St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-08
SUCH IS THE SENTIMENT OFREp-
RESENTATIvE CITIZENS
OF ST. PAUL.
ARCHITECT HAMILTON HERE
HE SAYS A GOOD ENTRANCE ON
SIXTH STREET CAN BE
PROVIDED.
MORE MONEY CANNOT BE GOT,
And to Wait on Expectations, 1t
Is Decided, Would Be
Pure Folly.

d. r. P. Hamilton, from the office
OF the supervising architect at Wash
lngton, arrived in the city yesterday
morning, and a little later meeting
TOOK place at the rooms of the Com
merc1al club, at which a full discus
sion OF the proposed changes in the
new federal building were fully dis
cussed.
Col. Kiefer presided at the confer
ence, and among those present were
noticed E. P. Bassford, local archi-
tect of the building; Capt. Henry A.
Castle, George R. Finch, w. D. Kirk,
Col. Mason, George Benz, w. J.
Footner, G. P. Noyes, A. H. Lindeke,
3. w. Peet and others.
Col. Kiefer informed the gentle
men that the object of the meeting
was to discuss with Architect Ham
ilton the advisability of changing the
present plans of the government for
the new postoffice building so as to
provide for a main entrance on
Sixth street. Another point was to
see II an addition to the building on
the same side cannot be provided.
Senator Davis was of the opinion
that 1t would be some years before
an additional appropriation could be
secured from the government for any
additions. This would retard the
progress Of the work that long. If
an extension should be wished then
work under the present plans would
have to be suspended.
Col. k1efer was more sanguine, and
thought that an additional appro-
prlation of 100000 could be secured
for extension purposes. He did not
want st. Paul to be too modest in
her demands.
Architect Hamilton said that if an
additional appropriation had been Sc
cured at the last session the changes
could have been made with but tri-
Hing cost. But as the work had pro-
crossed since then, an extension
would necessitate change in all the
upper floors of the building. The
department was now ready to ask
for bids and complete the iron work.
He thought that an appropriate en-
trance could be placed on the Sixth
street side without an extension.
This could be done under the au-
thority of the architects office, as it
would not inSur an additional ex-
pense exceeding 10 per cent of the
original cost. But if the work was
completed as at present planned an
addition could not be worked out
very satisfactorily. 1t would darken
the interior of the building.
The discussion took a wide range,
and Col. Kiefer thought that the
people of this city would raise the
amount necessary to build the addi-
ton. In this he was not supported
by those present, and finally the
following resolutions were offered
and adopted by the meeting:
At meeting of a large number
Of the citizens of st. Paul, of the
officers of the chamber of commerce,
of the jobbers' union, of the Com
mercial club, of Senator Davis and
Representative Kiefer, with Mr..
Hamilton, representative of the su-
pervising architects Office and the
local superintendent of the ST. Paul
federal building, after a full discus
sion, it was unanimously
Resolved; That it is the opinion of
this meeting of citizens, after hearing
statements Of our senator, representa-
tive in congress, and the architects,
that work in the construction of the
new postoff1ce building essentially on
the present plans and specifications
should not be suspended for the pur-
pose of making any material change
in said plans or increasing the size of
said building or other purpose.
Resolved; That we respectfully rec
ommend and request that such
changes be made in the present plans
as will give a public entrance on the
Sixth street end of the building, and
improve the Sixth street 'front.' and i'm
prove the grounds abutting on that
street, and if necessary, in order to
maintain the present interior working
space, it is suggested that either the
Market or Washington street public
entrance be closed and the mailing
entrance be correspondingly changed.
Resolved Further, that the super
vising architect be requested to, so far
as possible, plan the present building
that it will admit an extension through
to Sixth street, which in our opinion
will soon be absolutely necessary.