The San Francisco call., 1897-02-27

CISCO mas placeu llSelA III III tnH eyes Oi
those at the capital is that of a semi-Dar-
baric people. / will show you how.
1.-TWO years ago Secretary Carlisle was
intending 10 start the work of building
the new Postoffice here, and word to that
effect soon reached this City. What
was the result? Immediately after the
Examiner of San Francisco came out
with columns denouncing the site as unfit
for such a structure and declared that the
site was boghole and that the masons
could not build the walls fast enough TO
keep the last row of bricks above the sur
lace, so fast would the whole structure
sink. Even editorially the paper declared
that the building should never be placed
on the site selected. The Report took up
the matter in the same in. These edi-
torials and local clippings were sent by the
dozens to the Secretary in letters, in which
the writers, basing their assumptions upon
this newspaper rot, advised Mr.. Carlisle
not to let the work be done there.
"1he result was just what might be ex-
pected. The Secretary quit then and
there and said that he would not be re-
sponsible or take any chances upon max
ing a mistake that involved so many hun
dred thousand dollars of the Govern
ment's money. As l said these papers
and the people of this City are wholly re-
sponsible for this long delay in beginning
the construction OF this Federal building,
and not the architect nor the Secretary.
The latter showed desire even after re-
ceiving these newspaper clippings and the
letters to do all that he could and had a
board of military engineers rebore the
nd 81 > ~,
report showed that the foundations would
be as good as any in the City. In other
words, good and solid. On another occa-
sion the Examiner published articles in
which it said that we do not need such
building south of Market street and these
clippings were also sent 10 the officials at
Washington, which did not in any way
hasten the work contemplated.
"Then again the plans of the building
. have been attacked by people in this City.
brought out prospectus view of the
new Postofice and put it on exhibition.
1t was at once denounced by Willis Polk
as being unsightly and having the appear
ance of q cross between a Madison square
boarding-house and brewery. He stated
that his opinion was shared by the editor
OF the American Architect. but that gen.
tleman wrote to me and he Endorsed the
plans as good. So you see the people
themselves are TO blame for all this delay.
The Secretary OF the Treasury could not
consistently go on with the work with OBJ
iections to the plans and the stability of
the foundations seriously questioned.
Years ago l showed that the Seventh
street lot was never a bog, but 10 the con-
trary that there was hill forty to sixty
feet high over the present site. 1 even
produced the afidavits ot the men who
graded the lot to its present level for
Pope & Talbot
e ]. A. Filcher at this point made an ex.
celIent suggestion by saving: Admitting
all this TO be true would not petition
and request from our combined respective
bodies counteract the impressions made at
Washington? Tne members of our several
commercial and industrial organizations
are the representative citizens of San
Francisco, and a strong petition from us
would impress the officials at the capital
with the true sentiments of our people.
This should be our object in dealing with
this proposition, and it would pave the
way TO our getting what we want from
the Federal Government, and without
. much delay, think"
Mr.. Emery-I am of the same opinion
as Mr.. Filcher. By showing in the way
indicated that the true sentiment here is
friendly instead of hostile to the project
We could no doubt get the work of exca-
waiting for the foundation started very
soon.
Chairman Sonntag-I am sure that with
such an understanding our several bodies
would take up this matter in earnest and
that our friendly attitude, as representing
the true and unseltsh sentiments of the
people of San Francisco, will show Secre-
.tary Carlisle exactly how the representa-
tive. people of this City view the sltua-
ton.
Colonel Irish-If this matter is taken
up in such a manner and in such a spirit
your wishes can, L am sure. be gratified.
Call together the mem bers of your organi-
cations, pass appropriate resolutions and
draft petition 10 the Pacific Coast Sena.
tors and Representatives and to the Sec
retary of the Treasury as to what is
wanted. There will no doubt be an extra
session of Congress called for about March
II. Have the Pacific Coast representa- tiyes
ask for an additional appropriation of
about $780, COO There is on hand now
available about $240,0 With these two
sums of money there would not be any
necessity OF stopping the work after it is
begun, waiting for the next regular Con-
gress to act upon such an appropria ton
as 1 suggest
Hugh Craig stated that he was convinced
that the plan offered would meet with sue
cess. He is sure that there will be much
less delay. he said, in this work than is
anticipated. The Chamber of Com
merce, of which he is the president, has
had this subject under consideration on
several occasions and much CORE
spondence has passed between the cham
Der and Secretary Carlisle. The last
letter upon this subject sent to the Secre-
.tary was in the nature of an inquiry as to
the present situation upon the entire
Postoffice proposition. To that the follow
ing self-explanatory letter was received:
Treasury Department.,
Office of the Secretary,
Washin gton, ID, c., December 1, 1S96>
Mr.. Hugh Craig, Presides.t the Chan.-
Der of Commerce of San Fran cisco, Sa,,
FrHnci CO, Cal
Sir: Referring to your communication
of July 81, 1896, relative to the made
quate facilities of the present Postoffice
building in your City, and requesting
the early commencement OF the con-
struction of the proposed Federal build
ing in San FranciscO, 1 have to advise
you that since the receipt of your letter
the sketch plans of this building have
been completed and apDroyed. and III.