The San Francisco call., 1897-06-13
FIRST WORK ON
THE POSTOFFICE
Preparing the Large Lot
for the Federal
Building.
The Ancient Structures Will
Soon Be RaZsd and Carted
Away.
N xt Week the Supervising Architect
Will Ask for Bids, Says o. L.
Spaulding.

The first work of dem olishing the old
buildings standing upon the new Post
Office site was begun yesterday by Con-
tractor o Connor, who offered the Treas
ury Department about 500 for the old
structures. About two months ago two
story building at 553 Stevenson street was
partly burned. and 1t was upon this that
the work of demolition began. The roof
and upper story were partly removed and
within two or three days there will be a
space through into the big lot that is now
incosed bv the nigh fences on Mission
and Seventh streets. The two-story Duild-
ing at SOL Jessie street has been sold, and
it will be carted away bodily in a short
time, as it is still in good order. The
Postoffice property cuts the next house,
No. 549, i'll two in the middle. The part
that is to remain will be converted into a
store, it is said.
The houses in this row, on the east side
OF stevenson street, from 549 to the cor
ner OF Seventh street, may well be called
deserted row." But two of the many
dozen old inhabitants remain. One is a
Mrs. Mclnerny, who occupies the first
floor Of No. 563, which has been sold and
will soon be removed, and the other is a
salOon-keeper named Bachmeyer, who
enth street. The former Will move as
soon as she can find snitable quarters and
the saloon man will move when he is
obliged to. The date set by the Treasury
Department for moving day was June l,
and why the saloon has not closed its
doors is not known.
The proprietor last evening stated that
he is paying rent to the Government, but
uDon being pressed for an explanation he
became secretive, and said that he pay
the rent to the Governments representa-
uves, who have told him to keep his
mouth shut about the rent transaction.
Whether this means that he is staying
overtime rent free or that some one is i'm
posing upon him and collecting money
Improperly is matter of conjecture.
Around on Seventh street, below the
saloon, and on jessie street for several
houses below the big fence the same de-
serted appearance prevails. The shops
and houses are empty and are awaiting
removal or destruction.
In Washington the Pacific Coast repre-
sentatives are moving vigorously to get
the work Of the construction of the new
Federal building started. Hon. Eugene
K. LoCd, the CONGRESSMAN from this dis
trict, has been particularly active. Much
of his time Is spent following up the move
ments of the officers of the Treasury De-
partment in this matter, and his success
may be judged from the following letter:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON, D. c., June l, 1897
Hon. Z. r. Loud House of Representdtives-
MY DEAR SIR: Referring TO the matter OF the
new public building at San Francisco, it gives
me pleasure 10 inform you that the Supervis-
ing Architects Office will be ready to adver-
tise for bids about the 18th inst. Yours very
truly, o. L. SPAULDING.
Senator Perkins also has been a very in
terested worker in the interests of the new
San Francisco Postoffice. To Judge from
all appearances not many months will
elapse before the work on the foundation
will begin, and when that is com plete and
seasoned the rest of the building will 20
skyward at a rapid rate.