Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-27
The Savannah Post Office

It will be remembered that when ex-
Postmaster General James was on visit
to this city, short time since. he made
thorough inspection of our post office,
and as result expressed the opinion
that the present establishment was ga
disgrace to the city" and utterly made
quate to the necessities of city of the
commercial importance of Savannah.
After his return to Washington he also
wrote letter to Col. George R. Black,
our immediate Representative in Con-
gress, on the subject, in which he said ;
Il most earnestly believe that better
accommodations should be secured for
post Office purposes in that city (Ssvan-
nah), and with that end in view, have
directed thst careful inspector be sent
to investigate the matter more fully than
l was able to do while there. and report
TO the department for further action "
We also learn from Colonel Black, in a
letter dated on the oath instant. that the
inspector or special agent alluded to by
the late Postmaster General would prob
ably reach this city within the lapse of
one week.
We published few days ago Wash
ington special to the effect that Colonel
Black was taking great interest in this
matter, and had introduced bill in the
House of Representatives providing for
the direction and authorization of the
Secretary Of the Treasury, either to pur-
chase building for post Office purposes.
if a suitable one can be found already
erected in this city. or to purchase a site
upon which to build a suitable structure
for a post Office. This alternative form
was used by Colonel Black in accord
ance with the ideas expressed in petl-
ton to him from certain citizens of Sa-
vannsh regarding this matter.
1t would be far better in the end for
the government to pursue the plan last
mentioned in Colonel Blacks bill. To
purchase a building already erected, and
then to prepare it for the purpose of
post office, would be nearly as expensive
as to erect new building outright, while
it would never prove half so satisfactory
It would necessitate a considerable outlay
of money, which, after it was expended,
would result at best only in patched-up
Office, the inconvenience of which, and
its inadequateness for the purpose for
which it was designed, would be felt
more and more sensibly each year as our
city advanced in commercial importance.
On the other hand, if an appropriation
be made for the purchase of a site and
the erection of a building specially for
this purpose, such building would at
once prove an ornament to the city, a
credit to the government, and would, for
all time, be fully adapted to the wants of
our people.
The lease of the building at present
used as a post Office does not expire for
some time yet to come, and, bad as it is,
we can well stand its inconvenience
until such lease is up, if, in the mean
time, the government will construct such
a building as would be commensurate
with the postal requirements of our city.
We are convinced that this would be far
the most satisfactory and most prudent
course which could be pursued, and
hope that Colonel Black will continue to
urge it upon the Postmaster General and
Congress until such action is taken as is
shown, upon the evidence of the late
Postmaster General himself, to be not
only desirable but absolutely necessary.