Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-28
T-0FFICE HOME.
RETURN FROM TEMPORARY QUAR-
TIERS TO MAIN STREET.
The Government Building Rcoccupied
aud Business rninter-
rupied.

remodeling and charging the MaIn-street
building has been going on, and for the last
twelve months il was found necessary TO
secure temporary quarters for the post
Office while their old ones were being rear
ranged and refurnishcd. During this pc
Rod the Office was conducted In the Snyder
building. at the northwest corner of Cary
and Eleventh streets, the second foor OF
that capacious cdifce serving ample pur-
pose. and the entrance TO II being from the
alley in the rear of Levy & Dayis's dry goods
house.
REMOVAL.
The contract for removal Of such OF the
old material az was needed in the Govern
ment building WAS awarded 20 Mr.. Geryas
Storrs, who for the small sum of r15 under
took the entire work ana did II very well
and promptly. too.
The first articles removed were the
heavy iron safes belonging 70 the register
ed-lotter and mOnCy-Order divisions ana 10
the Office Of Assistant Postmaster Jenkins.
After these were brought up and put IN
place the wagons were loaded down with
great variety of miscellaneous articles, and
until u o'clock last night the new-old post
Office was the sccue Of what seemed to be
great deal Of confusion, but what really
was the bringing of order out OF ehoas.
COMPARISON.
Taken as a whole the large room in the
SNYDER building used by the post-oftice al
fordcd superior facilities 20 the new post
Office II was lighter and airior and sus-
ceptible of better arrangement for the con-
venience of the public and comfort OF the
attaches. but the location was inferior TO
that of the Government building, ana
hence II was that from time to time the
public groaned nightly at the delay IN
finishing the Government building. How
.r.r oil tbof If. peVy ne4geQ
PRO AND CON.
The distinct advantage gained by the re-
modelling Is procuring fne malling-r0om
in place 81 the old crampod quarters, and
in giving TO the letter-caTriers ample space
and better facilities for the distribution OF
mails. and giving TO the general-dehyery
greater rooIniness and cOnycniences. $3.50
Another advantage gained Is tins; mat
previously the Office was unable 10 supply
The demand from persons who desired to
rent letter-b boxes. Now there are plenty OF
boxes of the latest patent. They are To-
Gated on the western side of the building
as YOU enter from Main street.
The vestibule and Hobbies or passages
now cover greater area than in the former
arrangement, but really they seem to be
smaller.
The Office Of Postmaster Cullingworth is
now to the right as you enter from Nam
street.
Passing down the hall (on the east to-
wards Bank street You come 10 the regis
tered-letter and mOnev-order departments.
and finally to the office OF the assistant
postmaster.
The arrangements of this portion of the
building is inferior 20 what 10 was former
". but il NAV bc that in the appOrtIOn-
ment Of space IL was the best the architect
could do. II, however, does seem odd-
that the postmaster should be SO utterly
isolated from his suhordinates, and espe--
ciallv that he should bee so far separated
from the assistant postmaster. 1t may be,
however. that after experience has shown
where changes should be- made the Gov
eminent officers VII rearrange such parts
OF the building as admit of alteration
The furniture in the building - all OF
cherry. and 10 looks very bright and
pretty. and 1t il to the credit of Richmond
that il Is the product of one of our tdcto-
ries-that OF Savage Holmes.
THEY MoyKD.
II cannot be said that the building was
quite ready for Postmaster Culllngworth
Yesterday. but he and ms assistant, T..
Courtney jenkins Esq. had resolved to
move and move they did. IN accordance
with the orders issued from Washington
nud because Of the public Inconvenience
Which the people were subjected in having
g. 20 down the alley TO the Synder build
Tho unfinished work Of greatest conse-
0uence was the iron piping which Is being
put in for steam-heating purposes and
which the architect failed TO have inserted
in the walls, and rs a consequence the
ceilings, floors. and walls have to be cut
open 10 admit of its location.
just now II looks very rough and untn-
ished itS blnckness contrasting with the
snowy whiten, of the walls; but such of
the piping a. IS not now being bedded IN
the walls will be gilded and may possibly
hereafter be considered thing OF beauty.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
The total amount expended for en-
l0rging the Government building and re-
furnishing the post office was about 5000
900. but this included the new Bank-street
front. which Is to bc used on its upper sto-
RES for the United States courts and other
Offices.
The old courtroom was large enough,
hut was so near Main street that whenever
tho windows were opened the noises from
the street-cars and other vehicles were
such as To drown the voices of even the
most lusty lawyers.
This part Of the building will not be
quite finished for some time To come, but
II Is understood that II Will certainly be III
complete order soon enough for tho fall
terms of the courts TO be held III 1t.
PERSONAL.
The work of extension and remOdelllng
was begun with Mr.. Thomas II. Powell
as superintendent: Writ 4. Chcsterman,
assistant superintendent; Charles ". Al
len, general foreman; Carl ltuenrrund,
draughtsman, and Joseph +. Powell clerk:
but as time went on changes and reduc-
lions in the force we're made, and for many
months past the work has been exclusively
under Superintendent Charles W. Allen,
assisted by Mr.. Joseph +. Powell-they, of
course, receiving directions from he Su-
pervising Architect at Washington.
Messrs. Allen and Powells duties and
pay cease August ist
The work was begun under the day-labOr
system and completed under the contract
system, Messrs. Mccarthy Il Baldin, of
Washington. having been given the great
CT portion of the work.
LAST NIGHT.
Nr. James HAYES having had all the gas
lights put in place and tested night before
last. the illumination of the building was
very perfect last night
Gas will be used for the present but II is
expected that electric lights viii be intro
duced hereafter. as the fixtures are made
20 carry both Gls-burners and electric
lights.
The post-ofice Will be open this after
noon at 4 O'Clock. From 10 5 Is the Sum
day hour.
THE MlDDLeSeX ARSON CASE.