Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-05

1886 there began to be movement
made towards soliciting from Con-
press an appropriation for suitable
building in which all of the offices OF
the United States might be placed.
The movement gradually grew in force
until on January 26th, 1856, the B ard
of Trade issued petition, which was
for warded to Washington, and which
set up the needs of the city in the fol-
lowing language:
To the Honorable Members of the Sen
ate and House of Representatives IN
Congress Assembled:
The Los Angeles Board of Trade re-
spectfully presents the following petit
ton upon the subject of appropria-
tions for the erection OF Government
building, and asks a thoughtful and
serious consideration on the part OF
your honorable bodies on this, to us,
important question, for the following
reasons: =,
First The Los Angeles Board OF
Trade consists Of 149 members, repre-,
senting the wealth, intelligence and
enterprise of our mercantile commu-
nifty, whose own interests are best sub
served by the advancementa and growth
of our whole section. =.
Second. The Los Angeles Board OF
Trade, as individuals and as an or
gapization, endeavurs at all times to
add the weight of its influence to any
and all efforts on the part of our peo-
pie to promote their material interests
and welfare.
Third. In presenting to Congress
this petition for appropriations for
Government building, the Los An
geles Board of Trade desires to say
that it voices the unanimous senti-
ments of the citizens of Los Angeles
city and county. This Board be-
lieves that, if the statistics and
other information embodied in
this petition were given the weight
their Importance demands, they must
afford Congress convincing proof OF
the rapid growth and increasing pros
perity of this section of California,
and our right to come before Congress
with request for share of the ex-
penditures made for public improve
ments. We feel confident that our
development into one Of the richest
sections of the country deserves intel
ligent and favorable action at the
hands of the government.
Upon this question the people OF
this county are unit. In furnishing
the following information relative to
the several government offices in this
city this board wishes to impress upon
Congress the desirability of the erec-
ton of building suitable to the
needs OF those offices.
We believe that the necessity Is so
patent that Congress will not allow
the present session to expire without
making suitable provisions for that
purpose. Such building should be
creditable to the Government and
commensurate with the present and
growing prominence that this section
Of the State is assuming, and de-
signed to meet the rapidly increasing
requirements of all the Government
offices here. Procrastination in this
respect would be false economy and
would eventually prove expensive.
Real estate, year by year, even month
by month, is advancing in value, and
while to-day a site suitable for such q
building may be had at a comparative
ly low price, it is. safe to assume that
one or two years hence it will be worth
from one-third to one-half more. In
no respect will anything be gained
by delay. Eventually the Government
will be compelled to have a building
here, and this Board asserts, posi-
lively, that the present is the time fol
its construction.
The building is needed for the fol.
lowing Offices: United States Dis
trict Court, Post Office, Revenue Office
and Land Office.
UNITED STATES PosToFFICE.
Upon this subject this Board OIL
Trade will say that that the accommo.
dations now furnished by the Govern
ment are so inadequate to the volume
of business transacted that the Los
Angeles Postoffice has become by
word and a reproach. When, years
ago the Government leased the quar-
ters now occupied, they we're to all
intents and purposes large enough
for the business done at that
time, but so rapidly has our
permanent population grown, and in
such numbers has the transient popu-
1ation come in upon us, that the ia
cilities then sufficient for all purposes
are now inadequate. The rooms used
by the working force are so small
SO poorly ventilated and so lily suited
to the proper handling of the mail
that it is cause Of astonishment to
most of our people that the service is
performed at all. 1t is impossible
for the office here, efficient and thor.
ough as it is, to give the city the mail
service it demands, and until the
Government takes the matter in hand
and provides suitable quarters for the
Postoffice, the patience OF our COM
munity will be severely tested.
UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE
This Office, after the Postoffice, is
next in importance to our people
The rapid increase in the cultivation
of the vine, is producing correspond
ing increase in the manufacture Of
wines and brandies, and as a natural
result increased revenue to the gov.
ernment. Other classes of business
from which the government derives a
large income are constantly multiply.
ing, keeping pace with the increase
Of population and the natural exten-
sion OF trade.
There never has been since the or.
eanization of Revenue district here
= Government office for the transac.
tion of the business of this depart
ment except where the Collector may
have hired room and paid the rent
out OF his own resources. And at this
date the Deputy Collector has really