The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-15
Mir. Mercer, Chairman of Com.
mittee, Favorabiy Impressed.
SURPRISED AT COST OF SITE
Mr. Meredith Asked 10 Look Into Question oi
Obtaining Site and Report the Result
10 Him Striking Facts and
figures Here G.veu-Post.
master knight Asks
Temporary Relief.
,x,s,,., D,,natch TO The Times,

Especial Dispatch TO The Times)
WASHINGTON, d. c., FEB. H.-Ihe
committee from Richmond, which appear
ed before tho House Committee on Pubic
Buildings and Grounds this morning In
behalf of tho. erection of a public build
in, at Richmond, has every reason 10 pc
congratulated upon the reception accord
ef II by Chairman Mercer AND the othe'
1nembers of the committee and 10 feel en-
couraeed at the marked attention SNsiF
10 The speeches by them.
MIR, Mercer took occasion himself TO con
tratula;o Messrs. Johnson and Mereolth
upon their modest, clear and fo1coie
presentation of their case, and at ihe
conclusion of the hearing said:
Gentlemen, this is a very strong case;
IT is one that should haze been presented
10 Congress several sessions ago. You
have a city that seems to be growing Nerg
,apidly. but with a healthy, solid growth.
j congratulate you upon the mudesty OF
YOUR statements in regards to your popu-
lation for you have underesumated IL
little whereas nearly every delegation that
comes before US goes aifove lhe llSufes
given by the census of 1907.
THE DELEGATION.
Tho delegation consisted Of B. F- John-
,on wyrdam b. Meredith, l. Rankin. l..
III. Crcnshaw Jr., w. I. Knight ana w.
% Sl5elton. They were accompanied by
C.ptaiu Lamb and W. NJ. IIabliston- cap
1l.n Lamb introduced them 10 Mr. Mercer
and Mr. Johnson was the first speaker.
He dwe1t on the wonderful increase II,
1he population and business OF Rlchnoro
during tho past few years ana gave IL a9
Iris oninion that in a very rev Years 'lie
,ouulation would be doube that OF to-uay.
1ge laid before, the committee statstlcs 70
show the increase of business at lhe pos' =
office and touched on the cohssesIeus ss!s seo4z- eott
,,it;or of the premises now occupied.
MIR. johnson stated that the present
.,ast.otfice buil6i " was completed in 1898.
Me- 3,j,er'l;, Richmond ad only population of
,, 35 onO and although some improve
m : and changes have been mace III 1t
since. that it was one OF the most con con-
:sested Government buildings In 'iiis cou1i-
Try.
STRIKING FIGURES.
Iio then read letter from Henry a.
Castle Auditor of the Treasury Depart.
n1ent, giving the gross receipts .ot 1ne
Riaf1nond post-office at different perlods
for the past thirty years. Inc hSureS
Irere most striking and interesting, as
follows: .,-oo .o
1870 0.....-.---........ --..-.---..S o-'SSS os ..
7I-5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. q, SS2 II
1SSn .................-... S7,65I s.
1,S, ............-.......... l12, 10 o.
4
l2ag 20 81 81
90" 260StH 20
19 o ...-------.----.'.'''.'t.'. oSn G., n
,an1 .....................--. 2eU,o.l II
Nr Johnson called attention to the
fnct that Richmond had one OF the pest
e,ransed city halls in the United States
,onstIn9r 81 100000 and argued that the Ma
tio,ial Government should have q bulIu-
inr fully equal TO the one pfovloeo "
~ lily IJe showed that in Richmond
7
,,iants employing nearly SOogO hanus, anu
3r,t Tho total value of the products OF
+,nse enterprises last year was apou.
1000. $50. or an increase OF more 'ii''i
s. O6oO 600 over the year before
lIc presented a letter from James y
,,Shcclcr. DEPUTY Commissioner of the
treasury Department in Washington,
,rntainine- the following figures showing
The growth of receipts in the Revenue DC
INartment: ., 5.e1o-, =,
Year ending June 90 iSa- $l.25S.Vl w - -
Wear ending June 80, lSS5..:... l,5ls'S.S %
year ending june 80 1S9o.....- ,S2i Is
ysar ending June so, 1S95...... l,62sses '.
Var ending June so, 19oo...-.. S,66.,SSl %
Year ending June so. lsVl. ..... S.su''''o -
C0ITRT-ROONS CROWDED.
Mr. Meredith followed with very aoiS
,.esentation of the condition OF the
rci1rt-rooms and gave graphic descilp
1,,n of the difficulties, familiar 10 ah
1;tchuond people. OF properly holding the
sessions OF the Federals courts.
.Why. ] assure you, gentlemen saIa
-Ir Meredith, that the folice eourt "a
iJ2ichrond has far better accommoda-
,t.ns than the Circuit Court Of Appeals.
j4o said that he represented not oIlS INC
lar OF Virginia. but the bar of the 11Ne
states included in the circuit "."se los.
,oprt IVES held at Richmond Inc
eiamped offices of the Internal revenue
,ciN-ica and the customs We're also oe-
Fciibcd.
Mr. Mercer asked a great many cues
lions and brought out the question OF Tue
.lie He expressed surprise when told a
suitable one would cost sl5o.0oO rms
Yrice was quoted as being one that must
;,J paid for site on Main Street
Nir Mercer said he saw no necessity OF
,cratipE the postoffice on Main Street,
eiace. owing to the carrier system. COM
,,aratively few people would need TO so
Ia the postotiice lie did think, however,
that ii was necessary TO have 1t WITHIN an
eighth of a mile of the Union station,
and requested Mr. Meredith to look into
,hs matter and report to him what sites
confd be had and at what price IN that
locality. BE agreed with the Suggestion
OF Mf. Meredith that on accouf. OF ils
historic interest the old building be kept
nv the Government, and expressed the
oninion that a new building might be
nrected for part Of the Government OIL
fees and the old building retained Tor
The rest.
MIR. KNIGHT HEARD.
Mr.. Knight was called upon for state
rneut in regard to the need OF an add
tion to the present building, for the tenn
porary relief Of the postoftice
Postmaster knight showed that the
money order department. where over
Ss,oeo,eoo were handled annually. was
crowded into room ten by eighteen
feet. IN this were desks, typewr,iters and
.etter press. The registered letter de-
I,,ortrnept mas IN n room OF the same size