The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-24
TO SELECT THE SITE.
TIE PUBLIC BUILDINGS LOCATION
TO BE SETTLED AT ONCE.

Supervising Architect Edbrooke ana
the Public Building Commission to
Meet the Citizens at the De Soto
To-day-The Proposals in the Com
missions Hands - A Report to be
Made to the Secretary of the Treas
ury This Week-The Present Site
May be Retained.
The proposals for the public building site
were opened yesterday, but remain in the
hands of the commission.
Supervising Architect Eibrooks arrived
yesterday morning, and at 10 o'clock the
commission met at the De Soto. Postmaster
Doyle was present and turned over to the
commission the five bids he had received,
together with the numerously signed peti"
ton to have the building erected on the
Savannah Volunteer Guards property.
The commission remained in secret session
considering carefully the bids until after
o'clock. After adjournment the supervising
rchitsct was seen by a MORNING NEWS re-
lorter He said be could give out nothing
until after the Secretary Of the Treasury
acts upon the report and recommendations
of the commission. There will be as little
delay about that as possible. The commits
sion will make up its report before leaving
the city, and win forward it to Washing
ton. The treasury department will act at
once, and Mr.. Edbrooke thinks that within
about ten days the Sayannahians will have
the satisfaction of knowing where the gov
eminent building will be located.
TO CONSULT THE CITIZENS.
"We will remain in the city few days."
said Mr.. Edbrooke, land will be glad to
have the citizens or delegates from the
mercantile bodies call upon US and give
their views on the eligibility of a location.
The commission desires to locate the build
ing at q point convenient to the business
center. The residence portion of the city
viii not be considered, as Savannah has the
free delivery system. While considering
the business center we have to take into
consideration the future growth OF the city.
II the business center is moving or is going
TO move with the growth of the city we
want to have the public building conuen-
lent TO IL.
"rhe commission viii consider the pres
emit site along with the others. If more
ground can be secured the desirability of
retaining the original site will, of course.
be carefully considered and reported upon.
We don't want to be penurious about site,
but at the same time we don't want TO be
extravaganza. The more money expended
for this purpose means, as a matter ofcourse,
so much less to be put into the building
We are after the most eligible site at the
lowest possible terms"
THE PRESENT SITE.
''If it is finally decided to change the site
from the place originally agreed upon the
government will sell the lot, and the money
will be turned into the fund for the pur-
chase OF another site and the erection Of the
building
The appropriation is 100000. If site
can be secured for $50 900 that will leave
$350,0 for the building. The government
has expended about $50, 900 ON the original
site, including the purchase of the site and
its Improvement What it would bring in
case it should be offered for sale is a matter
of conjecture.
As soon as the site question is settled the
plans for the new building will be prepared
and work will be commenced as quick there
after as possible. The plans already drawn
were based on the original appropriation of
5000, 200. The increase means a better build
ing than at first intended, and new plans
will have to be made.
The supervising architect said the building
will be handsome one, fully commensurate
with the Importance and growth Of the city.
TO INSPECT THE SITES.
The commission will go over the differ
emit sites to-day and carefully look into their
advantages and disadvantages. It will also
receive any delegation of citizens at the De
Soto which may care to call upon it.
r. w. Pease of the treasury department.,
who is assisting the supervising architect,
said that the commission is not here to say
what Savannah should have, but to find
out what the paople want at the same time
looking carefully after the governments in
terests
1t wouldn't be surprising if the upshot of
the whole matter would be the retaining of
The present site, provided the government
can secure at a reasonable figure the entire
block through to Drayton street. 1t is
understood that this property has been of =
fered. The expenditure already incurr ed
will no doubt have some weight with the
commission.
The other sites receiving careful considera-
tion are the Guards property and DIR.
Hops property and the adjoining property
On South Broad street.