New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-25
POSTOFFICE RELIEF NEAR.
CHAIRMAN MERCER THINKS CONGRESS
WILL DO SOMETHING SOON.
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN MAY BE TOO
FAR DOWNTOWN. THEY SAY, ALTHOUGH
FEW ALTERATIONS ARE NEEDED.

FAR DOWNTOWN, THEY SAY, ALTHOUGH
FEW ALTERATIONS ARE NEEDED
we shall try to do something 10 improve the
postal facilities Of this city l think speak for
the committee when I say that we are con-
WINGED that the New-York Postoff1ce needs more
room We may not be able TO get through a
appropriation this session for new Office, but
we are disposed to do something at early
day. and it may be that an appropriation will
be voted this session"
This is what Congressman David H Mercer
chairman Of the House Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds said after making
inspection Of the PostofTice and half dozen
possible sites yesterday afternoon, IN company
with Postmaster Van Colt, First Assistant Post
master-General Heath and the representatives
Of various mercantile and commercial bodies
The committeeman Madison Square Gar
den, and half dozen sites which have been
offered TO Postmaster Van Colt. They returned
TO the Waldorf at $50 o'clock.
There is a great deal to be said in favor Of
Madison Square Garden said Mr.. Mercer. TT
is already built and it can be fixed up in a short
time after it comes into possession OF the Gov
eminent Postmaster Van Colt is going TO send
US data Of how much rent the Government would
save by putting various Federal offices for which
the Government is paying about $4,000
taken for postoff1ce building. 1t may be that
such saving in rent can be effected, beginning
with next year at the latest, that the
mittee will feel disposed to report the appropria-
ton bill out without delay The site Of the
Garden is a poor one, judging from what can
learn. The office ought to be further up
town-probably in the neighborhood Of the
Grand Central Station. But as said before it
can be obtained az once. and that is an ad-
vantage"
COMMITTEE LOOKS AT SEVERAL SITES
After looking at the outside and the inside
Of Madison Square Garden the committee. in
charge of First Assistant Postmaster-Gener
Heath, Postmaster Van Colt William McCar-
roll, r. W. Bainbridge. C. c. Shayne and L. P
Lyon, drove to the Grand Central Station. and
from there they saw number Of sites which in
the opinion Of Postmaster Van Colt are desir-
able. The block between Forty-thrd and Forty
fourth SITS. and Fourth and Lexington ayes, and
the next block between Lexington and Third
ayes. were carefully looked over. They also in
spected the block between Lexington and Third
ayes and Forty-hrst and Fortieth SITS. The va
cant plot between vanderbilt-ave. and Madison
ave. close 10 the Grand Central Station, was
ION the visiting list" though the Congressman
were assured that 1t would doubtless cost too
much. After seeing half dozen blocks which
the Postmaster and Mr.. Heath thought could be
obtained on reasonable terms the delegation
went back to the Waldorf.
Last night the members Of the visiting com
mttee. Messrs Mercer, Norton. Thomas Bank
head. Bartholdt. Gillet Weymouth. Howell
Stewart and Showalter, went to Days Theatre
where they saw The Ambassador" They ex-
pect 10 return TO Washington this evening.
The committee met a number Of business men
at the rooms Of the Board Of Trade and Trans
portation at II o'clock yesterday. They were
received by Chairman William McCarron Of the
joint committee representing fifteen commercial
bodies IN the city Among others who greeted
the Congressman were c. c. Shayne James Tai
cott John W. Pendleton, Cornelius c. Kloff and
President King of the Merchants Association
IMPORTANCE OF THE CITY FELT
Congressman Mercer. in replying to brief re-
marks from William McCarroll, President King
of the Merchants Association. President Shayne
of the Merchants and Manufacturers Board Of
Trade, and President Smith OF the Wholesale
Grocers Association. said that collectively and
individually the committee appreciated the posi-
ton of the city of New York. and believed that
in decade it might become the clearing house
of the world. Mr.. Mercer added:
You keep pace with the Republic, or perhaps the
Republic has to keep pace with you. You travel 50
fast that Congress mas to lie awake nights . keep
up with your procession. To-day people in all parts
relief. The last Congress located seventy-seven
did not forget New-York. which was given mag
nihcent Custom House
Assistant Postmaster-General Heath said:
I have to thank you. gentlemen, for the chance
you have given TO illustrate what have been
preaching for the last two years-relef for the
congestion OF the downtown PostOfice. The faclh-
ties here old fashioned and out or use. and We
need approved methods. No mechanic can perform
good work without tools, and you cannot run a
business house without proper building DON
believe that II to double the force in the
Posroffice here ! would be giving all the relief re
Quired When the present building was opened the
business transacted there was but S2.5500O0 annu-
ally. Now Il is 100000 a year, or one-eishth OF
the postal receipts Of the country My idea or q
great uptown Postoffice is to make II only a dis
patching Office. where the mail can be handled eX-
peditiously and forwarded without delay.
This closed the speech making. and then the
Congressman and the members OF the joint
committee proceeded to the General Postofice
where the entire party greeted by Post
master Van Colt who explained the workings
OF the various departments. The majority OF
the clerks in the Government employ were
found handling the mails in the cellar by arti-
fetal light
The visitors commented on the cramped
quarters in the basement Of the Postoffice. and
the sight OF old men working by artificial light
IN out OF the way corners excited their interest
Postmaster Van Colt assured them that the
local officials were doing we'll they could
with the room at their command
TWO HANDSOME TR0USSE4US.
Two extremely handsome trousseaus left the
workrooms of James McCreery Co, in Twenty