Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-21

The plans OF the city post Office building arc
sun at the Post Office Department Mr.. wana-
maker has not yet attached his signature of ap-
proval and il is not likely that he will for some
time yet The plans have been under consider
alton at the Post Office Department for abou,
Two weeks now. When they wero received
from the supervising architect they were. by
direction OF Mr.. WanamRker, sent TO the com
miftee OF experts in the department who are 40
customed TO look over plans for pest Office build
inss and the arrangement Of buildings used for
this purpose. This committe went over the plans
with the eyes OF men who are familiar with the
everyday work OF post Offices. They made
several suggestions as TO changes in the
interior which were not OF a radical character
out were designed ITO increase the comfort OF
employees and facilitate the business of the
public. The report WAS approved by Mr..
Wanamaker and the plans were returned 10 the
supervising architect The changes were made
by that official as suggested. and the plans were
sent back to the Post Office Department They
we're again placed in the hands of the commit
tee and have received their approval
QUESTION OF LIGHT.
The point was raised by the committee in
their last report as TO whether the corridor in
the first floor will be sufficiently lighted. Mr..
Wanamaker considers that this is a very i'm
portant question, and he has decided 10 give i.
little more consideration before finally ap-
proving the plans. lie has referred the plans
to the first assistant, Col. Whitfield. and has
asked HIM for his opinion. Col. Whitfield will
comply with this request soon as he Is able
to give the matter his attention. The corridor
which Mr.. Wanamaker is anxious TO have well
lighted is the one that will be used for the
public.
THE PLAN OF THE BUILDING
The plan Of the building NAV be described as
the arrangement Of ! tier of Offices eight stories
high about a central night shaft. All the office
rooms have windows looking out on the streets
on the four sides Of the building Access TO
the Office rooms is BY means Of galleries
much the same stvie as the pension Office
building is planned. This is the arrange
ment of all the floors with the
exception of the ground foor. which is on a
level with the street The floor STAGE of the
light shaft will be used as the mailing and car
rier department and will have a ceiling of glass.
Partitions OF glass separate this central space
from the public corridor which extends around
the building. The post Office boxes stamp win
dows and carrier windows will be in this parti-
ton and on the opposite side OF the corridor
will be the doors leading into the Office rooms
on the front of the building.
THE MAIN PrBLIc ENTRANCE
The main entrance for the public will be from
the avenue. There will be a wide hallway
leading into the corridor. Along this corridor
will be the place where the bulk of the public
VIII transact the business which brings the
average citizen to the post Office. lie can find
the window where he gets his letters or stamps.
and here will also be located the registry Office
and the money-order Office. 1t will be a wide,
roomy corridor and during business hours il
will be thronged with people. II will be framed
IN on bothS sides by high glass partitions
through which the light will come, both from
the street and the air shaft
Mr. wASAMAKEns QUESTION
The question raised by the Postmaster Gen.
eral is whether the provision made will give
ample light to this corridor without resortinr
to artificial light The supervising architect
thinks that the light will be fully sufficient.
The dimensions of the light shaft will be over
100 feet square and il will be covered with a
roof OF glass. 1t is believed that with this great
area OF interior light as large as the open court
yard OF many public buildings the first floor
OF this new building will be flooded with light
and at times the direct rays OF the sun viii
reach that point.
THE OBJECTION TO BUILDING OF THIS KIND.
There is objection to building of this char
acter, for the reason that the working force of
the post office is necessarily confined TO the
first door, and in consequence the employees
may De said to pass their existence at the
bottom Of a well. Mr.. Wanamaker as well as
other post Office officials have always opposed
the erection Of a building of this height Tor use
as post Office But Congress did not take the
same view. rand the law which APP
propriated the money specifically pro-
yided that the building should not be
less than eight stories in height 1t is not
likely that Congress would authorize a change
now, at least it would occasion long delay. and
1t is probable that after Mr.. Wanamaker has
hnar, ,,,-,,. 81
make the best possible provision for lighting the
first story that he will attach his signature to
the plans and then the present cause of delay
will be removed.