134 REPORT OF THE ARCHITECTS. 



up to the surface with rubble-stone work of gneiss, laid in cemeut mortar ; 

 this work was commenced on the 5th of May and was completed on June 9. 



3. IiricJc-worJc. — The brick-laying commenced on May 21, and the prin- 

 cipal walls were completed on November 1, after 4,740,000 bricks had 

 been laid under contract. The specifications call for a superior class of 

 brick-work, laid in black mortar on the facades without resorting to the 

 expensive "tucked" or "ruled" joints commonly used in first-class 

 pressed brick-work, and this has been duly enforced. In this we were 

 aided by the commendable ambition of the Washington Brick Machine 

 Company, who have furnished a superior quality of brick for the fix- 

 cades. We, on the other hand, have spent a large amount of money 

 in bringing out the beauty of the material by cleaning down and oiling 

 the facades. Ever since the contract for laying bricks has been declared 

 as satisfactorily completed a large force of brick-layers has been kept 

 at work by the day, under proper superintendence, in finishing the fa- 

 cades, piecing out the walls, building the steam-chimney, walling in the 

 iron-work of the roofs as they progressed, doing plumbers' jobbing, turn- 

 ing and concreting floor-arches, laying foundations for platforms and 

 steps, forming gutters with due grade, &c, &c. This work is all well 

 advanced, but still in progress, and will be finished by the building of 

 ducts for the lines of pipes which will conduct the steam and return the 

 condensed water of the heating apparatus. 



4. Cut-stone worJc. — The cutting and laying of the granite base course 

 was commenced on May 19. The cut-stone work has been going on dur- 

 ing the whole season as the work of the other mechanics progressed and 

 is now completed, with the exception of part of the outside steps. At 

 intervals of about 5 feet in height, bond-stones of North River grey 

 wacke-bluestone have been introduced in the high piers of the interior 

 archways in order to increase their stability. 



5. Iron-worlc. — The floor-beams arrived in good time and were put in 

 place by the contractors as they got ready for them. On August 22, 

 the first "Warren girder" of the lean-to roofs was set in place : on Oc- 

 tober 9 the roofs ot'tho naves were commenced to be put up : on Decem- 

 ber 19 those of the square halls were commenced. At this writing all 

 the material for the root's is on hand ; it simply remains for the contractor 

 to display energy and have all the roofs ready for covering. 



0. Galvanized iron-icorJc. — This consists of a heavy amount of small 

 cornice-moldings, of acroteria, chimney-heads, finials, facings and cas- 

 ings. It is well advanced at the shops and being put up in due time. 



7. Slates and slating. — Under date of August 1!) last, the blue slates 

 have been ordered from Ore Banks, Va.. and the red and green slates 

 from the quarries in Vermont. They are virtually all on hand, and 

 the slater avails himself at all times of the .first opportunity which 

 offers for laying the slates. The slates are 24 inches in length and ex- 

 pose 10 inches to the weather, thus giving what is termed double cover 

 and 4 inches lap. 



