Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-09
PRIDE OF THE CITY.
Rock Islands New Postoffice
Building.
TO BE THROWN OPEN TONIGHT.


Occupancy WIN Begin Hriday-Ad-
vansages Descz1bed-TAe Various DE-
partmsats-Ths Other Federal Accom-
modatione-Unels Sam 1t Home.
The Rock Island postoffice build
ing at the corner of Sixteenth street |
and Second avenue will be thrown |
open to the public for inspection |
this evening, it being the desire OF
the federal officers in Rock Island |
that all citizens may have . special
opportunity to visit and see all that |
it contains before the working forces
begin to occupy it. Friday
Uncle Sam will be at home in his
new surroundings-for business.
The new building must prove Q
source of qualification to all the gov
ernment representatives here. and of
pride to the people of Rock Island.
En'ering 1T the main doors on Sec
ond avenue one is at once impressed
with the metropolitan appearance.
The beautiful light tiled floor and
marble wainscotink of darker shade.
the handsomely carved screen with
its polished box fronts Of glass and
brass, and the many neatly let
tered windows. all com bining in pro.
ducing q sense of infinite satisfaction
that the government has acquired
possessions of such an attractive ma
ture in this city. Turning to the right
on entering the lobby the visitor is
brought to the windows of the money
order and registered letter division.
This on this on the west side. Then
along the south side are four carrier
wind ows. and ad joining them are the
stamp and package windows. There
are tiers of boxes running to the
corner, and then one reaches the
general delivery windows, one for
ladies and one for gentlemen. These
are on either side of the corner post
in the screen, and along the east side
are mora mail box %. To the left of
the Sixteenth street entrance is the
postmaster's room. 1t is delight
fully furnished with rolling top
desk, blank cases, mirror, couch and
chairs, the wood work being all Of
natural oak. 1t is but step to the
maiE working room of the postoffice.
To enter into a detailed description
of the various appliances and ar
Engagements for facilitating the dis
patching of the mail would occupy
considerable space. 1t would seem
that the department has neglected
nothing that will aid in keeping the
Rock Island postoffice among the
best of its class. The distributing
cases. and racks of various sorts are
of the most modern. The 86-pouch
rack which is in sections will be q
source of Joy to the distributing
lclerk. There are conveniently
ARRANGED cases, desks and ia.
bles in all the departments.
The mailing department is in the
lextreme southwest corner, and of
from it is lavatory. Of from the
Icarriers' department and separated
from the rest of the main floor by a
wire screen ia the money order and
Registered letter division. 1t, too, ia
handsomely furnished. The carriers
are provided with special wardrobes,
there being smaller ones for the gen.
eral use of the attaches Of the Office.
There are abundance of chairs. stools.
etc.. all Of the handsomest design
and matching perfectly to the Other
Woodwork. A Mosler Safe company
vault is in the postmaster's room and
one also in the money order and regis
tered letter division. In the CORR
dor are three high desks to be used
By the patrons of the office
q case for the advertised lettel
list and bulletin board. There ar,
drops for letters, papers and pack
ages and for local mail matter, al
separate and plainly designated
tinctly lettered.
Up Stairs.
In the northeast corner Of the cor
ridor the handsomely carved, pol
lished oak stairway leads to thu
second floor. At the landing is tn,
/, Office OF Surveyor Of the Port j. 4
Johnston, who, by reason Of his con
lection with the treasury depart
. ment, is also custodian of the build
ling. Diagonally across the hall i
! the office for the stamp deputy o
the l0ttIudl TtNcuuO ucpoI tmcut
and then comes the suite Of room
for Col. w. Z. Kings engineer corps
Those On the north side, with tn
colonel's private off, at the ex
IRENE west, being connectd. Their
are other rooms Oh the south sid
of the hall also for Col. Kings forces
These rooms are all, like the post
office department.. furnished 10 oak
there being large mirrors in the off
ces of the surveyor Of the port an
the officer in charge. with fire place
land mantels. and smaller mirrors 10
the outer rooms. At the southwes
lcorner of the floor Is toilet room
On the third floor, which is yet T.
be finished. but will be shortly. Their
will be two more rooms for Col
Kings use. storerooms for the post
loffice, q room for the civil service
board, one for the carriers when Of
Iduty and one for the railway posta