Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-13

OF THE MALONE BILL.
The following is the report of the Senate COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds which
accompanied the bill for purchase of square 400,
in this city, for post office site, passed In the
Senate yesterday:
The committee on public buildings and
grounds have had under consideration the
selection OF site for, and the construction OF,
Washington, Is. C., and report in support OF the
bill they offer covering the subject:
l. That the need for such a public building is
immediate, and by every consideration is de-
manded. The poor, unhealthy, and insufficient
accommodations Of the present rented building
Tor the purpose and the termination of the lease
or the same ali coplbtne TO urge action upon the
subject. The rapid growth OF the city aud the
improved character and style OF the private resi-
dences and business houses which striklngly
mark the progress and adorn every street aud
avenue OF the city are more than suggestive OF
public duty in this respect. Here, at the cap
ital OF the nation, IT would seem fittingly in
cumbent upon the government to give tone,
inspiration, and direction, by example, TO
II. That in view of our improved and i'm
proving postal service, and the system by which
no one resident of any city, where carriers are
employed, need scarcely TO visit the post office,
the question of location Is no longer OF para
mount consideration.
III. That considering the singular relations
or the city T. post ose In the disehase Of Its
with the Post Office department, and In view OF
the long standing and rapidly growing demand
1ol. kiCdils luCTcStStu tLtFt,
urgently set out by the present head OF that de-
partment, and as well by several OF the Post
masters General who have preceded him, and
OF the sufficient fitness of the location for the
city post office the admitted necessity for an
enlargement of the Post Office department
building which sannot much Longer be de
corner OF F and Sth streets, is the step to be
taken. The acquisition OF this square, whicS
contains 80, 600 square feet. would enable the
government to close and include that portion of
Sth street lying between ii and the square on
which the present department building stands,
and would add 25,OOO square feet more avail
able ground, and secure an even frontage on +
street with that of the Interior department
building 1t is not believed that any site OF suffi
cient ground for building suitable TO the pur-
pose equally eligible in respect TO location can
be had for any price relatively SO favorable.
annual rental of So 800 for outside buildings for
one on square No. 4O6, Included in the proposed
purchase, p, 900, and for the city post-Dfiice a
rental of IS 900, the lease of which expired De
cember Is, 1854. The LeDroit building COW
cred by the purchase, would ii is believed, quite
well answer all the purposes of a city post-oftce
during the construction OF such enlargement of
the Post-Office Department building covering
suitable provision for the city post-office), may
now be demanded by the confined and over
crowded affairs of that department, all in con-
Ormity with such general plan for the extern
sion and enlargement OF the Post-Office Depart
ment building as shall comprehend the future
growth, orderly and efficient conduct OF the bus
mess OF that department of the Government.
Nv. That at d cost of 5000 you acquire a
pAsCe "a WHICH Ill IL CrON-
eminent must have at no distant day, and at a
cost now much below any figure the future is
most likely TO fix as the fair price for square 400.
The Government at once saves rental OF
$4,000, and secures, without further cost for
rent, sufficient and better accommodations than
can be had elsewhere for the city post-office dur
ing the time which would be taken any where
for the construction OF a building for that pur-
pose. Besides the saving OF Sill. 800, the Gov
eminent would derive q rental Of S2l, T4o from
the remaining property OF the square, eXclusi &c
OF that valued at S3S, 900, which pays no rent.
This, added to the saving of ST., 500, would be
equivalent to an income of 49,, 24O per annum,
equal TO full per cent. upon the investment,
the entire cost Of the square. The property Of
the square, exclusive Of that which pays no rent,
now yields an income Of $43,2IO.