The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-11
THE NEW POST OFFICE.

Work to be Commenced Immediately on the
New Building-Location, Exterior and Inte-
rior Design Of the Structure-Its Dimensions.
IL IL now almost conclusivey decided that ground
viii be broken and work commenced on the new
city Post ONCE within few weeks and that New
York will shortly be favored with tangible evidences
that the structure which has been talked OF SO long
that it has almost come to be considered 'caste IN
the air." will lake shape and substance, and perad
venture time ALSO II 1t ia to be constructed after the
dilatory manner Of most of our public buildings,
uide the new Court House.
few days since, after numerous tiresOme Con-
gressiona debates and reference Of the subject to
the Committee on Post Oflces end Post Roads and
TO special committees during the past two years. the
negotiations and directions assumed definite form
ana object. Various efforts have from time TO time
been made by the Speciai Commissioners Of the
Treasury Department 10 effect an arrangement with
the city authorities for change Of site nom the
extreme sOutherly end OF the City Hall Park to
position more central-about half way be-
tween the City Hall building and the lower end Of
the Park. These en0rts however, have all proved
unavailing, and accordingly, having become de-
intely informed Of tho result Secretary Boutwell,,
on the 9Th ultimo, wrote to Mr.. A. T. Stewart as
secretary Of the commission, follows:-"I have
this day directed Mr.. Mullett to proceed with the
preparations necessary for the erection Of the Post
ONCE building in the city Of New York upon the
original site. regret that your commission was
unable to make satisfactory arrangements with the
authorities OF the city Of New York, but believe
that you and the gentlemen associated with You
have done all in your power to bring the matter 10
q satisfactory conclusion"
Acting under instructions from Mr.. Boutwell,, Mr..
Public Budnp e passea this et o U1
from Washington to Burlington, VT He viii in
spect the progress OF the new Custom House at
af Vu onH anrO harm In favu <la
will take steps towards the beginning OF work on the
new Post ONCE.
The new building will occupy the extreme lower
end apex Of the Park, ana Is to have four fronts
one of 100 feet the segment Of circle the lower
point OF the Park one OF AIS feet on Broadway one
Of 375 feet on Park row, and the last OF 1926 feet
inches, facing the City Hall. Its height from its
foundations to the top OF the roof will be ninety
nine feet, while above the roof are to be erected
four grand centre pavlions, one for each 'front.' The
pavilion at the south front, or at the lower end OF
mounted by dome and cupOla extending 100 feet
above the roof large clock will be In this cupola.
The other central pavili0ns VIII be 100 feet In height
ana on all tie corners there are to be smaller pa
viOns Of prOpOrtiOnate size and beauty The site
covers twentysix lots and, as will be seen from this
colossal in size as well as splendid and superb in its
magnificent proportions The exterior OF this struc
ture is to be OF white marble, rnsticated dome
columns and to extend to the pOrtic0s of the prin
cipal paviliOns. The paviiOns OF the second story
are to be Ornamented with statuary-fgures in
marble of Justice. Commerce, Industry ana
others Of kindred symbolica significance Large
marble statues OF George washington and DR..
FranR kiln are saa to be placed on the columns
signed as commemorative Of the former as
FIRST President Of the United States and Of the
latter as the first Postmaster General under the
republican administration. The edfce will be of
the French renaissance style OF architecture and of
consoar and Interior The cellars and
Easements Will be OF great depth, but admirably
and are 70 De used az tne places nof neat
rooms for paper, mail bags, fuel, &c. Thus base
ment, with one room $50 by 90 feet Will be divided
by brick arches and the ceiling supported by iron
grand vestibule forty feet wide leads into the
stairs eight feet wide leading to the upper floors.
Day and night the moor will present busy scene Of
ssc one 70 cenS %
high-will be divided the principal business Of the
ONCE Asserting tables for the different mails will
occupy portion; there Will be other tables for
stamping the letters and still others will be devoted
to receiving ana disposng OF the vast newspaper
mails almost hourly reaching the city and being
sent away, averaging at this time about 100 tons
day.
curvinear shape OF the south front, and taxing in
besides twenty 1--WE feet each from the Broadway
and Park row fronts, are to be delivery boxes.
These Will be divided into departments as 1t is
nOw-that s, windows for regular letters. windows
for advertised letters. and 80 to meet the various
wants Of distribution. Similar arrangements as
now Will also continue for depositing. Fronting the
boxes there will be a continuous space OF twenty
feet to allow room for the incoming and outgoing
Altogether this place Of general delivery promises to
be most admirably arranged, aud in the roominess
and its entire appointments to take by far the pre-
cedence of ANYTHING In this country or in any of the
old cities OF the Old World.
Ascending to the second story by either stairway,
directly in front Of this main fron9 are to be two
rooms each thirty by forty five feet, and two smaller
this Is to be the cashiers room, thirty BY f0rtyve
feet, and on the LEFT room Of the same size tor the
Assistant Postmaster. Beyond the cashiers room
IN tn q
order department. Still further Oh comes the
registry room, and beyond and the opposite side
various rooms of various Sizes for the use OF clerks
All these rooms connect and extend to the United
States District and Circuit Court rooms-also to be
will extend from the top Of the main stairs on either
side to the extreme north front magnificent sky
m S ee1 o Of IN '9e ayes SS @
story. This floor will be sixteen feet in height
Passing along the corridor referred to above to
Park row entrances will be found that part Of the
building 70 be occupied by the United states District
northeast corner is the former thirty by fry feet,
and on the northwest corner the room to be occupied
by the latter court and OF the same size. The ceiling
is thirtywo feet high, making 1t take, In fact what
corresponds to two stories Of the remaining portion
OF the building. The chambers Of the respective
ARE so be here S hr s wn six o1
use Of the United States District Attorney
and ms clerks Ths later r,, VIII be opposite
with hallway OF twenty feet width between and
ON the corresponding corner and with the same
width OF hall between, opposite the United States
Circuit Court room, six rooms each twenty -four bv
thirty feet for the use OF the United States Commits
sioners. Between the two are to be the same mum.
Der Of rooms for the United States Marshal his dep
mites, and clerks. Grand Jury rooms, arbitration
rooms and such like rooms appertaining to the
United States courts will occupy the northern part
OF the third moor. These rooms will be the same size
as those below.
Taken as whole the structure will be not only
model a. to interior and exterior design arrange.
mont and establishment, but also one Of the most
comm0di0us and convenient Of the kind In the
world, and an ornament and Q credit to the city.
TINE plIDl lc NEAL TN