Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-05
THE NEW CITY POST OFFICE.
What the Postmaster General Says Abou,
1t in His Annual Report.

What the Postmaster General Says About
1t In His Annual Report.
Postmaster General wanamaker in his an
to say Of the new city post Office in this city:
The needs of Washington city were no greater
than those of New York or Chicago, but relief
has been had, perhaps, because the wretched
quarters proved a better object lesson. Last
spring the local city post Office was removed
from its rickety, deadly quarters on Louisiana
between 9th and 9TH, which had been erected
by private capital for the use of the post Office,
according to plans approved by the Postmaster
General. The change is greatly advanta-
geous. The entire working force of the Office
is on one floor, and within fifty feet from the
front doors may be found every public branch
Of the Office. The lease Of the property is in
tended to cover only the period Of the erection
of the government building
The act Of June rs. 1880. authorized the pur-
chase of square No. 1913 on Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and appropriated a sufficient sum of money,
with provision limiting the cost of the new
city post Office building to $500, 00O The
act OF August 80, 1890, provided that the build
ing should be fireproof and not less than eight
stories in height and it extended the limit Of
cost to 81 800 600. with an appropriation for the
beginning of S250.000. The act of March
8, 1891. extended the limit of cost Of the build
ing exclusive of the site, to 50 900 900; and the
act of August 5, 1892. appropriated for the con-
tinuation of the building $3.50, 000 The site has
been procured at a total cost of cess, 374. IS.
The general excavation has been completed,
the piling foundations are nearly finished and
the concrete and stone footing have been put
under contract Drawings for the basement
masonry have been completed. and the drawings
for the superstructure are SO far advanced as to
insure the placing Of the masonry and iron work
Of no h,,ilI I1fo M
basement masonry ia finished The entire
building ought to be completed in the spring
of 1894.
THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE.
This building will occupy the entire block
bounded by Pennsylvania avenue and d street
on the north, by 11th street on the east by
18th street on the west and by c street
on the south. The main front on Pennsylvania
avenue will be 200 feet in length and the depth
OF the building on c street will be about 300
feet The main post Office entrance will be on
Pennsylvania avenue and the entrance on G.
street will be used entirely for the receipt and
dispatch of mails. The height of the tower
from the sidewalk to the final is about 800 feet
The clock faces will be twenty feet
in diameter and about $50 feet above
the pavement. The width of the tower
will sbe forty feet. and it will be visible
from the Capitol along the entire length Of
Pennsylvania avenue and from almost all parts
of the city. The material used in the exterior
will probably be granite. The projecting bal
cony over the entrance arches on the main front
will form a support for groups Of statuary
emblematic of the postal service the coat of
arms of the United States, &c. The
entire central portion above the second
story will be open light well,
about 100 by 200 feet in dimension.
rooted over with ornamental iron trusses and
covered with glass sky!ight The main body
hn 90
diatey under this light well. This working
room will have an area of over 81 900 square
feet, and each floor above the first
story will contain about 10000 square feet
OF actual office space, exclusive Of corridors,
vaults, &c. The upper stories of this building
have not been assigned to their particular uses,
but they are much needed by various bureaus
OF the government now temporarily and incon-
veniently doiniciled in rented properties.
THE DEPARTMENT BUILDING.
The need Of more AID better space for the
executive work of the Post Office Department
has been pressed upon the attention Of Congress
and the public since 1873 In 1880 there was bat
one small Office located outside. and then
more room needed in the main building
There are now five colonies. containing hun
dreds of clerks tons Of flies and great masses of
equipment and machinery. The rentals of the
buildings for these outside branches amount
to S27 500 per anBum. which is the interest on
nearly half million dollars at per cent. APP
peals have been made repeatedly for new de-
partment building without result notwithstand-
ing ground in the city of Washington has
every day become more valuable. If it shall
not be the wish of Congress to pro-
vide an entirely new structure large
enough to embrace all branches of the
Post Office Department, then / would
recommend an enlargement OF the pres
ent building. In this report will be found
picture of the present structure and Q perspec-
tive, for which am indebted to the supervis-
ing architect OF the treasury. of what is pos
sible in the way of enlargement. This enlarge
ment contemplates the addition of three full
stories conforming in general style to the archi-
lecture of the present building and practically
doubling theoffice space. The estimated cost
of this improvement is 81 500. 900. | cannot
urge too strongly that this matter be taken
up.