SUPERVISING ARCHITECT. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISING ARCHITECT, TREASURY DEPARTMENT. This office was organized in the spring of 1853, under the direction of James Guthrie, the then Secretary of the Treasury, under the title of the "Construction branch of the Treasury Department." Prior to this time the Secretary of the Treasury was charged by law with the construction of all the custom-houses, marine hospitals, branch mints, assay offices, appraisers' stores, and court-houses, and almost everything, but the amount of the appropriation was left to his discretion. No system had been devised for the performance of these duties, and the management of the business was confided to no particular branch of the Department. An architect, Ammi B. Young, was employed at a salary of $3,000 per annum, with traveling expenses allowed when absent inspecting works, &c. He was paid out of the several appropriations, according to the time given to each work. The buildings were generally constructed under the supervision of a local commission appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury with local architects and superintendents, who were paid out of the appropriations. No system of keeping or rendering accounts of the respective works at the buildings or in the Department had been adopted. The plans were obtained through competition, and the successful architect was generally appointed superintendent. At this time the United States owned but twenty-three custom-houses and eighteen marine hospitals, completed and occupied, and fifteen custom-houses were in course of construction. Most of the buildings occupied had been purchased. With a view to a more efficient management application was made by Secretary Guthrie to the Secretary of War to detail an engineer officer to take charge of this branch of the service, and Capt. Alexander H. Bowman, of the Engineer Corps of the United States Army, was detailed and assigned to duty as engineer in charge of the Bureau of Construction. For these services he was allowed a compensation of $8 per diem (less his pay as captain) and his traveling expenses while inspecting buildings. Mr. Young was also retained as supervising architect to aid Captain Bowman in his particular branch of work. Captain Bowman, on assuming charge of the office, prescribed certain regulations for the Government of the employés, both at the department and on 11 CEN, PT 2 the different works, and devised certain forms of vouchers, accounts current, abstracts of disbursements, reports, returns, &c., all of which were submitted to the Secretary of the Treasury, and, receiving his ap proval, were adopted. These regulations and forms are still in force, with such modifications and variations as the growth of the business and changes of system in the expenditures have necessitated. Under this new form plans for public buildings were prepared in the Bureau of Construction and reproduced by the lithographic process, and the lithographic copies were furnished to contractors and builders, upon which they submitted estimates and obtained contracts. Captain Bowman continued in charge until the fall of 1860, when he was relieved from duty, and S. M. Clark assumed the duties as acting engineer in charge. This arrangement continued until July 28, 1862, when Isaiah Rogers assumed charge of the office as Supervising Architect, and the designation of the office was then changed to that of "Office of Supervising Architect, Treasury Department." In 1864 Congress recognized the office and made specific appropriations for its officers. Mr. Rogers held the position until September 30, 1865, and during his administration the use of photography was ap plied to the reproduction of the plans, and a building for photographic purposes was erected south of the Treasury. On October 1, 1865, Alfred B. Mullett was placed in charge as acting Supervising Architect, and on June 1, 1866, he was appointed Supervising Architect. Mr. Mullett held the office until January 1, 1875, when he was succeeded by William A. Potter, who in turn was succeeded by the present Supervising Architect, James G. Hill, who assumed the duties of the office August 11, 1876. The increase of the work of the office is shown by a comparison of the number of buildings of the character hereinbefore indicated owned by the United States or in course of construction, with their total cost, on June 30, 1853, and the number and cost of such buildings June 30, 1876. The total number of buildings owned or in course of construction June 30, 1853, was 56, and their cost was $8,877,350.88. The number owned or in course of construction June 30, 1876, was 159, and their cost was $62,594,539.26. The annual expenditures for the first six years after the organization of the office averaged $2,000,000; the expenditures for the past six years averaged $7,000,000. Of the 56 buildings owned or in course of construction in 1853, 15 have been sold or disposed of. 'At present the office is charged with the following duties: Selecting and purchasing sites for all public buildings under the Treasury Department, including custom-houses, appraisers' stores, court-houses, post-offices, mint buildings, assay offices, and marine hospitals; making designs for these buildings and preparing plans, specifications, estimates, schedules, detailed working drawings, models, &c., therefor; constructing the buildings and supplying furniture, heating, hoisting, and ventilating apparatus, vaults, safes, locks, fuel, light, water, and such miscellaneous articles as may be required for all public buildings in charge of the Department, and performing all work necessary for their repair and preservation. It has also to prepare all contracts for the supply of materials or labor required in connection with the above duties. It is also charged with the leasing of all buildings rented for the public service under the Department, and with the custody of the leases and deeds, and all bonds of superintendents of construction or repair of public buildings. The office is required to exercise supervision over the public property in owned and rented buildings under the control of the Department, and to keep a record thereof. It is also required to give to accounts of disbursing agents for the several works herein before specified the administrative scrutiny required by law before they are forwarded to the proper accounting officers for adjust ment. Catalogue of articles exhibited by the office of the Supervising Architect, Treasury Department, at the international exhibition at Philadelphia, 1876. LARGE PERSPECTIVES. Atlanta, Ga., court-house and post-office. SMALL PERSPECTIVES (LINE DRAWINGS). Albany, N. Y., custom-house, &c. Auburn, N. Y., public building. Boston, Mass., post-office and sub-treasury extension. Memphis, Tenn., custom-house, &c. SMALL PERSPECTIVES (PHOTOGRAPHS.) Bangor, Me., custom-house, &c. Boise City, Idaho, assay office. Boston, Mass., post-office and sub-treasury. Cairo, Ill., custom-house, &c. Carson City, Nev., mint building. Chicago, Ill., custom-house, &c. Chicago, Ill., modification of above. Chicago, Ill., marine hospital. Des Moines, Iowa, court-house and post-office. |