Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-23
THE NE W POST OFFICE.

1t is an assured fact, as was announced in
The Phoenix last week, that Bratteboro is TO
have a new post Office with modern fittings
and arrangements. Negotiations toward this
end have been long in progress but though
all the department officials who came here
condemned the present quarters as unfit I'M
wholesome and inadequate, no advance seem
ed to be made, largely through the unwilling
ness Of the department to pay anything like
q remunerative rental for such quarters as
were demanded. Two weeks ago the whole
business seemed to bring up short with the
departments declaration that $500 was the
outside limit of rent which would be paid.
Upon this Postmaster Childs determined to
make a final and winning fort and left for
Washington, accompanied by Col. Haskns,
who had business to transact with the Attor
noy Generals department. Mr.. Childs seour-
ed an audience with Postmaster General Villas,
and by means of drawings and photographs
showed him the nature of the present quar-
tiers aud what could be be secured by the pro
posed change. lie also told him that the
town only asked for $500 rent for the room
to be occupied, with 10 per cent annually, on
IA five years lease, on the cost OF such fittings
az the department might require to be put in.
Mr. Villas at once saw the reasonableness OF
this said the change should be made, and
called his law clerk and had the whole thing
closed and put in writing on the spot. The
necessary documents have been exchanged
between the department aud the selcctmen,
aud work on the new quarters will begin at
an Early day.
The space to be occupied by the new office
il that on the north side OF the building now
occupied 10y the liquor agency and the vacant
room opposite the present post Office. The
partition aud vaults between the two will be
torn away, and another window put in. The
post eff % proper will occupy the space where
the vacant room now stands and the money
order flee and postmaster's private room
will be on the corner and west end. The re-
Gel ton and delivery Of the mail bags will be
at the side door. The details to the fittings
aud general arrangements will be left TO Chief
Inspector L igsrtun and Mr Ohilds. The
several firms which make specially Of post
office fixtures will doubtless put in bids. The
woodwork will probably be- of cherry, and
tue boxes, including 1000 or 100 lock boxes
and 300 or 400 call boxes, will be of the most
approved pattern. The new Office will be
handsome aud thoroughly modern through
out. 1t will probably be ready for occupa-
ton within three mouths.
For the time being the liquor agency will
probably he removed 10 the seltctmen's room
opposite. In the end it il likely to find q
place where the post Office now is.
The department viii undoubtedly require
some change aud Improvement in the present
teps and entrance 70 that they will not ut
least be dangerous TO life and limb. There
II some hope that along with this improve
meut the selectmen may their way clear
to the erection Of the balcony and new
trance which was described two or three
weeks ago. We feel sure that the town would
cordially endorse the selectmen in such a
movement. In this connection it il proper to
say that the seltctmen have delayed begin
ming work on the new lookup, partly because
the work would interfere with Q. +. Thomp-
son a Co. s building operations which are now
we'll advanced, aud partly because they had
an eye to the possibility Of a new post office be-
ing called for, and they knew that in such case
the stone from the vault which must be torn
out would save the purchase Of new for the
lock ur. Their course has proved wise one
and viii resul, ia a saving OF money for the
town.
1t il matter Of j istico to Gen. w. w.
Circuit the member Of Congress from this
district to say that from first to last he has
been active and earnest in his Efforts to help
Brattleboro to better post Office facilities.
While Mr.. Chlds was in Washington Gen.
Grout freely gave him his time and services
and it was largely through his efforts that Mr..
Chllds obtained hearing and favorable an
swer al the department.