The New York herald., 1870-01-29
THE NEW POST OFFICE.
% THE EDITOR OF THE HRRALD:--

AZ iuE EulIOh OF THE uERALD:--
Our community saw last August with great salts
facton, ground broken for the erection OF n Post
ONCE. The undertaking, for several months, was
prosecuted with commendable diligence and most
gratifying progress was made. For the last few
weeks there has been an evident abatement IN
progress; fewer men are employed, and all appear.
ances indicate retardation, If not positive hitch
IN the work so auspiciously commenced. on IN
qutry we learn that, while there has been some
delay in consequence of the non-arrval of granite,
the real cause o{ TINS lnopportune inactivity s want
oil money. A law of Congress having made II q
penal offence to exceed the appropriation, by ex-
pendllures or incurmg liabilities on any govern
ment work II ~ easy to see why nelter tne secre-
charge OF this work care TO go beyond the liInt Of
this appropriation, or to anticipate u further
The Secretary OF the Treasury, m tEa early
days OF the present session OF Congress re-
c9nEmnes9ed aEn the aa1, Immediate appropriation of
Sae very sS: alter s ps wesa not
went % the Committee Oh ASTfoITat5as al IT,
considered resolution authorized the Post ONCE
Committee 10 come mere ana see Ii they could not
iind something AT fault wherewth TO further sone-
body Interests or soothe somebody's dlsappoint-
nents in this city. There was yet another opiect
aud purpose In view. The chal man OF the POST
ONCE Committee and his man Friday, u. II. Painter
clerk Of the committee, inveteratey inlmical to Mr.
Muett, Tue supervising ac9.tect charged with the
erection OF the Post Ollce, hoped TO dnd & tTJvnl
WnereWlth they could e1ectualy peIabor ana floor
Aiths AHo CuAlIuitlco huo uOb yet reported
gGnerally believed finding nothing In the Ioareis
nest their resolution conured up here they viii take
nothing by their motion except the bitter cud OF ds
appointment.
lnis result is anticipated for tho reason that one
OF the committee, alter the survey ana examination
OF the work mere were concluded was heard 10 say
Tue work was all satisfactory, and the manner
which " mad been done was uneSceptonaoe. Why,
tnen delay. on most potent commlttce to say SO III
form, aud allow the Committee Appropriations
to report progress on our million appropriation SO
recommended and so much needed:
II Is charged that the architects who prepared the
Post once plans ana drawings for the commissions
ers originally having that matter in charge have mad
busy iinger In tnis PIE and even yet have Lot
abandoned hope TINT. through Farnsw0rths COM
mttee's report they shall be able TO have their pet
plans adopted. Figures viii best show whcn is the
most desirable plan, 70 say nothing of style of
architecture, taste. ornamenGation cost Sc
A careful examination ana computation Of the
different plans give these resuits:-
Inc aichlecffs plans, as adopted by the Commits
SION glve IN the main story 20 l25 square feet
basement $4,000 square feet; on the second story
was TO be, allotted IN this aosurd manner:-fne
Cashiers room I33 Dy rs feet, occupied by two men,
iad 3,ii5 square ieet or each man had l,737 feet
inches; the money orler room 139 by 20 ieet Occu-
pied by thirteen men, gave each man 2G7 feet 4
lncnes registry department room, $50 by 20 feet
cupied by twenty-five men, furnished each man witt
1o3 feet tnches the pOstmaster's rooms contained
IA square feet; the assistant postmaster had 692
lar as elaborated, furnished IN the main story
81 272 available square feet In tho basement So 500
square ect; meDzzanne. 1855 square feet. We are
not aware, II he has studied and distributed his
oth : floors, what the allotment Is. These figures
cel .unly show where space has been best secured
ana utilized and OF course where Is the real dis
tnctive merit Of the plans.
In this connection 1t may be mentioned that while
the established width OF the sidewalk on Broadway
ls eighteen feet II IS but eleven feet iark row.
Mr.. Mulett has planned his1oundatIons and build
ing so as 70 allow an equal Sidewalk space on both
sides OF the structure--at matter OF great moment
ana convenience 10 the puDiic; but 10 such provi-
dent outlook appears IN the city archltccps plans
il we had space and time we could stil further
M m rtv I,lA,
but enough for to-day. Will our good Messeurs of
Washington please hurry along the appropriation
ana not allow great puDc work TO be DELAYED by
the petty animostties OF two or three men acc
dentay at Washington or the Jealousies or disa o
pointments 0i professional squad hungry "rng''
III our own mldsCf