Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-11
Award Involves $3.50, 900 for
$4,000 Cubic Feet of
New Materials.
$57, 600 MONTHLY ASKED
TO FINISH CONSTRUCTION
Hope to Complete Work in Time
for George Washington's 200th
Anniversary.

The closing of a contract, involving
an expenditure of $3.50 900 for the p,lr-
chase of the first $4,000 cubic feet OF
stone required to begin the building OF
the north and south transepts of Wash
ington Cathedral was authorized today
by the Cathedral Chapter, it was an
nounced by Right Rev. James E. Free
man, Bishop of Washington, who said
that 1t was the first step in a new pro-
gram of construction which it is hoped
will be completed by 1882 in time for
a religious commemoration of the 200th
anniversary of George Washington
birth.
The portions Of the edifice included
In this new undertaking form the fifth
great unit Of the Cathedral fabric
Other units now Structurally complete
are the foundations. the crypt chapels
the apSe and the choir. The cost, in
Guiding sufficient endowment to make
the new portions effective for continu-
ing service, is expected to exceed So
900, Bishop Freeman said.
Special Drive Made.
Funds for the initial order of stone
were raised in special effort con-
Quoted by the executive committee for
washington Cathedral of which former
United States Senator George Wharton
Pepper is chairman. The additional
amounts needed for the purchase OF
the remainder of the stone and for
actual construction are being sought in
more general program under the
leadership OF Gen. John. j. Pershing
as national chairman.
In statement issued by the execu-
tive committee, with a foreword signed
by Bishop" Freeman, Gen. Pershing
Senator Pepper and Secretary of the
Treasury Andrew W. Mellon as cam
palgn treasurer, it is explained that
provision must be made for offerings
averaging $57 900 monthly during the
next 30 months if the transepts are to
be completed in time for the Washing
ton btcentenary and at a maximum
economy in construction COSTS
The statement also points out that
the completion of the transepts will
provide shelter within the cathedral for
congregations of approximately $500
persons. This, it is stated, will enable
the cathedral to care better for the
spiritual needs of the large numbers
who at present are often unable to gain
access to many of the services in the
small crypt chapels, and also will make
possible the holding under inspiring
auspices of several religious services
planned in conjunction with the George
washington commemoration.
Work Is Reviewed.
Reviewing the recent construction
program, the statement reports that
during the past SO months more than
lis feet has been added to the length
of the roofline of the edifice and the
five great bays of the choir have been
reared to join the apSe in forecaSting
the beauty of the completed structure.
During the same period, it is pointed
out, more than 5000 men and women
and a host of churches, Sunday schools
and even missions have responded to
the cathedral appeal with gifts and
pledges aggregating well over $4,000, 900.
Since its inception in 1898. the Cathe-
dral Foundation has been the recipient
of offerings, large and small, from $4,000
benefactors. The Book of Remembrance
kept at the cathedral Offices shows these
have come from every State, from dis
tant territories, and even from foreign
lands.
According to Bishop Freeman, actual
construction of the tranSeptS will not be
started until late in the Summer The
stone must first be hewn from the lime
stone quarries of Indiana and then
transported in huge blocks to stone
mill, near Washington, for fashioning
The working forces at the cathedral
are at present concerned with the nave
crypt. When completed this work will
bring the main floor of the nave up to
the present level of the crossing Con-
struction also is going forward at the
present time on the Children's Chapel,
which is situated at the intersection of
the south choir aisle and the south
transept.