Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-02
UPS AND DOWNS
OF POSTOFFICES
AGITATION FOR A PERMANENT
SITE IS OVER
Although Bats and Foreigners lnhabit
Wrecked Main Street site a Mil
Ilon-DoIlar Building Is
In Prospect

Main street is not now one of the
SHOW places" of the city, but there
was a time when the people rejoiced
that the government appropriated
$4,000 to provide for the purchase of
the corner lot and the erection Of the
two-story brick building. Before that
structure was erected i'm 1887 the hand
ling Of the mail matter in this BOOM
ing city OF Los Angeles was far and
away the hardest proposition In the
business affairs of the community. So
the commercial life was so rapidly
expanding, the real estate and other
propositions were so numerous that the
facilities of the local postofflce were
totally insufficient to serve the pub
lie promptly. There were days when
the mail matter had to be dumped into
the lot of the office and route men were
called in off the trains to assist the
local postmaster to sort letters and
papers ready for delivery. The bulging
mail sacks came in from the east with
every train and for long time the
clerks were simply swamped.
The plans provided for the building
of the office in 1887, but an attempt
was made to induce congress to in
crease the appropriation as 1t was gen.
orally conceded that the sum of $150,0O0
was too small to provide for suitable
office and equipment. Building opera
tions were delayed for year, and the
application for the increase of appro-
priation having been denied, the struc-
ture was erected on the original plans
and the office occupied it in 1S90-91.
The building was vacated in March,
1901, and the temporary quarters at
the corner of Seventh and Spring
streets we're leased and occupied until
November of the present year.
What Flint Does
Postma ster M. II. Flint is probably
the busiest man in the community
every day in the year. The position of
postnaster in Il city the size OF Los
Angeles is one of great and eXactlng
RESPONSIBILITIES. The postmaster is a
public servant and every day in the
course of his routine and other work
he is reminded of the fact. He is the
resident representative of the postoHlce
department at Washington and the
president and the postmaster general
look to Postmaster Flint to give the
neonle of Los Angeles prompt service
in the delivery and transmission of all
mail matter. There is no rest in the
work. 1t is an every day task, put
the system is thoroughly arranged ana
the large and competent corps of as
sistants from the chief down to the
ianitor carry out the details with the
precision of clockwork.
More Money Wanted
The fact that the government has
made an appropriation of $S5OOOO for
the erection of new postoffice build
ing on the Downey premises on Spring
and Temple streets, is matter of
general congratulation. The impor-
tance of Los Angeles as commercial
center, the rapid growth of the city
and the business interests generally
demands a public building that Will
meet all the requirements of the COM
munity for many years in the future
The sum of $S50,OOO to many will look
like a large sum, but there are bust
ness men who have great faith in the
development of Los Angeles, who be-
lieve that the appropriation should
have been much larger. But the bill
went through with the amount of
$S5O,OOO in the appropriation line and
that is all the money available, unless
the efforts now being put forth for
an increase of S25O,OO0 for the post
Office building are successful.
The old postoffice lot on South Main
street has been out of commission for
government use ever since 1901. 1t
is now valued at $250O0O. 1t has been
suggested that the lot be sold and the
money derived from the sale be added
to the $S50,0OO, thus making total of
s., 100000 for the new building Post
master Flint and others who are
working to this end believe that bill
to this effect will go through congress.
The enabling act is now in the hands
of the committee and Senators Bard
and Perkins and Congressman Nc
Lachlan are putting forth their best
effects to secure its passage.
Main Street Lot Useless
Postmaster Flint said yesterday:
"We ought to have all the money
available for the new building. The
old lot on Main street is now of no
use for government purposes. 1t would
be fine site for handsome business
block and If ordered sold by the gov
ernment would bring a large sum of
money, which should be applied TO the
erection of the new postoffice struc-
ture. We are waiting to learn the
fate OF the enabling act now pending
in congress. 1t should meet with IA
vor. but nothing can be done toward
arranging final plans for the new
building until after congress adjourns
The architects win not touch any of
the plans for the building until it is
known what amount of money is
available. Los Angeles wants the
rta,,v ~ nroVide for a huiIdino 70 cost