Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-04
The New Post once.

\ ne" anu cIlAISeu post OulCe ACCOMMODATIONS.
The location is not to be changed; none bet
ter could DO found in the city, from its near
ness to the depot, its central position on the
business street, and its accessibility. But the
Office, as at present arranged, does not afford
sufficient room either for its regular working
force or the large number of people who visit
it during the day and evening.
| For two or three years, as the business OF
the Office has increased, efforts have been
making to induce the proprietors Of the build
ing to give up the entire lower floor for the
| different uses of the Office; but until recently
these efforts have been unsuccessful. After
deliberation the directors Of Granite Bank
have finally decided to vacatc their present
quarters and remove TO the second floor, CIV
ing up the whole lower floor to the post office.
In this decision the directors have shown a
most liberal spirit; they certainly would not
have consented to rehnquish this eligible po-
terprise. .e.
Under the new arrangement the stairway
north of the present bank entrance will be
taken away; the bank, as we have said, will
be removed to the second story, to occupy
the two front rooms now leased by the West
ern Union Telegraph Company and Miss v.
Turner, milliner, these rooms, with the stair
way, which will be included, giving ample ac
cominodations for the business of the bank.
The street entrance to the bank. and also to
the offices in the second story and the hall in
the third story, will he by means of the Hunt
stairway, on the north, a perpetual lease of
which has been secured.
The present fire-proof bank vault will be
continued up into the second story for the use
of the bank, while the vault and safe below
have been purchased by the post Office de-
partment, and will be used for the purposes of
the post Office, furnishing safe depository
want which has long been felt. The directors
of the bank are now negotiating with the Bos-
ton Steam Safe Company for first-class fire
and burglar proof safe, which will be manu-
featured to order.
There will be four doors to the post Office
on Water street, and two on Oak street, lead
ing to the area for the public. The general
delivery will be directly in front, and will be
somewhat larger than the present one. The
boxes will extend in an obtuse angle from the
general delivery, lock boxes on the north and
glass boxes on the south side. Those leasing
boxes will be served from side deliver.
les. The Office will be supplied with q new
set OF patent lock boxes, iron frame and glass
door, such as have been recently introduced
in the Office at Bangor, and similar TO those
in use at the Boston post office.
On the north side OF the office there is to be
an enclosure exclusively for money order
business and the delivery Of registered letters.
This special department has become cssary
on account of the great increase Of this branch
of the business. The money order business
at this office amounted to over $45, 900 last
year, while the business created by the pres
ent safe and convenient method of registering
letters is already considerable, and all the
time on the increase.
The proposed change will about double the
capacity of the working department of the Of
fee. This additional room has for long
time been needed, especially upon newspaper
days, Wednesday and Thursday, when it has
heretofore become necessary to stack bags in
the outer entry to give room for the transac-
ton of business inside. Postmaster, clerks
and the public generally will be benefited by
this additional room. The entrance for the
mails will be from Oak street, as now.
Government will bear none of the expenses
of the change; the whole will be borne by the
bank, the government agreeing to lease the
property for a certain number of years The
entire cost of the change will not be far from
$4,000. Work will be commenced Immediate
y, the first thingin order being to extend the
vault and place the safe in position. Ii will
require two or three weeks to manufacture
the safe In the meantime the post Office and
bank will not be disturbed. When the rooms
are prepared for the latter they can be taken
possession of and the work commenced on
the enlarged post office without great deal
Of interruption to the regular business. The
work is to be done by contract to the accept
ance of the Postmaster and q special agent of
the department, who will inspect it.
Much credit is due the Postmaster, James
A. Bicknell, Esq, for his persevering efforts
to bring about this desirable change. In COM
pany with B. II. Cushman, Esq, and j. H.
Hartford Esq, as representatives of the bank,
he visited Washington, laid the plans before
the department, and the result we have given
to our readers. These gentlemen were kind
ly received by Mr.. Marshall, first assistant of
the post Office department. who was found to
be practical man and readily comprehended
the advantages ofthe proposed change. Hon.
J. w. North has offered some very valuable
suggestions in regard to the matter, which
have had weight in the deliberations of the
bank directors, and an influence in deter
mining them to take this step, which will re-
suit in great benefit to the public
Supreme Judicial Court, March Term. Charles
DanfOrth, J. Presiding.