New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-02
DISCUSS P. R. R. SITE
Purchase for Ne5c Postofce AdOo-
Gated BIZ Senator Depe5c.
Trnox THE TRIBUNE BUREAU


Washington April 1.-The proposed purchase
of the Pennsylvania site for the New-York
postal sub-station occupied a considerable por-
ton of the Senate's time this afternoon When
this provision Of the Postoffice Appropriation
bill came I'D for consideration yesterday neither
Of the New-York Senators was present, and so
IL went over until to-day. When the provision
was reached again to-day, on the second read
ing Of the BILL Mr.. Depew took the floor and
explained the extreme necessity for increased
mail facilities in New-York and the advantages
to be derived from the purchase Of the Pennsyl-
vania site.
The amendment met some opposition. both the
Senators from Colorado objecting TO it. Senator
Lodge came TO the assistance OF Mr.. Depew, but
neither was able to satisfy the Democratic OPP
ponents and when adjournment was taken
vote had not been reached. Mr.. Patterson
argued that the Pennsylvania company had
paid an average price of S14 60 a square foot
for $4,000 feet Of ground. and that It now pro-
posed 10 sell to the government $4,000 feet of
ground retaining for itself the use Of the sub
basement, at the same price square foot. less
Sl17,e0o which, he maintained. was too small
a reduction, in view of the fact that the rail-
road could hardly sell the same property TO any
other purchaser, and that the site possessed~no
street frontage save such as the railroad would
provide by bridges over 40-foot excavation.
Mr. Depew said he understood that the value
Of the property was estimated at S2,236,0oO. and
that the railroad was selling II to the govern
ment for 100000. Mr.. Patterson replied that
the estimate quoted was placed on IT by Preei--
dent Cassatt of the Pennsylvania who arrived
at it by figuring that the government should
pay tvo-thirds the total of the land it actu-
ally occupied above the sub basement and one
third the cost of such space the railroad re-
served fo= lighting its underground station
Senator Depew answered that he was not fanil-
lar with the details. but had every confidence in
President CasSstt and in the valuation he placed
on the land, to which Mr.. Patterson replied:
He being the man who has the land TO sell
But Mr.. Depew reiterated his confidence in Mr..
Cassatt's Judgment. lie added. however. that
the bill before Congress merely authorized the
purchase OF the land price not to exceed
So 600 600, ana that all responsibility would rest
the Postmaster General. whose duty 1t would
be TO purchase the land at lower price II that
were possible. The Senator said that new
railroad would ever enter New-York from the
north, land i'm that direction too high in
price. and right of way would prove too costly:
He did not believe. either. that any railroad
would ever attempt 10 cross the river as the
Pennsylvania mad DONE as that would cost at
least SloO,pO0,on1. For these reasons he said
that the construction of a postal station over
the tracks of the Pennsylvania and New-York
Central could not be regarded as barring other
roads from special advantages in the future.
Mr.. Depew believed. rather, that the ''commu-
nifty OF interests" existing between the railroads
would hereafter induce any road seeking en-
trance to New-York TO avail itself of the Union
Station. He declared that he, more than any
other man. had been responsible for the act
creating the Board of Railway Commissioners,
which had taken the railways out OF politics.
He believed in a close alliance between the rail-
ROADS and the government, and that the gov
eminent should exercise a certain supervision
over the roads. the justice Of his contention hav-
ing been recently illustrated by the merger de-
cison.
At this point Senator Teller requested that the
matter go over. and the Senate adjourned.