The Indianapolis journal., 1899-03-02
NOW FOR THE SITES.
Question That VIII Soon Overshad-
oW street-Car Talk.


What, never had postoffice-site row in
this town. exclaimed the stranger who had
been here but short time. "well. you
folks have missed half the pleasant things
in life OF course. your long and bitter row
over street cars has sort o. educated you
up to the thing, and you may not get all the
novelty out of IL that other cities have
found. However, you will have a nice
warm time and If the theaters and the
churches saloons and other attractions
should all close up you wouldn't notice it,
for your postoffice site will give you plenty
of entertainment. Half the people in town
will not be speaking to the other half by
the time you get through
The President had not signed the appro-
priation bill yesterday at o'clock when the
discussion began here, but that didn't inter-
fere with ''startin' something in this town.
And this is very easy town when it comes
to ''startin' something in public way.
The forces for the different sites began 10
line up and by dusk three brigades had been
formed One wanted the new building on
the triangular plat bounded by Illinois
street, Maryland street and Kentucky ave-
nue.. One wanted II on the block bound
by Ohio. Pennsylvania, New York and
Meridian streets. Brigade No. 3 insisted
that the present site be retained. Brigade
No. 1 included. among others, Mayor Tag
CART.
For the Kentucky-avenue site ii is claimed
that 1t is nearer the business center than
the present location. and that the Union
Station being only two blocks away, the
movement of mail would be facilitated. The
buildings on the triangle are decrepit af-
fairs for the most part. Against this choice
would be carried away from the lawyers,
all OF whom have offices on the other side
of town. Further ii is shown that a very
small proportion Of the city ffcs towards the
river in the angle formed by Illinois and
Washington street, and that this proportion
transacts an insignificant business with the
postoffice department. Thus the building
would be remote from the greater part Of
the South Side. East Side, North Side, and
would be further away than at present from
| the heart OF the business activities, except
| South Meridian street
In choosing a site in the vicinity Of Uni
| versity Square it is urged that the business
| trend is IN that direction, and that federal
| building there. in ten years. would be IN
| the heart of the city's business The state
ment is made that the federal government
| in selecting sites for new buildings. always
| considers this matter of expansion. AS
| stated in the Journal several weeks ago
| several Of the federal officials here favor
| the purchase Of the block north Of Ohio
| street and facing University Park. This
would give wide streets on each side and
| the park would add materially TO the beauty
and imposing appearance of the structure
| To build here ii would be necessary 10 tear
] down the First Presbyterian Church at
| least, and IL the entire block was taken
| Plymouth Church also. Judge Baker likes
| this site. The Federal Court is now fire.
| quently embarrassed by the street car and
other noises in the present location.
Many property owners near the old build
| ing wish the structure to go up on the site
now occupied. They say that the govern
ment can buy the buildings just across the
| alley running out of Market street and
have sufficient room. The postoffice en-
ployes would dread the work OF removing
| to temporary quarters while the building
was in the process OF erection.
| 1t has also been suggested that site on
| Monument Place be chosen. thus helping
make the Circle one Of the most imposing
| plazas in the world. The southeast segment
| is about the only one available and against
| this 1t IS urged that there would not be
sufficient depth. Still another site is the
| block bounded by Illinois, Ohio. Market
street and Capitol avenue. The demolition
| OF buildings this block would probably
not cost the government as much "a on
/ other blocks. A beautiful building there
would heighten the effect Of the stretch
| frcm the monument to the state capitol
| Some think. however. that a huge building
there would detract from the appearance Of
/ the Statehouse.