Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-02
AFTER THE OLD SITE.
Business Men Scrambling for the
Vacated POstoffice.
CONGRESS MUST SANCTION A SALE,
Extraordinary Low. Death Rate in Pittsburg
for September.
SNAP SHOTS AT CITY HAPPENINGS.

The opening of Pittsburg's new postoffice
has already had marked effect on the con-
dition of affairs in this vicinity. The great
streams of humanity that day after day
surged about the old, black building at
Fifth and Smithfeld have turned their steps
toward the new attraction. The southern
| portion of Smithfield street was crowded
with people hurrying to and from the post
office. Business in that part of town was
on the boom. Several gentlemen who fire.
quent the street most of the day said they
saw thousands of strange faces. Lively
Fifth avenue has lost considerable of its
patronage, and from this time on will have
a very popular rival. But the change can
only result in good all around, dividing the
crush hat has heretofore made one or two
| central streets uncomfortable for pedestrians.
Hundreds of people yesterday absent
mindedly walked up to the old postoffice to
deposit or receive mail They were met
with sealed doors and the deririve boots of
little army of street urchins, who derived
great sport out of their forgetful elders.
THE OLD BUILDINGS FUTURE.
Everybody is speculating on the disposal
of the old structure. The Government will
have no more use for the place after the
new building is entirely completed. As
business location it has scarcely an equal in
the city, and already a dozen or more
wealthy firms and individuals have bid for
it. One man is after it for site for a the
ater. Several parties desire to secure the
location for the erection ofa big hotel. Others
are anxious to convert it into an office build
ing. One of the largest merchant firms in
the city would like to open mammoth store
there. Still others want the place for
various purposes and its final disposal will
be holly contested. Amounts varying from
5000, 900 to $500 900 have been offered.
According to Assistant Custodian Colville
the Government will have to retain posses
sion of the building for over a year at least.
special act of Congress will be necessary,
authorizing the sale, and appraisers will
have to be appointed to fix value below
which it cannot be sold. Until July ], 1892,
the building will be fully occupied. The
new new building Will not be finished before % that
date and until then all the Federal offices,
except the postofflce, will be quartersd in
the old one. They will all be moved at the
same time.
The Fifth avenue side of the old postoffice
will be used by United States Revenue Col
lector Warmcastle. Surveyor of Customs
bravo has moved into the old money order
department and postmaster's office. The
mailing room has been taken for appraisers
stores. formerly located ut the old recruiting
station, at Penn avenue and Garrison ave
nue.. Inc UnlCeO STATES Court, OnlCeu SUhUes
District Attorney and other occupants OF
the upper floors will remain as they are un
til all are ready to move to their new quar-
ters next summer.
OPENED WITH A HoUSEwARMING.
Postmaster Mexican, Assistant Postmaster
Edwards Assistant Custodian Colville and
others connected with the office had |
all they could do yesterday to shake |
hands, receive the compliments and |
make themselves agreeable. During the |
day C,0O0 people inspected the new apart |
ments Half rs many more we're there in |
the evening: While the whole office was the
subject of close scrutiny the beautiful pri- |
vate apartments of the Postmaster received
special attention. The rooms were full of |
flowers and plants and were admired by
Postmaster Mexican has received letters
and kilograms of congratulation from Presi-
dent Harrison, Private Secretary Halford,
Postmaster General Wanamaker, Marshall
Cushing, of the Postoffice Departments; Sec
ond Assistant Postmaster General J. Lowrie |
Bell. Superintendent of Money Orders at |
Washington C. +. Macdonald, Hon. A. B.
sistant Secretary of the Treasury L.
Crounse, Secretary of the Treasury Foster, |
Of Customs S. V. Holiday,
Hon: F. w. Smith, Hon. Fred n. Stokes, OF
the Treasury Department; Hon. j. B. Fora
ker, Governor Pattison, Frank Hatton, Hon.
J. ID. Cameron, Superintendent Of Railway
Mail Service r. C. jackson, of New York;
superintendent of Railway Mail Service A.
Burt, of Cincinnati; Third Assistant Post
master General A. d. HaZen, Chief of
Salary and Allowance Division Albert
II. Scott, Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Z. G.. Rathbone. Superintendent
of Free Delivery System, William j. Pollock,
Hon. Madison Davis Assistant Attorney
General James N. Tyner, General superin-
tendent of Railway Mail Service l.. NJ. Ter
rell, of Atlanta: Secretary of War Proctor,
and dozens OF others.