Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-06-01
The eoyernmen, po.tomee nuiralng.

the Government Postomce Buftufng.
At the suggestion of several gentlemen, Mr..
Mullett was invited to the Hall Of the Board of
Trade yesterday morning, where he was called
upon by number of leading citizens anxious
to understand the real status of the proposed
Postofice and Court House building. Mr..
Dickinson took the chair, and called the house
to order, and requested Mr.. Mullett to explain
how the matter stood, which he did. 1t appears
that in 1857 an appropriation of $4,000 was
made by Congress for this purpose. a site for
the building was-never agreed upon. The war
came up, and no buildingwas commenced. Last
year Mr.. Maynard procured an appropriation
of $1,000, holding that this also secured the first
appropriation. The Comptroller of the Treasu-
ry, however, decides that the first appropria-
ton has lapsed not having been used in the
time contemplated by law, and consequently
cannot now be made available leaving only
$1,000 the amount of the last appropriation,
which can be used, which accounts for the limit
to that amount in purchasing a site. Mr.. May
nard holds that the last appropriation also re-
wives the first, and the Secretary of the Treasury
takes the same view of the case, but the Comp
troller decides differently and there is no appeal
from his decision.
The object now is to secure a site, and then
ask Congress to revive the appropriation, which.
will no doubt be done. Mr.. Mullett stated that
he would consult the wishes Of citizens 30 far as
the interests of the Departments would permit.
He stated the Departments knew nothing of the
old fund having lapsed until recently, and that
but for the Comptrollers decision there would
be no limit as to theSprice of a site He stated
that his first choice was..the Curry property, and
his second choice the Smith Livery Stable lot.
That if the citizens could..make up the excess on
either of these lots, he would be willing 10 ac-
cept them:
Mayor Van Glider asked him several que.-
Z tons about the matter, from the answers to
which we understood there would be no excep-
ton to receiving bids for sites where the house
could be built and have an open space of forty
feet all around, if the lot did not come quite up
the size mentioned in the advertisement for
bids, but that would be left entirely with the
Commissioners.
DR.. Rodgers, on behalf of the Commissioners
stated that they were directed to receive bids up
to a certain time, and could receive no other
propositions after that time without special in
structions from the Secretary of the Treasury
Gen. Cooper said the bids were closed, and if
any one Of the sites was more satisfactory than
another the best way to secure it. was to raise
the excess over 5000 by private subscription,
os otherwise Mr.. Mullett further stated that the
building would be of stone, ire-proof, the
interior supports of iron.
Mr.. Elliott moved that the Commissioners be
requested to hold up their report ten days,
with the view to give an opportunity to citi-
zens to raise the funds to secure the Curry prop
erty. Mr.. Munson move to amend by saying
5 days Amendment accepted, and motion
prevailed.
On motion of Maj. Thomas O'Conner, the
Finance Committee of the Board of Trakc
was requested TO wait upon citizens and take
subscriptions for the purpose of procuring the
the Curry lot
The meeting then adjourned
We learn that strong efforts are being made
by those who favor the location of The building
on the Curry property, and also by those favor
ing the Smiths livery stable lot, with fair
prospects of success in each. Papers are being
circulated by private parties, for the purpose
of raising the sum requiaed. What is done
should be done quickly. The whole commu-
nifty is interested in the success of the enter.
prise.