The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-02
MEETING OF THE CLIMBER or
CONMERCE.

A meeting of this body was held at II N
yesterday, in the hall over the office OF e.
Lowndes, on Broad street, Robert Mure, Esq.
presiding.
Mr.. Samuel Y. Tupper called the attention @
the chamber to the Inconvenience and un1tn"
OF the present postonice, and stated that he hac
conferred with the postmaster, who was OF thu
opinion that If the two commercial organization:
of the city would properly present tho condition
Of the postofice to Congress an appropriation
might be secured to have the ONCE changed to Q
more eligible site, where the administration OF Its
affairs could be done with greater advantage tc
| both the government and the citizens Of Charles
ton. In concluding his remarks, Mr. Tupper pre-
sented the following
PETITION.
and moved that 1t be adopted, copies Of 1t print.
ed, signed by the president and secretary Of the
warded to Congress:
This memorial Of the Chamber OF Commerce
and the citizens OF Charleston respectfully repre-
sent that the building In which the city postofice
Is now located has, by reason OF the resumption
and increase OF business within its delivery, be-
como insufficient for the reasonable convenience
OF the public, as well as for the necessities In ad-
ministration OF Its duties; and they deem II peril
nent and proper to set forth to your honorable
body that the building owned by the United
States, and formerly occupied jointly as custom
house and postoifice, situated Oh Broad and East
Bay streets, Ill Charleston, was, by the lombard
ment OF the city during the war, so nearly demol-
;iShed as to be utterly untenabe. so that upon the
reestabllshment Of the postoffice In 1865, 1t be-
came necessary to appropriate. by leasing tempo
rarily, such q building as might be best adapied
to the immediate necessities alike OF the Post
ofice Department and the population. Under
2 cir of q nrQ M q
ltral Presbyterian Church was repaired and leased
for the term OF three years, from October, 1856,
with further privilege 8. an extension OF ten
years. at the monthly rental OF S15e.
In the meantime the building has been made to
subserve inconveniently, the requirements OF the
service, but It Is inadequate not only to an In
'creasing business, but TO the present need. The
entire onice room. including lobby, Is embraced
in the dimension OF sixty.two feet in length and
feet in width, with On additional room
eight feet by twelve feet, and with the best prac
ticable arrangements OF tables, cases, desks,
books, delivery windows and indispensable fur.
nlture. The oilce cannot be properly accommo-
dated, and its several departments OF separating,
mailing, box and general delivery route agents,
mail messengers and carriers, register letters and
money order business, cannot be conducted With
such caution and order as the public has
right to enjoy, and as the postmaster and assist
ants might hope to achieve.
There are within the central and business por-
tlons OF the city eligible sites for a postoiiice,
which can be purchased advantagcousy; and it
is the prayer Of the petitioners that your honor.
able body will take such action rs will secure to
the government, as well as 10 the people OF
Charleston, a respectable and convenient post
ONCE.
All Of which Is respectfully submitted
The motion Of Mr. Tupper was adopted, and on
motion OF Mr.. Henry Gourdin, the president
was requested to communicate the action Of the
chamber to the Board Of Trade, and request its
cooperation.
Mr., Tupper said that as there were numerous
inquiries regarding the action Of the committee
appointed to petition Congress relative to turning
over to the chamber the old customhouse build
ing, he would state that the committee had drawn
up petition and forwarded it to Congress, where
it had been read and referred to the Committee
on Commerce. which had not yet reported.
On motion Of Mr.. L. D. DeSaussure, the preSl-
dent was requested to confer with the postmas
ter, and ascertain II there could not be effected
some arrangement by which the Postonice box
at Messrs. Walker, Evans K Cogswell could be
kept open q little later at night, as 1t was now
closed too early for the business men, who were
compelled to walk up to the Postoflcc late at
night II they desired to get their letters OF by the
morning mails.
The chamber then adjourned.