The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-06-22
THAT POSTOFF|CE SCHEME
Senator White Discovers a Plan
to Move the Office
LOCATIONS ALREADY SOUGHT
II Is Proposed to Break Faith With
Main Street People
LOCATIONS ALREADY S0UGH'
Can Hervey LlndIey Be Interested in the
Project ?--lnspector Thrali Refuses
Information

There is considerable agitation among
the Main street property owners as to the
location of the postctfice. 1t will be re-
mem bered that the present federal build
ing, in which the posteffice and United
States courts are situated, was located
on Main street as the result OF pro
tracted struggle. The present site wa!
sold to the government for $50, 600, and o.
this amount SIS 600 was raised by ad
jacent property holders, who invested
their money because of benefits which
they expected to derive from. the presence
OF the postoffice.
IL seems that persons interested in
other localities have succeeded in Con-
vincing the postottlce department that the
postal necessities of this community
cannot be met unless the present Office is
abandoned, and the suggestion has been
thrown out that acccmm odations can be
obtained at nominal rent-presumably
on Broadway.
The matter has been kept a profound
secret, but Senator White ascertained
some four days ago that Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster General Maxwell had
telegraphed TO the local postotfice in
specto, to obtain propositions looking to
the change.
Thereupon Senator White sent dis
patch to Mr.. Maxwell stating that he was
utterly opposed to leasing a postoffice
site; that the true policy suggests the ex-
tension of the present building to meet
the necessities of all the governments
offices; that the present site was agreed
on after the payment by property holders
of about S2s 000; THIS was accepted by the
government on the theory hat II loca
ton should DO maintained; that to move
it now would be dishonest that the CAV
ernmaNt can afford TO build an adequate
structure to meet all needs; meanwhile
no one will suffer by the retention of the
Office at the present site. Senator White
also notified the local inspector of his &C.
ton.
Yesterday word was sent from head
quarters in San Francisco directing the
local officer to hunt up new quarters.
Postmaster General Wilson, substantially
in accordance with his dispatch TO Mir.
Maxwell.
Senator White says the present post
Office. in connection with the sub-sta-
tions. is fully able to handle all the bust
ness, and that if the department will
grant his request, which he has most
urgently made for additional carriers, no
hardship will result. He believes that
the retention of the office in its present
location will facilitate the passage OF a
bill providing for an extension OF the
federal building on the Main street front
and the addition of a story. which would
enable the government TO transact all
official business at one point. including
affairs pertaining to the land, revenue
and customs Office, all Of which are now
situated at different rented buildings in
this city. The following interviews upon
the matter were obtained yesterday:
Inspector ThraiI Declines to Talk
When Postmaster Van Dusen WAS ques-
toned yesterday afternoon about the pos
sible removal of the postocffie, he did
not hesitate to say that ne didn't know
thing about it, but he gave it as his
I'M preston that if any change were
made it would not be removal, but rather
a clearing up and out down stairs
down there. leaving more room on the
ground floor.
Mr.. Van Dusen sent, however, to Post
office Inspector Thrall, who is here from
San Francisco. Mr.. Thrall appeared
and assured the reporter there was abb
soutely nothing in the way OF intorma-
ton that could be given, there WASH
even hint nor clue. nor an lmpressi on
on the subject In fact Mr.. Thrall as
sumed a gentle air of ignorance IN the
whole matter, looked as nearly innocent
as a San Francisco man can look, and
promised that if with the accent on the
if) he ever did know anything about the
removal Of the Los Angeles postotfice that
The Herald should be advised forthwith.