Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-11-28
SELECTING SITES TOR PosrOFFIcEs.

AS yet no one has shown up in
Decorah to purchase for the govern
ment the site for Decorah's new
federal building. and several of our
property owners and others are still
on the anxious seat.
A Washington correspondent in dis
cussing the location of federal post
Office sites sends the following to
Iowa papers. which describes the
points considered in making deci-
sion:
The suggestion of First Assistant
Postmaster General Hitchcock that
the selection of postotfice sites and
the architecture of the buildings to be
erected thereon should be under the
direction of the postmaster general in
stead of the treasury department, has
attracted much attention in cities to
be provided with public buildings
under the recent public building act.
1t is true that some years ago num-
Der of buildings were erected which
might well be termed monstrosities,
which were not suited to the needs
of postoffices but those now in
course of construction from plans
prepared under the present architect,
James Knox Taylor are not only
more pure in design than those Of
former years, but they are being
built to meet the demands for which
they are intended and not solely for
pleasing the eye.
But it is not so much the style of
the building that Mr.. Hitchcock
criticises as the selection of loca-
tions for the buildings. The burden
of his song is that the treasury de-
partment, in a majority of cases,
selects sites too far from the railroad
stations, thereby increasing the cost
of handling the mails. He would
place the postoffice of every city
within eighty rods of the railroad
station and put the cost of transpor.
tation of the mails to and from the
depot on the railroad company.
In discussing with your correspon-
dent. Mr.. Hitchcock's declaration, a
high official of the treasury depart
ment explained how that department
went about the work of selecting a
site, and what the agents were in
structed to consider before making
their reports. In the first place"
said he, "the agent learns through
observation whas portion of the town
is most frequented by the citizens
what streets are mostly traversed by
the people. He then finds the center
of business. and il a proposal for a
site in that part of the city is on his
list he examines it thoroughly as to
water accommodations. foundations,
ETC., after which he measures the dis
tance to the railroad station. Public
sentiment is also taken into consider
alton as we'll as the probable direction
of the growth of the town. In most
cases, for some unknown reason, the
city is built up toward the northwest
so the inspector considers where the
business center will be located in the
future and acts accordingly. 1t is not
an easy matter to please everybody
and the selection of a site for pub
lie building is one of the most thank
less jobs l know OF"
The postoffice department. is always
consulted regarding these matters. and
any suggestions made by its officials,
are given consideration. Before the
plans for a federal building are ac-
cepted they are passed upon and
approved by a commission consisting
of the secretary of the treasury, the
postmaster general and the secretary
of the interior.