary first to cir cularize all government departments to bring up to date data on the space required by each, to have topogra phical survey made of the site and to make test borings to de- termine the bearing capacity of the ground. Preliminary studies in de- sign are then made. which have to meet the approval of the heads Of the various departments that are to occupy space in the building.
 From this point, the preparation of the working drawings and speci- fications is carried on in the same manner as by private arhcitects. Bids are then obtained on com petitive basis and a contract made with the successful bidder, after which the construction work is car ried on under the close scrutiny or d field engineer who is continuously on the ground until the building Is completed.