Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-12
I'd Edition.
THE GENERAL P. O. BUILDING,
LETTER OF POSTMASTER GENERAL HOWE
CHRISTINA TAYLOR CONVICTED OF MURDER
GUITEAU AND THE SCOVILLES
Need Of More Room for the Post Office
Department..


Department..
LETTER OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL TO SENATOR
ROLLINS.
The Postmaster General In response to a request
from Mr.. Rollins, the chairman OF the Senate COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds, sent the
latter to-day letter In reference to the needs of
the city post office and additional rooms for the
Post Office department. In his letter Mr.. Rollins
states that the committee have been considering
whether 1t would not be most advisable to take
the whole square west OF the general Post Office
building, which would furnish room in the base
nenTstory 1or the city post office and ample room
The Postmaster General states that the money
order oce Will be provided for by the erection Of
the new building at the corner Of sth and streets.
In regard TO the present necessity OF q new city
post office building the report of the inspectors is
submitted, showing that there Is Immediate neces-
office or that the lessees Of the building be re-
CURED sass to strengthen and secure It The
repairs upon it there is no reason, in my opinion,
offce. II this is not done, Congress should take
immediate action looking to the procurement OF
suitable 9s and safe accommodations for the clerks
nent accommodations for the city post ONCE,
many plans have been suggested, both as to
ad e thn The two sites
city post ONCE building; and second, one in the
Pennsylvania avenue northwest SO far as
1.tte have ec.+ been o,, able to Judge; the
Of he cyHens Of 9e o district Y
gresS should conclude to put up permanent post
Office building in the neighborhood Of 18th and
sldered is, whether the government now owns
proper site in that locality for the purpose second
whether it is obliged purchase Site it can get
one which will not Oblige 1T to have its building
contiguous to the buildings OF private owners. Il
seems to me that the true policy for the govern
coming co-tenants with private owners in the
same square. Another consideration is whether
IT. VIII be better to have the city post office placed
or officers OF the government On this
point POI t, ! IT, beg to refer you to the let,
Should the committee and Congress decide that
site In the neghbOrhoOd OF nth street and the ave-
nue. Is not the preferable One and that the reasons
same building with other offices are not insuper-
aoe anen am Of tine opinion that the
po ce Wt IN y1dr e1'er 20 s
for this department in building to be erected on
the square west of the present gneral post Office
building should be favorably considered" The
letter then states that before the square
could be purchased and building begun five
years at least will have passed. and two years be-
department. require immediate relief, and sin this
view OF the case have the honor to recommend
sns p BY Congress- at its present SEES
pense OF placing one or two additional stories upon
the present Post Office building. Whether
one or more stories should be added
VIII depend upon the following consideration:
have In my possession two plans-one made
some years ago by former supervising architect
OF the Treasury, Mr.. Mulett, and one recently and
voluntarily made by MeSSrs. Smithmeyer & Pelz,
each contemplating an enlargement OF the post
office building. The former plan could not
be carried out unless the present
building were taken down to its first story,
and from that point built anew. do not believe
that this Is practicable, as temporary quarters
would have to be provided for the clerks, and do
not advise that 1t should be done. The other plan
c0ntempateS the elevation OF an attic of story
and a half upon the entablature OF the present
building. This plan proposes to add IS rooms for
clerks, containing about 600 feet OF space and
80 fle-rooms, containing 5000 feet OF space. The
or S30oOUo, and can be completed within year
after the appropriation becomes available"
He suggests that some design for the purpose OF
charging the post Office building be selected
which Will not neceSState the demolition of any
portion OF the present structure. He suggests, as
a measure OF economy, the purchase of the square
west OF the Post Office department. building at the
present ple, as 1t viii eventually have to be pur-
chased. He recommends, in closing, that the city
post office be Immediately relieved of the existing
hardships; that an appropriation be made for
Building an additional story upon the General Post
once building; that Congress purchase the square
west or that building, provided the same can be
obtained at a reasonable cost.
letter from City Postmaster Anger accompa-
MED the report, in which he recommended that
SEPARATE building be provided for the city post
Office.