The San Francisco call., 1899-11-24
WILL MARK THE
PASSING OF THE
OLD POSTOFF|CE
Main Postal Business
to Migrate.

The moss-grown old postoffice on wash
ington street will soon be deprived OF the
greater part OF its business. While II may
remain for q time in name, the general
postofice for the city. ii will do no more
business than station, which 1t Will be in
fact The registry department Will go 10
the ferry TO Station d. The railway mail
service will seek the same location. After
much negotiation and the exercise OF some
diplomacy on the part OF Harbor Commis-
soner Kilburn. who has been talking with
the United States postal authorities and
others. an assignment OF space near the
foot OF Market street has been reached
which is satisfactory to the Federal Gov
ernment. Not much longer will Station d
be situated in the ferry building. A large
structure will be erected south Of the fer
~ building for the postal station. with the
following dimensions on the ground: East
street front, 96 feet; total length, ~ feet;
width in the rear, 67 feet inches.
That this move has been contemplated
has been kept as secret as possible. In
fact the matter has not been finally
closed, but an agreement has been practi-
cally reached and the final disposition OF
the proposition will be made to-day, when
Postal Inspector Munro and the Harbor
Commissioners will meet The plan for
the structure has been submitted to the
Postoffice Department at Washington and
has met with favor. Postmaster Mon
tague is pleased with II; so are the en-
ployes Of the postal service In this city
The first consideration that arose was the
amount OF rent TO be paid for the station
TO the Harbor Commissioners. 1t was
agreed by the Commissioners that there
should be no increase over the price paid
for the presnt space in and back Of the
ferry depot. That was entirely sausfac-
tory 10 the Federal Government. When
the site for the new building was dis
cussed the postal people were not satts-
fed TO go south OF the ferry depot. On
second thought they were pleased with the
location, because It insured them plenty
OF room, plenty OF light and freedom from
annoying interruptions, which have trou-
bled them In the rear or the Terry depot,
where teams have been constantly passing
between Station D and the dispatching de-
partment on the wharf
The new building will come within
twelve feet Of the electric car tracks on
East street and will extend back farther
east than the ferry building. II will be Of
irregular shape. Part Of IL will be two
SSHf'fs Wiii be only one story high. The q greater
part OF the second story will be occupied
by the railway mail service. Practically
all other departments will be on the
ground floor Some definite idea of its size
may be gathered from the statement that
the ground floor Will cover lS,S94 square
feet, and the upper floor 640O feet. About
one-third only will be two stories high.
This arrangement will leave the ferry
depot TO the use of the railroad companies.
the ferry service and Wells-Fargo's Ex-
press. AS soon as the postal matter is
TO the transportation lines will be made.
Plans have been submitted to the Santa
Fe. but they are not made public pending
final decision. The express company will
probably remain in its present location.
using the dolphin. which has been jointly
occupied with the postal station. There
will be little delay in beginning the new
postal building. A structure is on the site.
but II will be removed. One advantage
which the postal people will have. that
they have not heretofore enjoyed, viii be
a driveway around all sides of the station
This will facilitate the receipt and dis
patching of mails appreciably In point Of
time