Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-16
row GOVERNMENT IS SERVED

It is often made manifest that private IN
dividual can get work done more quickly,
and in most cases far more cheaply, than the
great United States Government can. Long
ago efforts were made to secure reform IN the
postoffice accommodations in this city, but
years passed by without any results. Inc
Office is one of the most important IN the
country. and its accommodations ought to be
the very best. On the contrary, they are OF
the poorest class, and would hardly be toler-
ated at a crossroads. II Postmaster Hop
ping was not the most patient of men thered
been trouble before this about the way in
which Uncls Sans postal representatives, in
Sacramento are treated. Some months ago q
special agent came here and saw the neces-
sity of reform, and reported SO vigor
ously that the Department. at Wash
ington rubbed its sleepy eyes and awoke
to the truth. The result was an ask
ing for bids for better quarters. Several
excellent propositions were Immediately
submitted for more eligible locations at much
less rental cost, and with guarantees to con-
struct the office to the full satisfaction of the
Postmaster. The landlord of the present
premises saw his bonanza was in danger,
came to taw and bid level with the lowest
and agreed to make all the changes neces-
sary. Accordingly a contract was closed at
Washington with the old landlord at the re.
duced rate and the enlarged promise, and April
1st the new rental began. The reforms were
contracted in writing to be made at once-so
at least it was understood here. A VISIT TO
the Postoffi :e Saturday was made to see now
the work progressed, when 10 1t developed
that nothing has yet been done. Inc ola
dark and dingy rooms are still there. SO are
the old boxes, the old stink and the old
nuisances of the building generally. The
gentlemen connected with the office are nat
urally disposed to say little about 1T, but
enough is known to make it certain that any
householder in the city. able and under con.
tract to make like repairs, would have had
the whole work done by this time, but
the United States Government Is nobody,
and everybody may snub it. Reporters have,
notwithstanding TIE reticence OF the Post
office force, been enabled to ascertain that
for vile drainage, fearful stenches and blood
poisoning vapors the Postotfice building can
take the top pancake every time. 1t is now
lust twenty years since efforts began to have
the Postoffice building made decently habit
able and rendered reasonably safe to the
health of the postal employees, and for twenty
years the efforts have failed. The foul va
pors that prevail beneath, in and about the
place are certified by physicians to have
caused the death of one Of Sacramento's best
and most lamented citizens, the late Post
master, George Rowland, and others have
suffered from the foul closets, drains, i'll ven
tilation and general neglect of the place. The
landlord is Mr. Bailey, of New FORK, who
lives next door to Senator Conkling,
and stupid people have the boldness
to suspect that that has something to
do with Mr. Bailey's having things pretty
much his own way, and putting off the re-
pairs at last forced on him until the hot
weather has set in, when the tearing up of
the old shebang, old citizens say, will scatter
typhoid fever enough to kill half the work
men who venture to cleanse the place and
rectify its drains and vaults. There are other
stupid people who believe, and openly speak
their convictions, that the public will not. af
ter all, get the inclosed lobby, the Yale
lock boxes, and all the other reforms ordered,
and they say that as Mr. Bailey has had more
rent out of Uncle Sam now for the old shell
than it is worth at highest valuation, he will
hang on to the good thing to the last. In
quiry has developed the facts thus stated |;
also that Mr.. Hamilton was named as the
architect, to superintend the repairs, and did
draw plans that Sweetser Il Alsip are the
agents, but have not been supplied by the
landlord with the money to make the repairs
that the second months rental has been en-
tered On, and nothing actually done as agreed.
All these things any one can hear debated at
Postoffice corner any day, and all the sweet
smelling Vapors can be realized by any one
who happens around just before the New
York landlord sprinkles the eIiodical disin-
fectants found necessary.