The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-23
BIG UPTOWN POST OFFICE.
THE DEPARTMENT dLIHE TO THE
NEEDS or NEW rORK CITY.

1t Agrees with Postmaster van Colt That
This City should Have tho Hest Post
ONCE in the Country-A Site Near the
Grand Central station Mny lie Selected.
wAsHINGroN. Nov. pat q conference be-
tween Postmaster. General Smith and Post
master Van Colt OF New York this morning It
was practically agreed that. II possible. legsla-
ton would be secured during the coming ses-
sion OF Congress which would give to New
York the finest Pest ONCE in tho country.
especially adapted to the needs OF the postal
service In that city Mr.. Van Colt represented
to Mr.. Smith that the scri,ce in New York
was so hampered by the great lack OF proper
facilities that II was almost impossible for the
Office to transact It's daily business. Every
available inch OF space In the building has
been utilized and large part OF the working
force has been assigned to quarters in the
cellar where II Ia impossible to secure proper
ventilation and where thUrc Is artificial light
only Not only Is tho health OF the employees
injured by being compelled to work In such
crampod quarters. but tho handling OF the
mail ia done only with the greatest difficulty.
Mr.. Smith agreed with Mr.. Van Colt that the
people OF New York were entitled to the best
service In the country. not only because the
ofIlce Is the largest but because II turns In the
greatest gross and net receipts. The profit to
the Government on the business done in Now
York In one year would build two post offices
such rs Mr.. Van Colt desires. II was stated by
Mr.. Van Colt that he had no desire for a grand
Post ONCE building. costing millions Of dollars.
What New York needed was ground space.
He wanted two.story building. with floor
space sufficient to enable the office to
transact most OF Its business on one
floor The necessary ground space could
not be acquired In the vicinity OF the
present office, without the expenditure OF
site be purchased uptown. somewhere in the
vicinity Of the Grand Central station That 10.
cation would givo easy access to the Grand
England trains could he reached to the ferries
ot the West shore and PeRnsylvania. aud to
other railroad terminals In that part OF the
office. could DO retained as, large downtown
stntion. where the sccond-class matter and
such business as would come into station in
that part OF the city could be properly handled.
tubes on the west side should Ice extended NJ
far ne l25th street and he east side should
have similar service IIo thought that two
the, Post OtIlcc Buil ling should extend over
both blocks. There was no use, he said. in
erecting building 10 last Ave or ten y"nrs.
What should be done was To- erect building
that would answer the needs o' the city for the
next hny years To come. luilding
which would answer al purposes could 10
erected, h.. Thought. for about Sl.uuoOoo.
site. All the. commercI1 organizations in tho
city were In favor Of new Post Onlcr Build
ing being erected up town. nui the project
would recev, their warm !surpor'. As,h"rc
the matter Of public buildings he Thought II n
COOL time to sccur" an appropriation from
Congress FOR this plrrnsr. Mr Smith agreed
with him aud may recommend such action to