Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-06-15
PROPOSED EXCHANGE
Weinstock & Lubin Want the New Post
nffice Site for a Store

Weinstock & Lubin Want the New Post
Office site for Store.
Messrs. Weinstock & Lupin have for
some time been trying to secure suitable
site for new store building, and have so
far been unsuccessful. They have there
fore decided to ascertain if they cannot eff
feet an exchange of their property, at the
corner of Fourth and X streets, for the
Government property at Seventh and K.
Having sounded g number of business men
on the proposition, Mr.. Lubin yesterday
made the following statement TO reporter
of the Bee
YES" he said, there is considerable
truth in the statement you refer to- Our
firm has built up big business here in
Sacramento, and, unlike many others who
have made money here, felt a desire TO
erect monument for ourselves in the place
that had seen our success, by putting up a
handsome business block, and Incidentally
enlarging our business and employing
number of more people. We have on our
payroll to-day $50 people, but this is
slack time. Before the holidays we had
346. If we had better quarters, we could
use to advantage at once 1O0 more people
and in busy times 200 more than under
present circumstances.
We have even considered plans for
new building. One idea you see in this
SKETCH as he called attention to pencil
drawing That called for building f6O
by 100, of three high stories, surmounted
by very high dome, 10 be made largely of
iron and glass. In the center of the build
ing, under the dome, was to be an open
courtyard surrounded by arched walks
with pOrtierres opening into the various de.
partments OF the store. This was only one
of many plans. All of those considered
called for a site of 100 feet square, on a cor
ner.
Now our firm was incorporated some
time ago, and the Board of Directors have
decided to take no step in the purchasing
Of any real estate or erecting building
unless by unanimous consent. As regards
location for the new store there was but
one Director who would consent to build
ing on our present site. First, because il
would be weIl-nigh impossible to conduct
business and at the same time build around
and above Us building of the kind we de-
sire. Again, because in many wears TO
come this location will be too far down
town for anything but wholesale bust |
ness. All even agreed that a location up |
town would be preferable for our purpose. |
We have been trying for year past to |
get site, and expected, of course, TO pay |
something more than the property is worth !
but we have so far been unable TO get any, |
thing, unless we pay higher price than is |
asked Tor property IN San Francisco. Our /
last effort was to negotiate for l60x1GO on |
the s}Uthe8st conner Of Seventh and X /
The price asked however is $4,000, or
$1,000 front foot, while understand that |
before IL was known that we wanted the |
property il could have been had for about !
one half the amount, and no takers: while |
the Government secured just opposite 100 ,
feet frontage, running back to the alley tor
less than $4,000
Since you ask the question, I will say
candidly that we are a little discouraged.
We Will not, Of course, pay any such sum
as that asked, and, it We did, il would not
benefit the city much, since our building
capital would be reduced to such an extent
that it wOuld not be advisable for Us to put
up building for four or five years. If we
fail to get q size, there are but Two things
left for rs 10 do, since we viii not build at !
Fourth and K. We must either plod along
il our present unsatisfactory quarters or /
move TO san Francisco, where $25O000 will |
give Us a good building in a desirable locs-
ton. We would have there the further ad. /
vatage that i big building is always mar /
ketabie, while here it is not
we have decided, however, 10 make one /
last effort for 8 site here and il is to offer /,
to exchange with the United States Govern |
AiAN-At bAta ATeS'tlG ,4tC ltl tLtL At CGEEilll
and X, which has been purchased for the /
new Government building. The Govern /
lnsnt has there 100 feet fronting on K and !
running back to the alley 1+g feet. We
have only l20 feet front bat We have fun !
100 feet III depth, and would willingly pay
any cash difference because Of excess front /
age received that Commission would de- /
eide upon We would also clear our pres
ent site for ne Government, and would /
necessarily have 10 put up our new build |
ing at once ana ger into it, 80 as 10 clear |
our present site.
The change would be Of marked benefit, /
! think, TO everyone, 1t would, OF course. |
give Us the site which otherwise ] fear, We /
will not get in Sacramento. Il VIII be Of /
undoubted advantage TO Sacramento CITY,
since il viii secure at once the erection
here of building larger aud finer than any /
now here, SAVING the Capitol and new
Cathedral. Il should be welcomed by /
property in the vicinity of Seventh |
ana K, since it will not only give them /
fine building but viii establish there q store (
which is now visited daily by from 1000 /
TO 10000 people, while perhaps not 100 viii |
go 10 the PCstottiCe. Property in /
the lower part OF town should be equally |
delighted, since 1t Will give them q hand /
some Government building where now |
there are no attractive buildings save the I
new bank in course of erection al Fourth /!
and J. 1t win please all the wholesale |
merchants, for il will locate the Postoiiice /
just where they all wanted It, and where il |
w0uld have been placed by the Commits |
sion, had they been able 10 get anything |
like a low bid from the prOperty-owners !
IN g city where all mail is delivered the
PC2tolHce is visited alm5st exclusively by
the business houses, and their convenience
is always consulted IN placing IT,
'It would seem, therefore, that the
change would be an advantage 10 everyone,
and should meet with no opposition
Whatever the merchants and citizens gen
orally desire in the nature Of n change that
will cost the Federal exchequer nothing,
Uncle Sam will doubtless agree TO- You
can sag for our firm that We make this
offer in perfect good faith, and ask for its
serious consideration. l have already men,
toned it casually to a number of prom
inen- citizens, and ! have failed as yet to
discover one who IS not enthusiastically
in favor Of it."