National Republican., 1885-02-13
THE NEW posroTF1oE SITE.

Another Proposition Submitted to the
House CommIttec-Tho Report of
the Senate Committee In Favor OF
the LoDroit Square.
1t was understood that the house COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds
would, at its meeting yesterday, consider
the question of site for postotiice for
this city. No attention was, however,
given to the subject othor than hearing
accorded to Mr. James L. Barbour and
other owners Of the square upon which
the present rented office is situated, who
offered tho ground occupied by the
seaton building, one lot cast Of IL and west
Of that to the corner of Louisiana avenue
and street 10000 feet) for S2iI0OO
Upon this could DO erected building
sufficient to accommodate
THE CITY PosToFFIcE ALONE
at cost Of Sj0O,0O0
One member of tho committee who had
visited tho spot for the first time that
morning expressed himself very foroibly
against IL as u site for tho now building
The sentiment of the committee is un-
doubtedly in favor of square 406, but no
I
bill being in a better condition for action
than new one would be.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE,
in voicing its views on the matter, saws
that considering tho singular relations
of the city postoihce in the discharge of
| its functions in respect to the dead letter
business with the postoffice department,
and in view of tho long standing and
rapidly growing demand for greatly in
creased accommodations there, as ur-
| gently set out by tho present head of that
| department, and as well by several of tho
postmastors general who have preceded
| him, aud of the sufficient fitness of the
| location for tho city postoilice, the ad-
mittod necessity for an enlargement of
the postollice department building, which
cannot much longer be deferred, the
purchase now of this square is the step
| to be taken.
The acquisition of this square, which
contains 10000 square feot, would, 1t
adds, enable the government to close and
INCLUDE THAT PORTION OF EIGHTH
STREET
| lying between it and the square on
which the present department building
stands, and would add $4,000 square feet
more available ground, and secure an
even frontage on + street with that Of
the interior department building. 1t is
not believed that any site of sufficient
ground for building suitable to tho pur-
pose equally eligible in respect to the
location can be had for any price rela-
lively so favorable.
The postoflico department is now pay
ing an annual rental of $500 for outside
buildings, for one on square No. I06, in
cluded in the proposed purchase, $4,000,
and for the city postotlice q rental Of
| $4,000.
AT A COST OF S6i0,000
the government would acquire piece OF
property which it is admitted 1t must
have Mt no distant day, and at = cost now
much below any figure the future is most
likely to fix as the fair price. 1t would
at once save rental of Sl4,5 and Sc
cure, without further cost Tor rent, suf-
ficient and better accommodations than
can be had elsewhere for the city post
office during the timo which would bo
taken anywhere for the construction of
q building for that purpose.
BESIDES THE SAVING OF $1i,500,
the government would derive q rental of
$2l,7i0 from the remaining property of
the square, exclusive Of that valued at
$4,000, which pays no rent. This, added
to the saving Of Sl4,500, would be equiva-
lent to an income Of $32 240 per annum,
equal to full 8 per cent. upon the invest
ment, the entire cost of tn square. The
property of tho square, exclusive OF that
which pays no rent, now yields an income
of Si3240.