The Wilmingtonian., 1886-10-30
The New Post Office.

mayor hhoads suggestion OF a barter De
tween the United States government and oul
municipality of the present site of the Fed
eral buildings and the City Hall property is
in many respects an excellent one, and but
for the inadequacy of the appropriation
would be altogether the best suggestion yet
made. But the City Hall property is i'm
mensely more valuable. OF course no fig
ures can be given as neither of the lots are
taxed and therefore no assessment figures
are shown.
For the City, the trade, if possible of con-
summation, would be the most desirable
thing. Everything in regard to our munich
pal office arrangements require reconstruc-
tion and re arrangements. The various civic
departments are scattered around in most
laughably sporadic state. They should be
under one roof and the different offices COM
municable without having on each occasion
when information is needed to run out OF
doors around one corne- and the other The
telephone facilitates matters to certain ex-
tent but it is not at all times judicious nor
sufficient to communicate by that method.
Were the suggestion referred to given ser
ious consideration it would be necessary to
include the Saville building in the proposed
purchase which would increase the pay
ments by some 500 900 probably.
The City Hall lot would afford three ex
celent fronts to the new public building,
and offers advantages not excelled by ahy
others of the S tes spoken of.
There is another point. The sense of pub
lie deceney has long been outraged by the
oft seen pictures of unfortunate humanity
male and female, whom the unlelenting
clutches of the law find it necessary to pa
rade upon our chief business avenue. The
sight is too often a ,repulsive and degrading
one. These conditions are ascribable to the
the chain gang is escorted by the back way
leading out on King street, itself alto
gether too public thoroughrare for these
purposes.
Reading, city of minor Importance to
Wilmington receives an appropriation of
$3.50, 600, and that for a Post Office alone,
while our city has to crowd the whole group
of its State Federal offices into the same
building and get only $150,00O! Without
any conceit whatever Wilmington, the met.
ropolis Of Delaware, and second to none as
shipbuiding and manufacturing centre
with all that that implies OF future growth
in wealth aud expansion deserves much more
consideration from Congress.
Here, for instance, to prove the national
prominence Of Wilmington, let US quote the
matter of an accidental conversation between
Mr.. Watson tho great Clyde iron yacht con
structor and a New York Herald reporter on
the occasion, Monday last of the Scotch
builders hurried return to Glasgow "a
cloud of black smoke was rolling from the
chimneys of tile Umbria soon to sail, when
a Herald reporter walked up the gaugplank
and received cordial greeting from Mr..
Watson.
Eyes am really sorry that AN going SO
soon," he said in response to a question.
"MIy visit has more than met my expecta-
tions in the way of seeing wonders and re-
ceiving hospitality. The more ones sees of
America the more he wants to see the rest
of the wonders it has to offer.
"You bave not had time to see all the
crack yachts and the various shipyards -
mo. | intended to visit HeIreshoff' Is
works and go to Wilmington, besides seeing
| all there was to see of interest around New
York, but found it simply impossible to
do so in the limited time at my Command. p
Wilmingtonians can appreciate. the disrinc.
tion paid us by the Clyde builders. Green.
ock, on the Clyde, is the greatest iron shin
building centre in the world, and when Viii
mington is specially and singularly referred
to no further compliment need be looked for,
| 1t is not alone however in the branch of bus
mess that our city is prominent. In other
impOItant industries we ara second to none
in the county.
| hp "a Df -,
make an outlay Of only 500, 900 Or so upon
our Federal BLldingS. We have to build
for the future.