The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-10
wANAMAKER AND THE SAN FRAN
CISCANS.

The real estate sharks of San Francisco
have found their full match in the person
of Postmaster-General John Wanamaker.
They tried wheedling and cajoling; most
likely threw out pretty broad intimations
of willingness to make an arrangement"
and all of these failing they resorted to
sensational dispatches, addressed to New
York papers, designed to intimidate and
coerce him, which he has publicly and
boldly given them to understand is equally
futile.
1t is six years or more since the Senat-
ors and Representatives from California
started in to obtain an appropriation for
new postofice in San Francisco, which is
more wretchedly provided in that respect
than are many cities of not more than
one-third the population. 1t is dark,
dingy, cramped and clumsily contrived.
The first appeal was for an appropria-
ton of three hundred thousand dollars for
a site, which in the then condition of the
real estate market was deemed sufficient.
At least it was considered that with this
amount appropriated by the general gov
eminent, there would be enough of public
spirit among property-holders and the
business community, in view of the incon-
venient, rickety ana disgraceful premises
occupied for postoffice in that city, to aid
in securing an eligible and appropriate
site for an expenditure of $500, 900 by the
government. 1t was assumed that at
least there would be enough of healthy
nix,fn IL
of any combination or conspiracy to fleece
the government which they were appeal
ing TO for consideration and favor.
But no sooner was the importunate de-
mand for 100000 appropriation granted
than were scores of schemes set on foot
to ''bond" the fractions of about every
eligible site in the city, and to "set up the
price" on the government to twice, thrice
or greater multiple of former and fair
figures. And so one after another increase
has been made in the amount of the ap-
preparation, until now (unless a greater
increase has been made and gone unno-
ticed) the appropriation stands at ST.
$50 900.
Recently the Postmaster General visited
San Francisco and inspected about all of
the eligible sites, all, or nearly all of which
have been bonded and covered by one or
another band of patriots intent on taking
advantage of the governments necessities
and generous appropriation. 1t is
deemed highly improbable that any
one of these has been assessed for
the purpose of taxation at a figure as
high as 40 per cent. of the price which is
demanded of the government for it. 1t is
deemed highly improbable that these or
similar properties, COR fractions of them,
have been or could be sold to private par
ties for cash or on bone fide transactions,
Tor SO much as 10 per cent. of the price de-
manded from the government.
Under these circumstances the people of
the whole country will applaud the posi-
ton taken by General Wanamaker, that
he will not be bulldozed or tiattered' in
this connection, and that Though any
community that will permit such state of
affairs without exposing it does not desel We
much consideration" yet he proposes
ito fight the battle on my present line if it
takes all summer" II did not take a man
of his business acumen long to discover.
and he does not hesitate TO declare, that
these greedy marplots, utterly devoid of
public spirit, "have been playing this
game for nearly six years, end have beaten
the people Of San Francisco out of their
| postof1ice."
On the whole, it would be fine piece OF
| polite justice if the next congress would
annul the appropriation and let San Fran.
cisco wait for new postofiice until hel
real estate sharks become less rapacious
and her public opinion more healthy,
more courageous and more potent. His
recent utterances suggest that the Post
master General would not oppose such
action. Robbery is bad in any case. but if
can take no worse form than desire 10
rob would-be benefactor, and that seems
to be the position San Francisco occupies
in regard TO this postoffice business. sun
plemented by aspersions of one whom
they so recently attempted to fatter into
a disregard of the interests entrusted to
| r.