Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-09
AN ENLARGEMENT
Proposed for Augustus Fed
eraI Building.
Postmaster Stinson Gives Journal Facts
Regarding Project.
Bright Prospects for Passage Of Congressman
Bureigh's Bill for This Purpose.

| iIilI bQu'td III 'pIlS ItSS by 1 SIfeSti
tative Burleigh, representative of tn.
| journal called on Postmaster Stirsor
at his office in the federal building. Il
inquire for whatever informat ton coult
| be given at this time. 1t is with ;
! great degree of pleasure that the Jour.
nal is able, this morning, not only t
announce the fact, but to give the citl
Zens Of Augusta the more than vel.
come news that the bill is not only in.
| troduced, but everything is bright as
| to it's prospects for an early passage
| and Il contemplated enlargement of the
building. On being questioned. Mr.
Stinson gave the following facts:
1T is true" he said, that the bill has
| been introduced into Congress. | have
not seen the text Of the bill itself, but
know practically what is intended, and
am very happy to tell the Journal what
| can about it at this time. There are
| of course certain things which at pres
ent cannot be told. and are more mat
ters Of official knowledge and detail
than anything else
The bill introduced appropriatcs q
large sum Of money $100 900 | think is
the amount, for the enlargement of the
federal building at Augusta The in
tcntion is to carry the whole building
back in che rear as far as the iron
fence, and a sufficient sum win BE- an
propriated for it 10 bc built in har-
mony with the prcSrnt design. The
probability is that in extending the
walls back, the northeast tower Will b.
carried back the entire distance ana
there will be on the north side an en-
hankment wall. So that instead of on
mailing door there are - be three
The present jog in the southeast
corner which has been lust 40 much
loss In floor space i+ XIV H. dou, away
with ana the south wall carried OUT
square to the fence. This viii eularg.
both postotiice floors ard also the hase-
mcnt. The building itself from thu
east side viii open directly ont,
TIM street, ana there will BE- III drive
way into the yard as there is at pres
ent.
The entire building win BE- changed
in tho interior ~ meet thu growing az
mands uf thr post office service. There
Viii BE- certain changes made upstairs
in the part now occupied 10y the pen
sion offices and partly by the postal
service. but exactly what they are t.
~ has not yrt been determined"
What is the process" asked tn
Journal man. that viii be gone
through With"
'Eeprt sentative Burleigh has intro
duced this lin into the House He il
( ouc NJ the highest members On the
committee on public buildings and
grounds. and | think / am perfectly
safe in saying that the bill will receive
| favorable attention from the committee
itself ana later On by the House. The
bill having been received by the com
mittee. an intelligent inspector from
the supervising architects office will be
detailed To- examine the present build
ing ana find out the necessities Of the
ease: ana upon that information. sup
I plemcnted by the information when
Will be furnished by this office. The
committee will act. and as | have said.
will act favorably. The action of the
House ana Senate Of course come later
in certain routine order, and while it
is indefinite, this bill will stand way
ahead of others in public building pro-
ce"dings, and is already in most ad-
VantageOuS situation"
can you tell when the bill il likely
to be acted upon"
1T is impossible to give any definite
idea of when this matter will be taken
up either by the committee or by Con-
2rss. but having seen some Of Mr.
Burleish's work in and about Congress
and knowing the Favorable attitude in
which both he and this subject stand
both at the treasury and the post ofiice
1.r ~,
be taken at a comparatively early date
Your readers will remember that bills
do not 80 through Congress in min
ute. and when the public building was
! first suggested for this city it was 4
number Of years before ground was
1 broken"
Then you anticipate some delay"
said the reporter.
i do not anticipate more than ordi-
nary delay caused by the present press
of business ana the fact that every
thing If this kind must go through Il
. certain routine before il is acted upon.
: The bill is II. Il. 81. meaning it is
among the first to be considered and
Will y" high on the calendar On its r.
port back. | know how the SupcrViS-
I ing architect feels in this matter. ana
| | have faith in Mr.. Burcigh'S pcrso
Vcrarce and ability to know that if
anyone can obtain Il prompt and favor
ahln action ii will bv himself AS tn
the Senate SIDE, there : no reason for
surprising there will BE any trouble
there. No bill of this kind carrying So
large an appropriation. and at this
stage Of congressional proceedings
pbIIlI ~ n a f1I-pI-.t hln