The morning news., 1888-12-16
THE PUBLIC BUILDING SITE.
What the Additional Purchas, of
Ground is For.

Is Il OA-
The Washington special in the MORNING
NEWS Of yesterday, announcing that the
government, at Congressman Norwoods
instance, will buy additional ground west
Of and adjacent to the present site Of the
proposed public building at York and Aber-
corn streets, was very agreeably received
by the people.
When the original plans for the postoffics
were submitted to Postmaster Lamar he
saw at once that they were wholly made
quate to the wants of a rapidly growing
city, rs with the rule applied to
government buildings, it is necessary to re-
serve forty feet of vacant space west of the
proposed building, and if this were done,
there would be no room for needed addi-
tions. These additions Capt. Lamar set
forth very fully in his letter which accom-
PANEL the plans when the latter wero re-
turned to the treasury department, and
which he gave in Substance in an interview
in the MORNING NEWS at the time. The
necessity of a covered way for the receipt
and discharge of mails, with modern facili-
ties for handling them, and an enlarged
area for the postoAice proper, were all
recommended by Capt. Lamar; and that
these might be added, he recommended the
purchase of the adjoining lot. Mr.. Nor
wood seconded the postmaster in his
|
tional grJund will pass into the gov
ernments possession at an early date.
Capt. Lamar in an interview lsst night
was inclined to think that the addition
should not be delayed. lie says that the
business of the Savannah postoflice has al
most doubled since he first assume! ella se
OF the office. He cited the fact chat the
sales OF stamps in October were nearly
81, 500 greater than i'll October last year,
md hot ba.a a Iaaty rroi lo ct nrttr
over the corresponding month last year.
He was given an additional clerk for six
weeks during what was considered the busy
season, but he says that the volume of
business is as great now as it was when he
had the extra clerical help. Yesterday
there were about sixty money orders sent
out requiring duplicate papers to be made
and last night the. surplus for the day
amounting to s., GOO was forwarded to the
depository in New York. When Capt.
Lamar went into office he had bat seven
carriers, now he has eighteen, and that is
not one to many. His clerical force is over
worked, and having experienced the detri-
ment Of working in crowded quarters, he
felt it incumbent upon him to poiLt on: tie
necessity of the government making ample
provision in the construction of a new build
ing (which is not for to-day, but for 100
years to comen
Deputy Collector OF Customs Mar
maduke Hamilton, who is the owner
of the ground which the govern
ment proposes to purchase, was seen
last night. Mr.. Hamilton says that while
he has received no Official notice of the in
tentions of the government, he looks upon
the telegram from Washington as the re-
suit Of pending negotiations. Mr. Hamilton
says that the government has had the re-
fusal of the property for some time, and
when Mr.. Norwood was at home last month,
that gentleman asked him to leave the offer
open until a conference could be had with
the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr.
Norwood was very anxious to have
the site enlarged, and as Mr.. Hamilton con-
templated improving the property, Mr..
plans until be could go before the treasury
department and press his recommendations
in person. This, Mr.. Hamilton says, he
thinks the congressman has successfully
done.
Mr.. Hamilton says that the lot has
frontsge on York street of 72 feet 6 inches,
running back to the lane. He says that
there will be no trouble about the titles,
and he predicts that the governments at
torney will not want more than morn
ing's" examination to satisfy himself of its
being unclouded 1t was gran ed to the
Bottoms by the King of England,
and has decended in direct line, passing
through very few hands since the original
transfer. BY the additional purchase OF the
Harnilton lot, the COVE lment viii have
purchased four lots, or 240 feet, for So, ,000,
saving $4,000 under the $4,000 estimate
for the site 70. the building.