Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-04

excited among the persons most likely to think
Of them and discuss them from practical
ct ndpoints. and second, as showing in another
way the differing degrees Of favor with which
the propositions are received by the same we'll
informed and inquiring minds.
The Postmaster General renews his recon-
mendation for the division of the county into
postal districts, and adduces many reasons why
the reform would be beneficial. He shows that
the county seat visitations have resulted in the
submission of 2, 100 reports out of q possible
1900. and that the condition Of $4,000 ofices IL
covered. -
SUCCESSES OF THE SEA POST OFFICES.
The Postmaster General recounts the sue
cesses OF the sea post Offices, which quicken all
incoming foreign mails received at New York
from two hours to a week, and recommends the
employment of post Office steam tug to ply
In New York harbor between arriving steamers
and the Jersey City and uptown ferries, so that
several hours, perhaps day in some cases, may
De saved He recopmends private indemnity
for lost registered Nail, showing how cheap it
would be to the department from the fact that
only one piece out Of every II 900 or more OF
registered mail is lost. He announces changes
In the postal guide which will make it contain
popular information aud enable it to be sold
FOR cent instead of 5.
WHAT WASHINGTON NEEDS
1.-THE site for the new post Office building in
"aruiuStOH uAr UetH uAeu ny aHo So'SA :,
but the condition os the post Office building
now in use was SO unsatisfactory that / deter
mined not to authorize its continued occupancy
for the inevitably long time that will be taken
to complies tho new structure. Propositions
were invited by public advertisement for the
erection of a temporary structure, and OF the
proposals received selected one for com
modious building on G street between 7th and
Sfh northwest, only a short distance from the
present location, in the immediate reighbor-
hood of the cable lines. close to one Of the
busiest thoroughfares Of the city, and not too
far removed from both the railway stations.
A contract was executed to lease this
building when completed for a torn of three
years, with the privilege of renewal. at IN
annual rental of $4,000; and there was an
additional stipulation that the owners are to
place in the building new, improved post Office
furniture and equipments to the value Of
$4,000. That portion Of the new building
under lease will contain not less than 81, 600
square feet. or two and one-half times the
whole space now available. 1t will be SO
arranged that not a single Office necessary to
be visited by the publi0wil be above the first
floor.
Il suppose it would be considered 10 con-
Germ of mine, but what Washington needs is a
commission OF citizens, engineers, members OF
Congress. and perhaps cabinet officers to sug-
gest how some wise, economical and far-seeing
plan for the erection of needed public build
ings might be accomplished according to q
detirite, artistic, business-like plan. 1t would
mean q saving in the end of 81. 900, 900 per-
haps, and meantime the architectural hodge,
podge, whose only merit is its infreQuency,
would disappear and the executive depart
ments would be housed in buildings owned by
the government and forming part of splendid
whole"