The San Francisco call., 1897-02-25

strength OF their associations in one
mighty effort 10 effect the desired object
namely, the beginning of work on the new
Postoffice. The suggestion came from
Julian Sonntag, president of the Manu-
facturers' and Producers Association.
who said: at is high time that something
should be done in the matter of erecting
the new Postoffice. While efforts to have
the work started have been made in the
past, still those efforts have been made bv
individual organizations and not by all
comb bined. There is money on hand for
beginning the work of excavating and
there could be no better time than the
present, when times are none too flush
and when there is plenty OF labor to be
had. 1t would certainly put money in
circulation at time when it would do the
most good.
The five large commercial bodies COM
bined would be able to make a fine show
ing in a demand upon the United States
authorities that the work be commenced.
AS preliminary 10 such q movement
there should be meeting of Hugh Craig,
president of the Chamber of Comme rec !;
A. a. Watkins, president of the Board of
Trade of San Francisco; W.F. Dohrmann,
president of the Merchants Association;
J. F. Chipman. president OF the California
State Board of Trade. and the president OF
the Manufacturers and Producers Asso-
citation (JulIan Sonntag). Arrangements
could be made by which all these leaders
should send to the supervising architect
at Washington and TO the Pacific Coast
Representatives urgently requesting them
10 do something 10 make the funds on
hun Lob for IL r.,
site. ! am willing to do all in my power
to help such a movement along. Some
thing ought TO be done, and that at once"
Hugh Craig of the Chamber of Com
merce stated that ever since the Postoffice
site was selected the chamber has done ali
in It's power to have the work begun. On
four occasions that booy sent most earnest
petitions to Congress, to the Pacific Coast
delegates and to the Treasury officials TO
have the work started. Tne only answer
that has ever been received was that the
PLANS of the building we're being altered
or being prepared in the architects de-
partment Thelast effort in this direction
was in June. 1896, when the Cham Der sent
long, urgent resolutions to WASHINGTON.
In regard to this matter Mr.. Craig said:
''This would be most excellent time for
making use of money that is appropriated
for Postoffice purposes. After the lot on
Seventh street was purchased there was
about $210, 900 left over, which might Just
as we'll as not be used for excavating the
lot, even though the plans for the build
ing proper have not been completed
There is plenty of excavating to be done,
and this would give some relief to the
badly overcrowded labor market. At least
500 men could be put to work clearing
away for the foundation, and every man
should receive the regular price of So O
day for his labor. Something should be
done to relieve the strain, for there are
900 men with families and fully 10Uo single
men who are now in the ranks OF the un-
employed. They must have work, and to
what better use could the Postoffice money
be put than in relieving lot of worthy
men who are willing to work2 By hold
ing a meeting we could frame a petition
to the Secretary of the Treasury, asking
Francisco Postoffice."
Captain w. L. Merry is equally enthusi-
astic in desiring that the first movement
in the erection OF the Postoffice be made.
He said that the Chamb of Commerce,
of which he is the secretary, has made re-
peated efforts to get the people in Wash
ington to do something in the desired
direction, but these petitions or requests
have always been turned off with some
excuse or other. He said that he is con-
vinced that to start the work at once
would be of double benefit, and, with Mr..
Craig, he hopes that the public will take
up this matter and not stop until the
thing desired is accomplished.
J. F. Filcher, manager of the State
Board of Trade, stated that of all things
desirable to San Francisco this is one of
the most, as it would give employment to
a large number of men and thus relieve
the pressure on the labor market. He
said: at seems to me that we have had
enough nonsense about the Postoffice
building. We have the site and plenty of
money to begin the work on the founda-
ton. Other cities have had postoffices
built since the San Francisco Postoffiee
project was started. They got their many
sites and buildings. and we have only
site. I will gladly telegraph to Sacra-
mento to have President Chipman come
down and Join in this conference with the
other bodies. For that matter, | would
round up half of the board for that pur-
pose if it would be OF any benefit"
"The Call" Is Doing Public Service.
City Hall Architect Frank Shea-The
Government is noted, in all other cases,
for pushing work upon public buildings
under its contract rapidly, which makes
the delay here more noticeable and re-
markable. The building should be erected
at once. and The CALL isdoing public