The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-30
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THE OLD POST OFFICE PROPERTY TO BE PUR-
CHASED AND A HANDSOME EDHIcE ERECTED.
Judging from present indications and INDUCING
hope that Congress az It's next session will pass
law which was pending in the House last win
ter, 1t is fair TO expect tnat before long the Cham
Der OF Commerce VIII have suitable building.
Since the purchase OF the present Custom House
by the government the Chamber has been
cramped into very narrow confines, owing to the
fact that an available site could not be obtained
for building purposes. 1t is now proposed TO pur-
chase from the government the site OF the old Post
once and erect thereon an elegant building for
the accommodation OF the merchants OF
New York, that element OF the community
which provides so great an amount
OF the governments revenue. Every other city
OF any commercial Importance has merchants
exchange, where, throughout the dav, the COM
mercial men meet and barter The want OF such
an institution in New York has long been felt
and is now to be provided for. There are other
reasons than the one that the old Post once site
is q convenient one which have Influenced the
Chamber oil Commerce in selecting it, 1t may be
remembered that in 1s60-when Mr.. Buchanans
Postmaster General, Aaron V. Brown, was In
charge OF the New York otfce-the lease given to
the general government by the trustees OF the
old Dutch church ednce and the ground was put
up at auction. Previous to this 1t mad been Of
an appropriation OF 100000 Tor the p1r-
chase or that or some other site. NO
S csnse trustees you'd nO sell ne
less than q quarter OF q million. Mr.. Brown, see
ing himself IN helplessly awkward position, went
10 the Chamber OF commerce and explained mat
ters. He told the members OF the Chamber that II
the Post ONCE site was not purchased imme-
dtatey the chance would be lost, as tae trustees
would not Eold the offer open long enough tonave
the incoming Congress vote an additional $4,000
The Chamber promised to consider the matter,
and Mr.. Brown went away In the nope that the
Chamber would assist him. AS the result proved,
he justified In the hope, for In lew days the
members Of the Chamber voted the additional
$50 900 and the site was purchased. From me time
or the purchase until now the place has been
used by the government as general city post
once. On the LIST OF September next Postmaster
James says he IS going to desert the old church
for his handsome quarters IN the new bdildlng
get the property as soon as possible, Efforts Will
be made early In the winter TO have the bill
passed, ordering the general government to sell
them the premises. In the bill which Congress Is
asked TO passed IL Is sought to have the govern
ment sell the property to the Chamber for the
same amount OF money as was PAID Tor it Ia 1860,
she purchase 10y the Chamber, which
now remains as lien on the properly.
1t is proposed, should the bill pass, TO erect an
elegant and commodious building. the first floor
OF which Will be used as q merchants exchange.
Up stairs q large hail Will be reserved as meet
ing room each firm being provided with q desk
the desks 10 be arranged alter the manner OF those
in the House OF Representatives. There will be
large library, ana me recently created Court OF
apartments. Tne money to build the proposed
ednce has already Deen promised, and $1,O0000o
could be raised IN the Chamber on very short
notice.
The committee having charge OF the matter is
composed OF Messrs. Low, Dodge and Opdyke, and
It is expected tnat at the next meeting OF the
Chamber, which takes places IN the middle OF Oc-
tober, the committee Ill be increased and ctive
operations 70 have the bill passed begun.