The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-04-28
NEW PUBLIC BUILDING
WHAT A PROMINENT CITIZEN
THINKS OF THE SUBJECT.
He Believes that II VIII Take at Least
a Hall Million to Erect a Suit
able Structure.

81 saw by recent issue OF The Post,
remarked prominent citizen yesterday,
''that Congressman Ball has introduced
bill approprlatlng $4,000 for N site for
new public building in this city. He is to
be commended for his attention to our
interests.
Some people who are not Informed on
the subject may think thnt the sum he asks
for the purchase Of site is large, but the
fact is IL Is modest Property on Main
street has recently reached the very high
price Of nearly 5000 per front foot. aud at
that rate $4,000 viii only buy seventy
I've feet. Now, don't say that the new
building should be on Min street, hut 1t
shouie be close to It. II block were rur-
chased for the site it would be none 100
large aud figuring on the basis OF go feet
tn the square a payment Of $4,000 woaid
only represent 5000 per front foot Business
sites in different parts of the city are pelng
sold daily here for greater price thuh
that Say that only q haf DOCK was
bought and 1T certainly VIII require tunt
much tcrritory-therc will be very Ittle
vacant spnre over tho extent required by
the regulations II Postmaster Strong estl-
mate that a building lOoxlOo ought TO y.
erected is correct Real estate Is yalu@hia
here now, aud 1t has no hetltouSsDasls eltl-
er. The city Is growing moro rapidly prom,
ably thnn any other place IN the South, and
holders are aware OF the worth or houston
dirt. These facts. and they are incontro
vertiblo. dispose OF any suspicion that the
sum asked for for a site is too large
In this mornings Post Mr.. strong ms
cussed the present needs or Houston iof u
public building. lie says that the volume
Of postoffce busines, now transacted mere
requires almost twice rs much space as IS
ayailabl" tn the present Federal hmIHltL.
He makes the further astounding assertion
hot tt4t, I'm
M the rate Of % per cent since july J.,
1901. No suror Indication Or community 5
prosperity can lac found than an increase IN
It's postal receipts This Increase comes
10 Houston, not MS the result of n.n'
but as result of the growing ku"WiedIe
throughout the country OF the city naNun-
tages Necessarily then. it will continue.
and tho postmaster SAYS the rate VIII
compound rapidly. Such being the case,
what viii Houston need i've years hence IN
the nature NJ quarters for me transaction
NJ her Federal business? Mr.. Strong says
We need now building iuoNlpN. four
stories high with n basement. and WhRt J.
will have "a say further ON this subject Wlll
he along the lines NJ present necessities
IS outlined by the postmaster.
"The question Of tn value ~ site hay.
iug been settled. shall an Inadequate 0hI
ohenn structure he piaccd on yaluahi" prop,
erty? There is M ratio thar kno" ~
thar should be observed between reaitv aud
the improvements thereon, hut IN thi' in
stance II appears inst the building erected
IN o SiIN.OOO lot should cost NJ least three
times that much. OF SijrO". TaakinE the
total OUTLAY Of SGoD .OOO; and yrt, HS I stated
before We arc only figuring Ia accommodate
present needs.
The people nj Houston should take w
this matter actively. and IL they viii as
sist Congressman Ball rs they should No
will succeed ir securing an appropriation
sufficient Ia erect building large enough
10 accommodate the prstofhcc, the new
Federal court tho irrespective Internal rev
enue office. and the customs force that
81 e aHfNHHg