It is obvious, however, that while this principle of construction is demanded by sanitary considerations, a hospital built in accordance with it must cost far more in proportion to the number of patients to be accommodated than if built in the old manner, the number of superficial feet of exterior walls and roofing being much greater. The plans thus prepared in accordance with this principle were submitted to a committee composed of surgeons and physicians of highest professional ability and experience, both in military and civil hospital practice, and by them approved. In a letter dated April 30, 1867, addressed to this committee at the time the plans were submitted to them, I requested them to make "any suggestions reducing the expense," but the only alterations suggested, so far from reducing, would have greatly increased it. Since I have had occasion to refer to this committee I deem it due to the gentlemen composing it to say that this valuable service was rendered by them without cost to the government. The accompanying correspondence will show that in the construction of the building thus far every practical suggestion made with a view to economize the cost of the structure has been adopted by this office; and while it will be observed that the execution of the plans by the superintendent in a superior (and consequently somewhat more costly) manner to the requirements of the specifications has evoked censure from this office, I have no hesitation in saying that I regard the work done as reflecting great credit upon his professional judgment and ability, and as being no better than a first-class government building should be. As all the expenditures made by the superintendent for labor, material, &c., have been reported to this office, I am enabled to say that the prices are reasonable, and average rather below than above market rates. The high character and reputation General Webster has sustained, both in military and civil life, are sufficient guarantees that the money has been honestly expended. The amount of the proceeds from the sale of the old marine hospital property has not as yet been exhausted, but the execution of the present plans will considerably exceed it, the estimated cost of the building complete being $369,779 27. The only contract entered into is for brick, a copy of which contract is herewith transmitted, together with copies of all the letters and papers referred to in this report and called for in the resolution. Very respectfully, Hon. HUGH MCCULLOCH, Secretary of the Treasury. A. B. MULLETT, THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION-CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. IN THE HOUSE of RepreseNTATIVES, Mr. Wentworth submitted the following, which was agreed to: December 17, 1866. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury communicate to this house what progress has been made in the erection of the new marine hospital at Chicago, provided for in the law authorizing the sale of the old one, and if a site has been purchased, state of whom, when, and the price thereof, with the estimate for the cost of the building. Attest: EDWARD MCPHERSON, Clerk. CHICAGO, ILL., January 5, 1867. SIR: I have at last succeeded in getting a site for the new marine hospital that I consider a decided bargain. I have bought 10 acres right on the lake shore for $10,000, which is less than half the price than any other place. I now wish you to send without delay a copy of the printed requirements of the Attorney General's office to Hon. Jesse O. Norton, United States district attorney, Chicago, Illinois. I forgot to bring one with me; please attend to this at once. I shall leave to-night for Dubuque, and hope to be home in about a week. I have been here three days and had almost made up my mind not to buy. Yours, truly, B. OERTLY, Esq., A. B. MULLETT, Supervising Architect. Acting Supervising Architect. SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to state that, in accordance with your letter of the 13th ultimo, and the permission of the Surgeon General granted on the 20th, I have made a careful examination of the plans for a marine hospital at Chicago, Illinois, prepared by Mr. A. B. Mullett, supervising architect of the Treasury Department. The plans as completed by Mr. Mullet appear to me to be well adapted to the purposes to be attained. The arrangements are excellent, and the mode of ventilation and warming proposed will, I doubt not, be efficient. I have only to regret that Mr. Mullett feels compelled by economical considerations to make the wards three stories high. In the plan adopted for post hospitals in the army, a copy of which I herewith transmit, the wards are but one story high, and during the late war strict adherence to one storied hospitals was admitted by all to give the best results. In permanent buildings, otherwise well constructed, wards in the second story do not appear to me very objectionable, but the addition of third is certainly to be regarded as increasing the ratio of pupulation to surface beyond what is compatible with the best hygienic results; with this exception, the plan appears to me in every way satisfactory. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. J. WOODWARD, Bvt. Lieut. Col. and Asst. Surgeon U. S. A. Hon. HUGH MCCULLOCH, CHICAGO, ILL., August 22, 1867. SIR: Your letter of the 14th instant was duly received. I have made inquiry as to the relative cost of brick and stone for the proposed marine hospital. Broken ashlar and "rock work” will probably cost 33 per cent. more than brick. Rubble, or what is so called by the masons here, is not used for buildings, i. e., walls above ground. Common brick (run of the kiln) are now selling for about nine dollars per thousand, pressed $20. The pressed brick made here are not of the best quality. They could be brought from Milwaukee for about $24. Bricks laid in the wall cost $14 per thousand. The difference stated above is for the locality of the hospital, in the city there is not so much difference. Brick can be made in the vicinity, but stone must all be hauled from the city. The estimate is by a mason of experience. It is a very good time to purchase lumber now. It will be higher when the fall trade opens. I would suggest that the lumber for the hos pital be advertised for at once, if it is proposed to purchase the material and put up the building by days' work, which seems to me the best way. The foundations also need to be commenced pretty soon to get them out of the way of frost. Foundations, curb walls, &c., are costing in the city from $20 to $23 per cord (100 cubic feet) of canal stone rubble. If any further information is desired please let me know. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. B. MULLETT, Esq., Supervising Architect Treasury Department. J. D. WEBSTER. CUSTOM-HOUSE, CHICAGO, ILL., Collector's Office, September 3, 1867. SIR: I have the honor to enclose my band as disbursing agent of the new marine hospital, with certificate of Judge Thomas Drummond, district judge United States court. Judge Jesse O. Norton, United States district attorney, is not here and I could not procure his certificate. Your most obedient servant, WALTER B. SCATES, Collector. Hon. HUGH MCCULLOCH, Secretary of the Treasury. CHICAGO, ILL., September 4, 1867. SIR: Your letter of the 26th ultimo, instructing me to commence work on the new United States hospital, and that of the 28th ultimo, accompanying blanks for the use of my office, were duly received. I had an interview on the 30th ultimo with Mr. Oertly, assistant supervising architect, and on the 31st visited the site of the hospital with that gentleman. He left with'me a memorandum of the views of the department as to the commencement of the work, and plans of the foundations and basement. I am now sending to the site lumber for a small office, to be built at once, and will in a few days be ready to submit a project of operations for the month. In the meantime I would request that the proposed height of the basement and entrance story be furnished me soon as possible. I am, very respectfully, A. B. MULLETT, Esq., J. D. WEBSTER, Supervising Architect. CHICAGO, ILL., September 4, 1867. SIR: I have to acknowledge the receipt this day of your letter of the 2d instant, with printed "instructions" and form of monthly report. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. B. MULLETT, Esq., J. D. WEBSTER, Supervising Architect. CHICAGO, ILL., September 7, 1867. SIR: Your letter of the 5th instant, respecting survey of the hospital lot, is received, 3 p. m. The survey will be made in the early part of next week and results forwarded. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. B. MULLETT, Esq., Supervising Architect. J. D. WEBSTER, Superintendent. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, September 16, 1867. SIR: After inquiry and consideration I submit that the best course to be pursued in the construction of the new marine hospital at this place is, first, to erect a small office on the site for the use of the superintendent, a clerk, and master mechanics. Second, to build a boarding house for the mechanics employed, there seeming to be no means of providing subsistence and accommodation otherwise. Third, to open the trenches and put in as much of the foundation as possible before the coming of frosty weather. The estimate of funds herewith submitted is based on the above project. The only considerable doubt as to the best method of carrying out this project relates to the procuring of the stone for the foundation. Inquiry of the principal dealers in stone developed the fact that but one or two of them would bid at all for that material, and none would bid to deliver it on the site. This necessitated examination of the road, with consideration of best points to land the stone from the river, as also the possibility of delivering it by railroad at a point about one and a half miles west of the site. This last was on the whole considered best, and on Friday last I visited Joliet and conferred with Mr. Sanger, owner of the best quarry at that place, who is supplying the stone for the Rock Island arsenal. The quality and terms are satisfactory, but it seems, from information received at the railroad offices this morning, that it will be difficult to get any cars for some weeks, but as the esti mate ought not to be longer delayed, send it forward, hoping by further inquiries to do better than therein intimated. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. B. MULLETT, Esq., Supervising Architect, &c. J. D. WEBSTER, Superintendent. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, September 17, 1867. DEAR SIRS: Neither the St. Louis nor the Northwestern railroad will give me the slightest encouragement that they will furnish any cars for transportation of stone from your quarry before the press of the fall business is over, when it will be too late for use this fall. I am now considering whether I can haul from some point on the river where canal boats can deliver. In the meantime, it is my impression that if you should quarry a quantity of stone, such as would be wanted for the new marine hospital, (say 400 cords,) that I could purchase it of you after navigation closes, as I can then get cars to bring it to Belle Plain and teaming will be cheaper. I wish I could be more definite than this, but I am in some uncertainty as to the extent of the discretion that will be allowed me. Very respectfully, Messrs. SANGER & STEEL, J. D. WEBSTER, Superintendent (New) Marine Hospital. Island Quarry, Joliet, Illinois. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, September 19, 1867. SIR: The gravel on the lake shore of the hospital lot is very much worn and rounded, so much so that it is doubtful whether it will make good concrete. As stone must be brought from Joliet or Athens, will it not be better to make the foundations of that material at once? The sand of the site is so incompressible that no difficulty will arise from commencing the foundation with stone directly upon it. I enclose herewith a copy of a letter addressed on the 17th instant to Messrs. Sanger & Steel, proprietors of an excellent quarry at Joliet. I think that would be a considerable saving by procuring the stone for the basement story during the winter, as I can then get cars on the railroad, and the hauling from the railroad to the site will be cheaper, both on account of the better condition of the roads and the less cost of team work. The office is now nearly completed. The lumber for the boarding house is purchased and being delivered. The survey of the lot is going, on though not as rapidly as I could wish, owing to the delay caused by depending upon the street cars for transportation to the site. It will be necessary to have a horse and light wagon to transport messengers and small articles of supply as called for. It will also be necessary to have a well dug at once, as water cannot be procured from the when the wind is easterly. Work on the foundation, if commenced this fall, will probably be stopped by frost in the latter part of October or early in November, so that not much can be accomplished at any rate the present season. I would request specific instructions at your earliest convenience on this point, or permission to commence or postpone at my discretion. As to the stone, it may be necessary to explain that no quarrying is done at the Joliet or Athens quarries in winter, as the stone crumbles if exposed to a freezing temperature before some days of seasoning, so that if we are to take advantage of the superior facilities for transportation in winter the order for quarrying must be given very soon, as intimated in my letter to Messrs. Sanger & Steele. Very respectfully, A. B. MULLETT, Esq., J. D. WEBSTER, Superintendent. Supervising Architect, Washington, D. C. |