Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-29

proposition TO Putis Unaer censracs
rmpnrtanee Of prompt Action.

We are in possession Of very late, full
ana reliable information from Washington +
Of the much talked Of and proposed new Il
Customhonse at this place There Is no
enterprise that moro immediately and vital
ly affects the interests of the city and |
STATE than this, nor is there any to which |
there attaches considerations of higher
magnitude, both public and private. The
question is, shall we have Customhouse? |
Now TO be plain, the answer to this cues
ton depends upon the citizens OF Nash
vile themselves. If we are TO secure the |
Cus1omhouse and the many advantages |
accraing, pecuniary and otherwise, from |
its erection, property owners and those in
terested must act with promptness and de-
cision in the premises. In a mat
ter Of such general public concern
no fictitious values should be set upon lots
and eligible locations which may be pre-
ferred by the Government, merely because
of such preference. Propositions have
been advertised by the Government for the
sale Of the present lot, (opposite the old
Postofice corner, and the purchase OF an
other site with the proceeds, the exchange
of the present lot for suitable site. The
Government lot is very valuable one; the
location is admirable, the objection being
that it is too small to meet the dimensions
OF the proposed building. This objection
| Is insuperable, and the Customhouse will
| not be erected there. We viii state further
that, it is positively decided by Congress
that, not another dollar viii be approprla-
ted in the purchase Of site beyond the
/ value of the present lot. Se
Then the question Of Customhonse or no
Customhouse just simply resolves itself
into the plain contingency as to whether
the present Government lot or the pro-
| ceeds derived therefrom viii be sufficient
to procure a suitable site for its erection.
Let it be borne in mind that the Govern
ment has already made an appropriation of
over hundred thousand dollars, indie
pendent of the value of the lot, toward
the erection of the building. And now let
it be further understood, that by recent
act of Congress, this appropriation of one
hundred thousand dollars, if not applied
to the purpose for which it was designed
by the first of July, will be covered into
the Treasury, together with all other ap-
| preparations and balances unexpended,
and be diverted to other purposes. Then
we already have a hundred thou
sand dollars secured to a great public
improvement which will be lost to Us alto
gether if a suitable site, in exchange fol-
or with the proceeds of the present lot,
+ be not early obtained. Now shall we let
this opportunity slip? If so, it will be
many years before we have Customhouse,
if we ever do.
There is little doubt, however, but that
the Customhouse will be built. Mr. Enos
Hopkins, the Postmaster, d. w. Peabody,
{ | Revenue Collector, and Adam Wolfe, Col
lector of the Port, the most prominent Off
cial occupants of the proposed building,
have been appointed Commissioners to
| open bids, and report upon whatever propo'
sitions may be offered. The propositions
of the Government as advertised close al
| u o'clock next Saturday. The Commits
4 sioners will then forward their report, anC
in ten DAYS thereafter, if the report be
favorable. Mr.. Mullet, the Super
n vising Architect, will be here with plans
ands specifications to put the build
a ing under contract at once. While
q there may be lots offered that will be &C
a | cepted by the Government, in SO vast and
permanent an Improvement, we should fee
a pride in having it centrally and eligibly
located. The paltry consideration of 6
few thousand dollars which exists, or may
4 be supposed TO exist, between the value o
: the present lot and other lots of larger di
mensions and centrally located, should no
be The cause Of locating the building a
more obscure points, which might hereafter
I be the cause of general dissatisfaction
: Private enterprise, which would be amply
compensated in the enhanced value of sd
joing property, should itself make up the
difference rather than fail in a central 10
cation. The cities of Hartford, Conn,
Kansas City, No., Jefferson City, st. 10
b / seph and ST. Louis. Mo-, Madison, Wis.
Omaha, Nebraska and many other cities
a have recently rendered the Government
D the choice of location gratis for the cree
ton of similar building in those cities
In our case, when the Government pro
poses the erection of magnificent build
: ing, and giving her present lot besides, i
= occurs to us that nothing should intervene
s to prevent a most central and desirable
S location for the same. 1t is seen, then
that the Custom House and its location
depend upon the action of tn,
property owners. 1t will, when the loea
D ton is selected, be put under contract a
once, and be pushed vigorously forward
t to completion. This will furnish employ
4 ment to hundreds of hands, and give al
impetus to business, as well as improv'
and adorn the city. The consideration
are all important and should be weighed
6 with deep concern.