The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-04-14
Congressional Committee
Sees Our Post Office and
It's Remarkable Ac-
commodations.
NOT LOST in ADMIRATION
Visitors Inspect the City's
Buildings Will Go to
"Ben Hur" Tonight.


Congressman w. A. Rodenberg Of Illinois,
this morning, when with his coileagues
of the Congressional Committee on Pub
tic Buildings and Grounds, ne inspected
the Postoffice with a view of relieving
Jersey City's needs in postal accommo-
dation. Everybody laughed when POST
master P. f. Wanser gravely assured the
committee that it was.
The committee came from Washington
last night, arriving in this city at nlne
O'Clock In the party were Congressman
David H Mercer, of Omaha, Chairman OF
the committee; E. E. Muller, his secre-
tary; Congressman Richard Bortholdi, OF
Missouri; Congressman June W. Gayle Oh
Kentucky; W. H. Wheeler, clerk OF the
committee; Congressman Rodenperg,
Congressman Benjamin F. Howell ana
Congressman w. D. Daily of New Jersey,
and c. S. Atkinson. They were received
by the committees of the Board Of Trade
Merchants Protective and Hudson City
Business Mems Association. and after
being lodged in the Hotel Washington
were taken to the Jersey City Club and
treated to bowling competition, Con-
gressman Mercer with two men versus j..
A. Dear and two others. the result pelhs
a defeat for the home team by sixty-flve
pins.
At ten O'Clock this morning the comhnl0-
tee were waited upon by the Local COM
mittee. consisting of Messrs. Myron j.
Furst chairman; W. E. Drake, j. A.
Dear. Mungo J. Currie, Robert Anderson
of the Board of Trade; ]. E. Banks, VIM
G. Meyer and Alderman Howeth, OF the
Merchants Protective Association, ana
President H. Rohlffs and Fred j. Stuhr,
representing the Hudson City Business
Mems Association, and Mayor Hoos-
walking across to the Post Office, they
were met at the door of that building by
Postmaster Wanser and Assistant POST
master E. W. Woolley, who escorted them
through the various offices. Just as they
were entering. a crowd of boys and girls
from Gammontown crowded IN, ana,
catching sight of Mayor Hoos, shrlll
scream went up
''Hi, dere's Dewey"
The first thing. which attracted the at
tention of the committee was the cramp-
ed delivery room, and when they reacneu
the swing room, a cubby hole 1ox2O, to
accommodate 90 carriers and II substl-
tutes. Chairman Mercer asked
"What do YOU use this cupboard for?D
ssFor the carriers replied Mr.. Wanser
"T would suggest said one of the COM
mittee. that you should put up oerths
here. or at least racks or hooks, by
which YOU could string up the men by
the heels' Naughter)
The Postmaster having explained the
use of the cupboard" Congressman Mer-
Ger shook his head with as much signifi-
cance as the famous Lord Burleigh shake
Downstairs to the basement where the
records are kept and the cheerful sur
ro,,ndings of furnaces, coal, kindling
wood and a miscellaneous collection OF
rubbish.
| sDear me what is this place for?' asked
Congressman Mercer.
"For our records replied Mr.. Wanser
SIS this where Bill DAILY keep his Con-
gressional records?" slyly asked Con-
gressman Barthodli and there was a
burst of laughter in which the Honorable
w. D. heartily joined.
Congressman Mercer asked how old the
building was, to whom it belonged and the
nature of the surrounding district. Post
master Wanser told him that it was built
about sixty-six years ago and was pur-
chased from Dudley Gregory. He pointed
out the defects of the building, It's limited
quarters and general unitness for the
uses of a postoff1ce and wound up by
saying:-
TITS not much of a postofice."
mo indeed said Congressman Gayle,
who inquired how many sub-stations
there were. On being told there were
twelve and the Postoffice was the only
station for carriers, seemed much sur
prised. Although the committee didn't
saw much one could easily see they We're
NOT much impressed with the Jersey City
| Postoffice's adaptability. They were then
escorted to the room formerly used by
the Supervisor of the Census and U. S.
District Attorney and here a long wait
took place and a general chat was in
obliged in. Mr. Dear and Congressman
Mercer dropped ''Postoffice" and dis
cussed last nights game of bowling.
Mayor Hoos and ex-Mayor Wanser We're
in another corner chatting; Congressman
Rodenberg were swapping yarns with the
newspaper men and the honorable gen
tleman from the Seventh Congressional
District was jesting about his chances as
a running mate for Bryan.
why suddenly interrupted Congress
man Mercer, 1--WE have some possible can
didates here"
"Oh yes.', exclaimed Mr.. Daily there's
yourself for Vice President, Mayor Hoos
| for Governor, and myself Gaughter9
| AT eleven O'Clock the carriages drove UP
to the door and in blocks of four the party
left. proceeding down York street TO Ex-
change place, up Montgomery street to
Newark avenue, thence to Jersey avenue,
past the new Free Public Library, which
the committee said was an exceedingly
/ handsome building, down York street 20
Barrow. to Mercer and to the City Hall,
where they alighted.
On the Journey the various sites We're
pointed out, such as the Cleary College
place an dothers, but no stop was made.
! The committee had previously been
shown map of the downtown district,
where the site suggested were. The selec-
tions viii be made from the following: -
"Block No. 10. Henderson street, 'front.'
| in 100 feet Newark avenue, $50 feet;
| gregory street, 175 fett. Assessed value,
| 900: market value, S150.666. Henderson
4. street SO feet wide; Grove 50 feet and
/ Newark avenue. go feet.
BLOCK No. 236, Grove street, 200 feet;
! Montgomery street 1s5 feet York street.
/ is. feet. Assessed value, $s4 500; market