The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-07
WORKING FOR A
NEW ?. 0. HERE
MR.. FLETCHER WANTS ONE TO
COVER "A WHOLE BLOCK.
Congressman Has Been Consulting with
the Postmaster General and the Gov
eminent Architect About 1.-THE
Building Of New Union Station
Would Determine Location.

Congressman Loren Fletcher has I'M
dertaken the task of securing new
postoffice building for Minneapolis.
The new building is to be exclusively
for postal service and the present
building retained for the use Of the
other federal Offices. The cost Of the
900 to $2,OOo,OOO, and about $5O0,OO0
of which will be for the site.
Mr.. Fletcher has already taken the
matter up with the postmaster general
and the government architect. The
Minneapolis postoffice business has
shown remarkable growth and the ne
cessity of preparing for the future is
apparent to the department. A bill
for an appropriation sufficient for the
purchase of the ground will be intro
site will be selected and purchased at
once. The work can then be done by
annual appropriations.
To Cut Out stairways.
A building covering the crater part
of a block is contemplated SO that the
working and sorting rooms may all be
Of two or threesiory front, the great
er part Of the building will be but one
story high. This style Of building has
been found the most convenient. The
department in the last few years has
advocated the purchase of less expensive
sites and the erection of buildings more
for use than ornament.
ing for the future. Were there a large
union railway station in the city, the
government would advocate the erection
of the building on property Immediately
adjoining, so that mailcars could be
switched into the postoffce. At pres
ent the government pays 81, 900 year
for carrying Minneapolis mails to the
stations. and this expense could be done
away with.
>,..- Deficit in the Way.
FThere will be one great obstacle in
the way,'' said Mr.. Fletcher today
and that is the condition Of the treas
ury For the eleven months ending
June l, there was deficit of $37 ,0O0,-
900. Our revenues are constantly in
creasing, but not as fast as our expen-
ming behind. The president is advocat.
ing extensions Of the navy and the
army, all Of which comes out Of the cur.
rent revenues. s-
This means that important river and
| harbor improvements and improvements
| in public buildings will be hindered
| Our revenues must increased in some
| lllduuGI, LUZ Cuo SApOuoOS CdAAOt NC l Q
duced. In addition to this, the presi
dent and others propose a revision OF
the tariff which will further reduce the
revenues.
"The building Of the isthmian cana
from the current revenues has already
resulted in the expenditure Of between
$50, 100000 and $60,000,000 from tn
fund that would naturally be used fol
internal improveme From thu
first I advocated the construction o:
the canal by the issuance Of long term
low per cent bonds, thus throwing thu
load Of building the canal on the future
where, I believe, it belongs.
"The only way / see for providing
for the necessary Improvements of thu
next few years is to return the lars!
amount already expended on the cana
to the treasury where it belongs ant
to bond the canal work. Then, if NOR.
is needed, we can call for an additional
stamp revenue similar to the war tai
levied during the Spanish war. TIL
first principle in any business is tina
the income must at least equal tn
necessary expenditure before anything
can be done.'' -