, 1873-02-28
The Ruins Of the Cnstom-uouso for the
Old BrideNell Lot.
Now Chicago VIII Have d Great
Public Library.
History of the Exchange Of Lots-.-The
Originator Of the Project.

been too small before the fire, and it was 4
recognized fact that one<of the same Dimensions
would be inadequate to meet the greatly in
creased demands Of the commerce and postal
business Of Chicago. 4 bill WAS passed em-
powerlng the Governmental purchase the land
necessary for new building, aud an effort was
made to obtain the. remainder OF the block On
which the old post-of1ice stood, but, owing to the
high price asked for the land, which would have
consumed too much Of tho appropriation,
that proposition fell through, and the
Bigalow Block was taken instead When it was
decided to take that property, it became neces-
sary for the Government to obtain that part OF
Quincy street between Clark and Dearborn.
Early in January meeting Of citizens had
been held to appoint 3 Committee to prepare q
bill for Free Library, OF which the English do
nations Of books we're to bo the nucleus, and bill
had been drawn, and presented in tho State Legia-
1aturo, where it was being considered On the
18th Of February, 1872, TIE TRIBUNE suggested
that it would not be arniss for the General Gov
ernment to give the old post~ofice site and the
standing walls in exchange for that portion Of
Quincy street required for the new Government
building. Tho proposition, then made for the
first timc, WIS laid before Congress in some-
what modified form, = bill being introduced BY
the Hon. c. B. Farwell for the simple donation
Of the ground to the city. Owing to the late day
at which it was presented, Congress adjourned
without taking any action upon it, and the old
pogt-ofico walls remained untouched, one III
dividul suggesting that they be left Us they
Yeto as perpetual memento Of the fire.
Thpn tho matter slopt for some time. The
Free Library found temporary quarters in the
,o1, (1tv Hs1 and in prarnrinc the D1ans f0r thu
"e" wy 11A 4.t4o' f1~to ss', =.
tbara Rnt tina Nfavor among others had never
: 49, ,o,,a ~ oocnr;no 10 noat-oeica
given up the nope OF securing tne poee-once
site, where tho Library conlo pe oetser ana
more cheaply provided for than anywhere
else, and on the 10th Of January,
.ne 1ia.p.' ~. - ranaat;an ~ tha n;roct-
cn anu Ine paala VI ra"aa n n1onae;t;an @ -
the Secretary OF the Treasury to exchange tho
old Bridewell lot for the site OF the poat-office
building. it being understood that it was the in
tention Of the Government to erect bonded
warehouse in Chicago, and the Brideweu
grounds being an excellent site therefor.
This scheme met with favor from the secre-
tary Of the Treasury, mho, On the 28th Of Janu-
ary, sont the following letter to the Chairman OF
the Committee on Buildings and Grounds Of the
srn: have the honor to transmit herewith com
proposition to exchange certain n1opsrty owned By
the School hoasa M e me ty o. - os ne od
ca a does nt at nressut
~ eracon n m Annraisers store 81 surrested in
tho COMMUNICATION but Is Of Tho opinion that It wiz
10 for the interests Of the to accept the
proposition Of the City Of Chicago inssnuch as the
remains of the oid woaa YOU oe o. y conaad
and nd bs e % s
formed that the and in question Is not only desirable
but IL rising In value It therefore appears to mo
that the interests Of tho Government would be Pro.
NOTED By an aocepance of that eheE; Submit m ntu
whicn, It appears 70 me, passso' WILL @ecoopnsn Luz
oes'seo eno' Wy aeopGP BoI1rurr1 secret.rv
m Ii, u.n,;+taa 5;~...os 49, e.orat.r7 -
+, tnp ~ ~. ~ ~. 70 ~; "
sne Aea1 IL w. - 1an5 3r;+ ~ reno,;Ga ~ tha
caso sne p.ece -, aauu ~ "t1n L1,dnrs ag
theloon a. sne G91neF M 81 ~ anu soe ~
1t1eess, ~ tue olty VI t4eao ;' ~ ~ y.
lanos tne properly ~ tne ocneo1 ~, unu ILL ~ sne
Fifth avenue, TIE dlherenco IN value between
sucn pieces OF lana 90 oe asce1la1neo ~ Gotn-
mlsalon TO CONSIST OF n'e persons, 1"o Of % WHOM
shall be appointed hy the secretary OF me Ireasu 81
T. ana tTo ny the m9nielpat aat9olltles o. sno
Clty OF chicago; ana me iour C9nmlseionsss 1t3
80 selected snail cnooae me n1th ana eaaE
upon the receipt OF the report OF n soch o, CON,
m1sslon OF ma]o111y tneneo1, ano ~ aPploeu
" tne seGsetal! o! ene 1teasuiy' .ae 1ta
ent q Inc uea s ss 9f ax rne ~ nt{ tbe ~ atbar Il
money tho difference 90 asce5tnnea " the value
OF said pieces Of land and that the money
when nay Do Ieqmrea 10 pay 1or @ tnae pr?pefsg KY
ig hereby appropriated out OF any money IN the
bs 5 sae Of nos ss to hp 1ned
States its jurisdiction over the property thus
by tn? ontea Stase .oe:hsF d Tue
rght to tat t or u any May asseas M saa lan1s OF
properly o. me onlteo e.ate1 tnat nay pe tnslg 1
On during tne time tnat ne me Unlteo States snaA
pc Or t1e 10 0Tber te Hn1re b. thu Hon
on the aisk o. 1ae "f Vas a
aa o. %e tba
states mani nave 70 Pay snoua %
'ftos and
tue concurrence OF the senate day oe1ore yester-
y1 AZ .ad Gn & 9S 5 q 3bsn the BE-
ouired @ to consumato % the transfer I but T the &C con- ~
cent ct the e md ta scsf s1 VII
srG Go7efnmsnt Or t9o eity upon the rsport Of
IT tbe Two pieces Of property viii be cstinatento
be about equal, that Of the post-ofice lot being