The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-22
THE NEW POSTOFFICE.
Paper Read Before the Amer
lean Institute of Architects.

The California Architect and Building
News for this month will contain an article
which was read at the last meeting Of the
San Francisco Chapter, American Institute
Of Architects on the subject of locating the
POstoffice site, setting forth the writer's ideas
of the requirements that should be sought
for in the selection Of site. The paper is
quite lengthy, but some of the principal
points taken from the advanced sheets of
the California Architect may be noticed,
which will give very good general idea OF
the whole.
Referring to the proposed site, corner Of
Seventh and Mission streets, the writer says
that from an architects standpoint it would
seem that all of the higher nsideratons
of architectural fitness and artistic qualities
which give value to the setting and reflect
beauty upon a great architectural work,
have been left wholly out of sight Con-
venience of position being disposed Of, GEN.
trality TO the transient public becomes the
most important question to decide, branch
stations throughout the city solving the sub
ject for the general public. This includes
proximity to the great hotels and beauty
and dignity Of position, ready accessibility
from the principal streets and by leading
car lines, together with aspect exposure TO
light, prospect in the matter righteousness
of surrounding areas and altitude, atf0rdlng
good views of the building on every side,
and especially Of the principal fronts.
Referring to this latter feature, the paper
called attention TO the utter lack Of c0nsid-
Grafton of this essential IN the City Hall in
this city, one Of the most picturesque and
architecturesque buildings in America.
which has no single point of vantage from
which it can be viewed in order that the
beauty of the entire structure may be taken
T. .ErIa oh Cf l.
phia is pointed out as another instance OF
where the miserable parsimOny OF the pro-
jectOrS has defeated the work of the archi-
tect. In striking contrast the Capitol at
Washington. the Hartford Capitol and our
own at Sacramento are referred to as strlk-
ing examples of stately good taste and
wise magnanimity in the selection of sites
buildings that can be seen to advantage
from every side.
The writer suggests as site peculiarly
adapted TO a good public building, such as
undoubtedly the POstotfice will be, the block
bounded by Post, Suffer, Stockton and
Powell streets, and that the building be
placed directly in the center of this block.
which effect would be to dOable the size of
Union square. lie says:
"Were the whole of the block in question
to be devoted to the P0stoftice site, there
would be ample room TO double the width
OF Suffer- Stockton and Powell streets, or
each face Of TIE building should be grand
entrance leading to corridors and Offices
surrounding central court or hall which
could be covered over with glass at the first
story, serving all the purposes OF the gen.
eral Office on the ground floor. A very fine
effect could be attained by forming ter
race at Suffer street. the terrace to return
to the central porticO on the north side, and
level with the second story Of the building;
by this means the basement or lower story
would be made equal TO any in the building.
The mail carts could obtain access to the
building by passing through archways I'M
der this terrace on the north front. over
this point and above the grand staircase
and in connection with the elevators would
rise the tower or dome or whatever form
may be determined on as the central feat
ure-and this on account of the breadth of
Union square on the south would be easily
visible from Gearv street"
He sums up lis conclusions by saying
that in the erection Of a building on the
proposed site, corner Of Seventh and Mar
ket streets, neither architectural dignity nor
consistency could be complied with; that
the site Of the Mechanics Institute is too
much hemmed in, and presents features
Identical with those noticed in speaking of
the City Hall, and the west side of Union
square is unsuitable on account of the rapid
fail Of the ground along its principal front
aud for other reasons, and in conclusion
says:
"What has made 'Unter den Linden the
place de la Concord and the Ring Strasse'
the admiration of and the resort Of the
world, but the spacious grandeur, archi-
tectural magniiicence and stately beauty of
these noted places ana the structures which
surround them? 1t will be something other
than private interest and political greed
which Will accomplish the architectural re-
generation Of San Francisco"