National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-01-22
1t1EpLHes.

0ae Of lthe most obvious pscessitia Of
the times Is that which demands the speedy
completion of the public buildings now in
progress in this District. and the improve.
nent Of Others, In accordance with the
plans and estimates already submitted to
Congress. The new State, War and Nary
Departments should in, order to meet the
urgent Requirements Of these important
branches Il the. 0oEetnnent' be pushed
forward Is rapidly as possible, compatible
with the solidity and dar,b ility of the
work, and the enlargement Of the Post
Office Department b inperatiyely do
mandedo by the growing wants Of the postal
service. 80 : - . n,
II Is wen known that for yeazs past, h
many Of the ffail and insecure 6uildinga
appropriated TO the uaesof The Government
the most valuable publae records have been,
as they stu are. lexposedi - dsmase and
loss. and that the Goseznment. has been
paying. as II now s. Mrge AMOUNTS for the
rental q ,bnpdiigp Which. howeSer wea
adapsed To. private pup oses, ase utterly I'm.
fitted fbr NE public discs to wliich they are
applied Alithese great dansersandheayy
expenses would be obyiased at once by. the
completion and improvement Of the public
Misunderstanding tothe designs presented
by the Supervising Architect Of the Treas
ury.57s :as-l45F - I5'-.,, , NIL. /. -2a i.ic
More Office room must be obtained for the
growing necessities Of the public service,
and therefore these must, sooner or later,
be completed or enlarged. The supervising
architect has submitted his plans and est.
mates. for the various works, in compliance
with Executive suggestion and Congress
ional requirement ,. Under the plea Of
economy. it is proposed to cut down the
estimates, throw hundreds Of mechanics
and laborers out of employment, and thus
retard the prosecution of work absolutely
demanded by every consideration Of public
necessity and convenience. 1t is idle tc
suppose that the work can be properly exc
cuted II the appropriations called for by the
estimates are reduced Entire suspension
would be matter Of doubtful economy.
Works in progress would inevitably suffer
injury, from neglect and exposure, while
those alterations and improvements in con-
temptation will be found 3, much larger
economy in their execution than in theil
postponemcnt. The true policy in the
erection Of. public buildings is to make ap.
preparations large enough to complete
them, and to construct such rs are required
by the wants of the times, with an eye to
the future as far as possible.
1t is confidently believed that the resus-
citation of business and consequent recnper.
alton of the revenues will fully justify Con-
gress in approrriating for these purposes
the full amounts estimated as necessary.
Under these circumstances there would
seem to be no reasonable excuse for the de-
lay or postponemcnt Of tho work. The val
liable archives Of the Stste. Navy and
War Departments are constantly exposed
to destruction which will cease to menace
them when removed to the new fire proof
structure in course of construction to re-
ceive them. Many Of our postal records
are scarcely less important. These are
being scattered about in undesirable, de-
tachcd and unsafe quarters for lack of room
in the Post Office building. VIII Congress
take these facts into consideration? s..