The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-07
THE NEW POST OFFICE.

Work to be Commenced Positively ON Next
Monday Morning-The Depth Of the Cellars
. to 10 Governed by the Basement of tho
Herald acknowledgements Tubes for the
Convenience Of the Newspaper Oniccs-The
Basement Story to be Completed This FALL
and the Entire Structure to be Finished In
1870.
Mr.. A. B. Mullett, the Supervising Architect OF the
United States Treasury Department, has now com.
pleted all the preliminary arrangements for the
commencement OF the actual work on the new Post
ONCE in this city. and next Monday morning the
plot OF ground forming the intended site viii be en-.
closed with q board fence for the exclu-
sion OF would-be tntruders, the protection OF the
tools and property, and 10 secure immunity from
annoyance TO the wOrkmen. The iron railing
at present standing on the property has not yet been
purchased but there are two or three bidders in the
Geld, and an agreement viii doubtless be arrived az
to-day. AS soon az the temporary fence Is com
pleted the surface Of the ground will be cleared an6
the excavation OF earth for the foundations and Gel.
lars viii be at once commenced.
Mr.. Muett states that the depth OF the basement
story, which includes cellar and suboelar has not
yet been positively decided on, but will be about
thirty feet, and that the basement of the HERALD
building will, In all probability be the standard
depth adopted. He has at least determined to go az
deep as the lowest basement or excavation In the
vicinity this step being rendered necessary by the
sandy nature OF the earth, which would
be apt 10 shift or allow the building
to settle, the superintendent weight will neces.
sarily be immense further reason for this deter
minaton also Is to guard against any interference
from the subterrauean borings Of proposed or pro-
jected underground railroads, several Of which
schemes, OF an unfortunately more or less my thica
paaes and d pavc ancnss f pedde Between
$4,000 and 1000 cubic yards or earth VIII nave TO DO
removed for the basement excavation.
The proposals for furnishing and delivering the
granite Tor the construction OF the foundations and
basement VIII not close until the 14th instant or
purchase OF railing the delivery OF cement excava-
ton, &c, the awards IN which latter IN.
stances have been announced This was in
consequence OF clerical mistake, but
Will not materially retard the progress OF the work.
should be understood by contractors making pro.
posas that the deliveries will have to be made TO the
letter oil the agreement in point OF time as wen AZ
other requisites, as the government VIII push the
work with all available energy and despatch
when once commenced: About 10000 cubic feet Of
1t is contemplated and expected that the entire
basement story shall be finished hush With the level
least before the winter fairly sets ill., and no failure
Oh the part OF contractors 10 the prompt delivery
U III dicues inserpose II 10 delay the work
Mr. Mullett proposes to put the roof on In the TALL
OF 1870 and have the building ready for occupancy
A new idea ID connection with the building, and
one which Will not In any way necesstae a change
or alteration OF the original plans, has just sug-
gested itself, and Will no doubt be great success
and convenience II carried out 1t probably Will
be. The proposition Is to construct pneumatic
tubes 10 connect the easements or the press
ana mail rooms Of the various newspaper Of1ces
with the basement OF the Post ONCE Small box
trucks running liked tracks or rails could be
laden with the mail editions OF the paper, and In
lew seconds the carriages could be forced through
the tubes by atmospheric pressure, and the papers
'sdumpedn almost at the mouths Of the receiving
bags Much valuable time and vast amount OF
labor In the handling OF these masses Of mail matter
would he saved in the early morning hours, when
time is most precious III the desr"'"" =
news, by every tram from the ~
to all parts OF the country. The
| perfectly feasible and certainly ingenioJ EHe
mails so conveyed to the Post once, hav l1es
assorted, would be placed on elevators aud Used ~
the ground door, as at present intended. il-
lars, III addition to occupying the whole 81 efn4a
area OF the site viii be carried out under s.
walks as FAR as the curbstone line.
Mr.. Mulett Is at present fully occupied 7rF. Ia
fact hourly, In interviews with the differ
tractors and officials on matters relatin tfI
work, which Will until Its completion enl
most his entire attention and supervision. l1-
lie OF New York may confidently anticip
there Will be no lost time to be accounted Il
appropriations made by Congress are ampl b.
prosecution Of The work TO al advanced state
least, and hope deferred Will make the expectant
heart OF the people sick, rs has been tile case VITA
another building IN the City Hall Park which Is NOS
yet completed, although nearly decade OF yeari
has passed since 1t was commenced.