April 20, 1849, Washington D.C., Description and Specification,

April 20, 1849, Washington D.C., Description and Specification, Of the manner of executing and finishing the work of the two Wing Buildings proposed to be attached to the Patent Office Building, agreeably to the original design, and which are further explained by Drawings made for that purpose. Robert Mills, Architect and Superintendent







Tariff of Prices,




DESCRIPTION AND SPECIFICATION,

Of the manner of executing and finishing the work of the two Wing Buildings proposed to be attached to the Patent Office Building, agreeably to the original design, and which are further explained by Drawings made for that purpose.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

Each wing building will extend from each end of the present building east and west, 70 feet, with an entire depth or length of 290 feet. The architectural order in the exterior of these buildings will be the same with that in the present building, which is the Greek Doric, composed of a series of antæ (pilasters), raised on a high basement, running the whole circuit of the exposed walls, and surmounted by their regular entablature, corresponding in its details with that of the celebrated Parthenon. For particulars, reference can be had to the facades of the present building. The whole height of the order, from the foot of the pilasters to the top of the cornice of the entablature, is 46 feet; the height of the base is 13 feet, the blocking over cornice 3 feet, making the total height 62 feet. The interior arrangement of these wings will be—on the east, the height into three stories above the basement, divided into large office rooms, spacious corridors, and stair-cases, all groin arched and made fire-proof in every part; the windows in each story are to correspond with those in the present building. The wing to the west, being for the special accommodation of the Patent Office, will, in the two stories above the basement, be disposed in one entire room, or divided into large halls, for the reception of models, &c., all groin arched, springing from pillars, and made fire-proof. In the upper story, a gallery will extend round the entire room, supported by columns, and the walls prepared for the reception of works of art, to be lighted from above. With both of these wings, on every floor, a communication will be opened with the present building, so as to constitute it one for the transaction of the business of the Department which shall occupy it. The basement story of the west wing, from the sudden fall of the ground or street here, will be about three feet higher in the pitch of the rooms, and the windows will be higher than those in the present building on this floor.

The facing of the exterior walls of these wings will be white marble, and the roof covered with copper, as in the present building.

EXCAVATIONS, AND MASONRY OF FOUNDATIONS.

Dig out so much of the area of the wings as may be directed by the architect, to a depth which will be designated by him, and level off the same. Dig out for the footings and piers perfectly level at such depth as may be designated by the architect, not exceeding one foot, and before any masonry is laid, ram or pound the earth in the trenches very compact. Cart away all the earth, so excavated, not required to fill up irregularities within the square.

Construct the footings of the external walls with large stone from the Potomac quarries, having level beds, not less than 9 inches thick, and from 3 to 5 feet long—the first course or footing of said walls to be 5 feet thick, the second course 4 feet thick, and the residue of the wall, to the height of the basement story, 3 feet thick, including the thickness of the cut stone facing. Great care must be taken to bond the stones composing these walls in the strongest manner, every layer being well bedded in cement mortar, composed of stone lime, compounded with coarse and sharp river sand, in proportions of four of the latter to one of the former, in an unslacked state, or in such proportion as the architect may direct, and after the mixing of the mortar, and before using, one-fourth of the hydraulic cement (1 barrel of cement to 4 of lime) to be thoroughly mixed with the mortar: care must be taken that no more cement is mixed with the mortar than can be used within an hour or two. The joints of the stone masonry must be flushed and well bedded in mortar, and settled down with large wooden mallets.

The interior walls and piers for the arches within, must be built in the same careful manner, of the thickness and heights designated on plans. Where openings occur and piers intervene, the jambs of the same may be formed of blocks of hard free stone, and the arches of good red brick.

For the disposition of these walls and piers, see the Drawings.

BRICKLAYER.

Construct all the walls, behind the cut-stone work above the basement, of brick, laid and well settled down in cement mortar, compounded on stone lime, and sharp river sand, with a portion of hydraulic cement as may be directed by the architect—the latter to be mixed in as the mortar is required, as noticed under the head of masonry. The thickness of these walls not to exceed, with

TARIFF OF PRICES
Of the different kinds of work proposed in erecting the Wings of the Patent Office Building; to determine the value of the same by measurement of the work when finished and in its place.TARIFF OF THE PRICES, For the Cut Stone work, measured in the wall, marble included. 

P. S. Reference to be had to the same kind of work in the present building.

Image 1 of Description and specification of the manner of executing and finishing the work of the two wing buildings proposed to be attached to the Patent-Office building, agreeable to the original design, and which are further explained by drawings made f, Description and specification of the manner of executing and finishing the work of the two Wing Buildings proposed to be attached to the Patent Office Building, agreeably to the original design, and which are further explained by Drawings made for that purpose. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Each wing building will extend from each end of the present building east and west, 70 feet, with an entire depth or length of 290 feet.
Contributor: Mills, Robert Date: 1849


Image 2 of Description and specification of the manner of executing and finishing the work of the two wing buildings proposed to be attached to the Patent-Office building, agreeable to the original ...2 the cut-stone work, 2 feet. Construct all the partition walls 2 brick in thickness, with 1½ brick piers, in angles, to all the large rooms from which the groin arches will spring. Construct 9 inch groin and other arches, in all the rooms and passages, from the basement to the roof, according to drawings, with the best quality red brick, laid in the ...
Contributor: Mills, Robert
Date: 1849

Image 3 of Description and specification of the manner of executing and finishing the work of the two wing buildings proposed to be attached to the Patent-Office building, agreeable to the original ...3 the framing of these roofs suitable openings for sky lights, in such positions as the architect may direct. Construct also lantern lights around and over the same as may be directed by the architect. Construct over the arches of all the rooms a flooring of ⅝ yellow-pine plank, laid on heart-pine sleepers, resting on the arches, &c., free from knots and shakes, the ...
Contributor: Mills, Robert
Date: 1849

Image 4 of Description and specification of the manner of executing and finishing the work of the two wing buildings proposed to be attached to the Patent-Office building, agreeable to the original design, and which are further explained by drawings made f


About this Item
Title Description and specification of the manner of executing and finishing the work of the two wing buildings proposed to be attached to the Patent-Office building, agreeable to the original design, and which are further explained by drawings made f

Contributor Names Mills, Robert
Created / Published Washington, 1849.
Subject Headings - United States--District of Columbia--Washington
Genre Leaflets--District of Columbia--Washington
Notes - U. S.- Patent office.-
Page Order: Leaflet- Available also through the Library of Congress web site in two forms: as facsimile page images and as full text in SGML.- 2 duplicate copies- Printed Ephemera Collection; Portfolio 199, Folder 21.- Copy scanned: 1 Medium 4 p.; 23.5 x 20 cm.Call Number/Physical Location Portfolio 199, Folder 21
Source Collection Broadsides, leaflets, and pamphlets from America and Europe
Digital Id http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/rbpe.19902100