Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-04

THE NEW SOUTH WASHINGTON POST OFFICE
The site for the new post Office is as near as
may be to the center of that section, and as the
limits of South Washington cannot very we'll
change the center is likely to stay about where
1t Is now. Mr.. Wanamaker is known among the
post office people as great "station man" and
he has worked hard to have stations and branch
Offices in all parts Of the city. believing that the
efficiency of the mail service is greatly increased
thereby: The first experiment in the line car
rier stations was the one on Capitol Hill, ex-
cepting, OF course, the Georgetown Office. which
was originally an independent Office until it was
made branch of the main city office.
POSTAL INDEPENDENCE.
Heretofore South Washington has been de-
pendent on the city Office for its mail service,
but now it has an Office of its own where mail
will be brought direct to be distributed and
delivered by the carriers. The new building
is eminently adapted to the purpose. When
bids were called for by the department num-
Der of bids were received for old dwelling
houses which the owners proposed to remodel
into an Office. Gen. HAGEN was the only one
who submitted bid for new building, to be
constructed TO suit the wishes of the depart
ment. His bid was accepted and work was
begun on the 18th of September. The building
Is now completed, the Office is in running order
and this afternoon Postmaster General Wanna
maker. accompanied by City Postmaster Sher-
wood and a number of other prominent Off
Gals, is to make visit and tour of inspection
to the new quarters.
THE NEW BUILDING. $50
The building is Of press brick, 22x63 feet,
with broad windows in front and on the south
side, fairly flooding the Office room with light
and air. 1t is 36 feet in height, though. there
are only two stories, but the first is unusually
high. Inside the front door is large and
pleasant lobby shut off from the working space
by an ornamental brass railing, behind which
is the superintendent desk. Down the GEN.
ter Of the room runs the line of distributing
cases, and on the south wall, under the win
dows, is the carriers table, with accommoda-
tons for eighteen or twenty carriers, though
the office will start with only ten. All the Of
fee furniture is of hard wood and of
the most substantial description, while the
fittings are all of the latest and most
approved sort. Everything has has been done
for the comfort of the officials and the conven-
fence Of the public. In the rear Of the building
is a concreted yard, into which the mail wagons
can drive direct to leave the mail bags, while
behind that is comfortable dwelling house for
the janitor and Waterman. The windows Of
this house command good view Of the post
Office inside and out, and furnish an addi-
tional safeguard. Underneath the post office
is large concerted cellar, where are store
rooms and lockers, toilet rooms and bath
| room for the use of the carriers. The second
story of the building is to be used for a
dwelling fat or Offices. Mr.. p. N. DIVER of
South Washington was the architect Of the
building, and all the builders and contractors
were from the same part Of the city.
THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Capt. A. c. Irwin, who has been appointed
superintendent Of the station, has been for
twenty years past resident of South Washing
ton, where he is well known and popular AZ
soon as the new station was spoken Of petitions
favoring Capt. Twins selection began pouring
into the department and his appointment has
given the greatest satisfaction.
The new Office has been at work in a small
way for a day or two past, though it will not be
| formally opened until after the visit of the
Postmaster General this afternoon.