Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-22
THE POST OFFICE SITE.
The Senate Committee Agrees to tn
House Bill.


The Senate Committee Agrees to the
House Bill.
ALE OBJECTIONS wffHDlAwN AND Az AGREE
MINT lKAcHHD or TIE LOCATION At NINTH
STREET AND PESSsYLvANIA AvENUE-THE BILL
TO BE REroRTxD uxANIxousLr.
The Senate committee on public buildings
and grounds today settled the question of the
location Of the new city post Office by agree
ing to the bill passed by the House three
weeks ago providing for the purchase Of site
at the southwest corner of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and 9th street.
Monday and placed on the calendar. This
change Of heart on the part Of the Senate COM
mittee was something Of q surprise, even to
the committee itself. Heretofore the
north end" Legislators have insisted that
9th street and Pennsylvania avenue
was no place for public building, while the
other site was half SO good. The fight assumed
an irregularly triangular appearance when the
Postmaster General requested that the
city post office be located in a proposed
extension Of the Post Office department.
building. This arrangement was not, however,
department would eventually crowd the city
office out az 1t did years ago.
THE MEETING THIS MORNING.
This morning the Senate committee decided
to settle the affair. A somewhat lengthy dis
cussion followed and the various arguments
for and against the sites previously men,
toned were made plain. It was evil
dent to the committee that further
controversy over location would defeat all hopes
OF an appropriation during this Congress, SO at
last 1t was decided to approve the 9th-street
site and concur in the House bill. Members Of
the committee had tired of the controversy
and were anxious to give the capital
OF the nation decent building for post Office
purposes, therefore they withdrew their objec-
tons to the House site and will make
unanimous report, which, it is believed, will
speedily be ratified by legislation.
PROVISIONS OF THE HOUSE BILL
The bill, as it passed the House, provides
that the Secretary Of the Treasury be in
structed, in order to provide an eligible site
for city post Office, to acquire the real estate
embraced in the square numbered $50 Of Wash
ingtOn, bounded by Pennsylvania avenue on
the north, C street on the south, 9th street
on the east and the building Of the Washing
ton safe deposit company on the west, at a cost,
all told, not exceeding S275,OOO, and for such
purpose that sum is hereby appropriated, and
u
modious and substantial building in
GLIDING fire. proof vaults, heating
and ventilating apparatus, elevators,
and approaches for the use of a United States
post Office in the city Of Washington, District
Of Columbia. the cost of the same not to ex-
the site, building, fre-proof vaults, heating
and ventilating apparatus, elevators and APP
proaches complete. The bill then provides for
purchase and condemnation OF the ground.
COMMISSIONER DOUGLASS WE'VE.
In conversation with STAR reporter today
on the site Commissioner Douglass said: 1.-The
site think good one, provided they can keep
the water from backing up there. The location is
central and think we'll suited. The only bad
feature that can see is the low position Of the
ground, making foods liable at any time. The
sewerage commission, however, who are at
present at work upon a system Of sewage dis
posal for the city, will remedy this"
WHAT MR.. HiNE SAYS.
Commissioner Hine said:
'Oh, 1 am in favor Of any site, provided it is
dry. There is no doubt but that we should
have post Office, and trust one will soon be
built"
AN INTERVIEW WITH POSTMASTER ROSS.
Postmaster Ross was SO sick today as to rem
der it impossible for him to be at the post
Office. He was, however, seen by STAR re-
porter at the National hotel
informed of the action of the Senate
s site," said the A' postmaster sH which d
can be agreed on by both Houses Of Congress.
1 have been in favor Of commission be-
cause | did not deem it possible
The city post Office at present is in such a
shocking condition that we are a great deal
in the condition OF the old maid who wanted
man. and wanted him SO bad she was not
was. We will be only too delighted
to get post Office anywhere. As to the practi-
cabity of the 9th street site it is Of course prac
ticable to build an excellent building there.
II have always considered that the main
work of post Office should be done on
up stairs except the pOstmaster's private Office,
the cashiers, &C. To carry out this idea
with the present tremendous amount
of mail matter handled in this city $4,000
feet of ground floor would be needed, and
the court s or the ,oo oo Se1 tsa, on i05
not be too much. OF course at 9th
and Pennsylvania avenue no
such large amount of ground
is possible and the upper stories will have to
be used. However, 1t is post office site and
that ID what We are after"
THE PROPOSED SITE.
The ground to be covered by the proposed
new city post office occupies little more than
third Of the block bounded by 9Th and 10th
and streets and Pennsylvania avenue. 1t runs
from 9Th street up to the the new buildings
of the Washington safe deposit company. 1t
contains in the neighborhood of 10000 square
feet. Two-fifths of this belong to the Mutual
fire insurance company and is covered
by their large marble building. The
remainder is owned by 7. P. Simp-
son, the Buckley estate and one or two
others. 1t is difficult to estimate the value Of
the property, as no sales have been made in the
immediate neighborhood for good while, but
it is thought that the S275, 900 appropriated for
the purchase of the land will fully satisfy the
demands of the property owners
THE OWNERS OF THE GROUND.
The property in question is assessed at
ss7 ,34s among the following property holders:
The Mutual fire insurance company, s25, 1874;
Theodore Wheeler, Gil, 1888; Emma p Hume,
S6,74l; ]. W. Corson, $2S, ACT; Anthony and
A. NJ. Buckley, s14.52s. The ground alone is
assessed at $50, S48 and the improvements at
S60. 800.
UNDER THE DOME.
Four Election Contests-NOtes From