Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-13
GRATIFYING NEWS.
THE GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR BIDS ON
THE NEW P0sT0FFICE.
Postmaster Coleman States why the De-
lay in the Matter Was Benefi-
ciaI-The Plans.

Yell, We Sacramentans. yell We are to
have our longed-for new postoffice at last /
Yes, it's a fact. Postmaster Coleman re-
ceived letter from Supervising Architect
Windrim at Washington, announcing that
the Government was ready to proceed with
the erection of a handsome edifice at
Seventh and K streets. He authorized the
Postmaster to advertise at once for bids on
sail the labor and material required for the
excavation, concrete foundations, stone
and brick work of the basement and area
walls of the United States Postofice, etc.,
building at Sacramento, CAL, in accordance
with the drawings and specifications,
copies of which may be had at this Office
or the Office of the Postmaster at Sacra-
mento, Cal"
PLANS BEHIND TIME.
In bis letter Mr.. Windrim also stated
that eight sets Of dra wings and eight copies
of the specifications had been forwarded
to this city by the same mail. There has
been some mistake about this, however.
Postmaster Coleman, when seen by
RECORD UNION reporter last night, stated
that he had not as yet received these plans
and specifications, although he expected
they would arrive to-day or tomorrow.
On account of their non arrival, he was
unable to give any idea as to what the
plans are or what the style of architecture
will be.
The bids will be opened at Washington
on September 10th at P. NJ. Each bid
must be accompanied by certified check
for $500. The Department will reject all
bids received after the time fixed for OPEN
ing the same; also, bids which do not
comply strictly with all the requirements of
this invitation.
DELAY WAS BENEFICIAL.
Ever since it was announced that Sacra-
mento was to have a new postoffice," said
Postmaster Coleman, last night. there has
been great deal of grumbling and fault
finding in certain quarters about the delay
of the Government in getting to work on
the structure. Now, take the position
that this delay has proved beneficial in
many essential respects to Sacramento city.
You will remember that the original bill
passed by Congress appropriated 100000
for the land, building, fixtures and every
thing connected with the proposed struc-
ture. 1t was soon found that this appro-
priation was too small. The limited
amount necessitated the purchase of a
small lot, and would have given Us a COM
paratively Insignificant building.
"In consequence at the next session of
Congress the appropriation was raised to
$150,000, and more land was purchased,
giving US quite a respectable. looking lot.
Plans and specifications were drawn up in
Washington, and adopted and the build
ing would no doubt have proceeded at
once had we not again demurred on the
ground that the building would not be
credit to the city. And we were right too.
McKenna told me that the
plans never suited him, and he was in favor
of asking Congress for larger appropria-
ton. In this all public-spirited citizens
concurred. Of course another delay was
naturally the result, but the grumblers
never stopped to consider the case in its
proper light, and found fault with our rep
resentatives in Washington for their sup
posed neglect.
sat its present session Congress passed
bill raising the appropriation to $500 600
thus giving US at least decent building.
Now that bill was only signed five weeks
ago by the President, and here we are now
for bids on the ground work.
Pretty lively work, isn't i,2 Now, Just stop
and think a moment. We started off to
have 500, 900 structure. and now we are
to have one costing 100000 That's why
l call it beneficial delay. If the grumblers
had been needed we would to-day have the
CHEAP structure ~