Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-16

verified into a grass plot. There will be a
paved roadway back of the building from the
north to the south side, for the accommoda-
ton of mail wagons, with a circular court
midway between the street to enable the
wagons to turn around. 1t is possible also
that this roadway will be constructed with
a view to having street car tracks laid over
it in anticipation Of the time when Omaha
shall have mail cars on its street car lines.
There will be no walks for pedestrians from
the Seventeenth street side to the building,
but the keep off the grass sign will be
everywhere conspicuous. The front and sides
of the building will be cut UP into ten-foot
grass plots, with entrances to the building
from the north and south. in addition to the
main entrance on Sixteenth street. There
will be heavy curbings around the block ad-
joining the street and inside Of the walks
there will be pretty granite curb
ing, projecting about a foot and a half above
the level of the walk.
MORE MONEY AVAILABLE.
The passage of the sundry appropriation
bill by the senate during the past week re-
moves another and possibly the last OBJ
stacle to the rapid completion OF the post
office building. That bill carries S25, 900,
completing the original appropriation for
the work, and an additional S1O0 200 to make
up for an extra expense incurred in changing
from sandstone to granite in the superstruc-
ture of the building. With this money 1t Is
expected that the building will be placed in
CDHulllUu lot occupancy.
The first effect of the appropriation Will
probably be the drawing up of specifications
by the department at Washington for the
furniture OF the building. This will require
lone little time, and after the specifications
shall have been drawn advertisements will
at once be made for bids on the contract.
1t looked a few days ago that delay in pass
ing this appropriation might prevent the
occupancy of the building by the postoffice
this year. AS it is it seems that nothing but
unseen distractions will prevent the fulfill
ment of the promise made by Superintendent
Latenser several months ago.
That the federal officeholders living in this
city expect that the building will soon be
completed is shown by the fact that they
are now engaged in a friendly scramble for
location of offices. In several cases officers
have made claim to the same suite OF rooms,
but the matter will probably be settled with
Dut the calling in of assistance from Wash
ington.
The first floor will be occupied entirely
by attaches of the pOstOffice. Every depart
ment of the postofice will be on this floor,
and the accommodations furnished them win
be unexcelled in any city. In addition to
the departments there will be a suite OF
three rooms at the northeast corner to be
occupied, one by the postmaster, one by his
deputy and one for a general business office.
The local civil service board, which Is In
charge of an attache OF the postofice, will
have an Office at about the middle OF the
Capitol avenue front. A room adjoining this
"-hi pfopub'y Nv S"N'fN' ~
inspector.
Tn district attorney will have a suite of
three rooms in the northeast corner on the
second floor, while the revenue collector will
have four rooms In the southeast corner.
Judge Munger will have two rooms in the
mifdle of the Dodge street front. while the
corresponding rooms on the Capitol avenue
front will be used for the grand jury and
witnesses.
The third floor contains the two court
rooms. The marshal viii have the three
rooms In the northeast corner. and the clerk
Of the circuit court the three rooms In the !
southeast corner. The tower room, on this
floor, will be used for the library and for the
circuit judge, Between that and the rooms
occupied by the clerk of the circuit court
will be a room for the clerk OF the district
court. |
NEW OFFICER PROBABLE.
The weather bureau will occupy rooms on
the fourth floor. facing Capitol avenue. and a
platform has been erected on the roof on that
wing OF the building to the 1
used In that branch OF the gov
eminent service. The railway mail serv- 4
Ice VIII probably occupy rooms In the south
wing or the building on this floor. although /
the exact location has not been settled. Chief
Clerk Van Deryoort says ex-Postmaster Gen
eral Wilson recommended the appointment of
an assistant superintendent OF the service
Tor each OF the larger cities. which would
include Omaha. II this should be approved
by congress. 1t would be necessary for this
branch of the service to have much more
room than It has In the present building,
where 1t is now so crowded that 1t is diff
cult to transact business. On this floor
also there will be jury rooms, and detention
rooms for prisoners being tried,
DR. Miller, as collector OF customs. has
not yet selected his quarters. Probably as
OF the building he feels 1t is in
eumbent upon him TO stand aside till the
other officers shall first be served. But
there are plenty Of good rooms which have