The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-25

In the light Of the new attitude Of
the government on the public building
question, as outlined in the Washington
dispatch printed below, it is possible
that Minneapolis will have a one-story,
substantial, ireproof, utility postoffice
building near the new Union station. ri
With the removal Of the postoffice the
federal building then will be occupied
entirely by the other departments as
they expand to meet new conditions of
growth In Minneapolis.
Experience in the temporary lake
front postoffice structure at Chicago
proved that clerks working under good,
direct light were much more efficient
than with the use Of artificial light.
The same has proven true in the new
postoffice there, comparing the effic-
iency of the clerks working in the low
daylighted portion of the structure,
with those employed under the dimly
lighted dome.
The following special dispatch bear
ing upon the postoffice situation was
received last night from W. W. Jer-
name, Thu 10 ur rs Washington
correspondents:
Washington, Feb. 24.-Leslie NJ.
Shaw, secretary of the treasury, has
come to believe that the best solution
Of the public problem in large cities
is the erection of one-story- and base
ment buildings, Immediately adjacent
to railroad stations, for postoffce pur-
poses, leaving the old federal buildings,
with which all large cities are already
provided, for the use Of other branches
of the federal service. A hint of this
policy was given by Chairman Bartholdt
at hearing given to the Minneapolis
delegation yesterday. It is reflected in
Secretary Shaw IS report on the Fletcher
bill, which was submitted to the com
mittee the latter part Of last month.
| The treasury department doess not
make any recommendations touching
the necessity for building provided
for in any particular bill, but it is sig
nifcant that the report on Fletcher Z
bill only discusses and estimates for 6
one-story-and- basement building. The
report says: -. s.e.'. q. -,r 81.
att is estimated that a one-story
and basement building Of $4,000 square
feet, ground area, will be sufficient fol
a postoffce at Minneapolis, and that
non-freproof building Of the dimension:
indicated, completed, will cost 100000
exclusive of site. It is estimated tina,
a suitable site can be secured fol
100000 ADDITIONAL y-~s ~~*
No Site Commission.
AS in his report on the bill intro
duced by Mr.. Lind in the last con
gress, the secretary suggested that tn
provision for a commission to select /,
site be eliminated, the practice obtain
ing with smaller buildings, to have
treasury agent make an Investigation
and report, having been found satisfac
tory. The secretary also suggests tina
thirty feet, as proposed in the Fletche
bilI.e I n
A high. official Of the treasury de
partment, who had several years. ez
perience with the construction Of pub
lie buildings, said today:
4 "Congress ought to authorize one
story buildings Of sufficient dimension
for all large cities where public build
ings are already provided, and this in
cludes practically all Of them, leavin
the old buildings to be occupied b.
other branches Of the government. TIL
business OF other departments doesn
grow very fast, and in nearly ever
case the present buildings will affor
adequate accommodations for court!
internal revenue, customs, land, offc
and miscellaneous government work flo
years to come. This ism It the case wit
postoffces, as the cities themselves ar
growing and the postoffce bushes
with them, so that material expansio
i Of accommodations is necessary ever
few wears. With separate postoffc
; buildings, this expansion can be met b
the construction Of an additional stor
or extension Of the building on tn
ground = .:
Will Pull Every Wire.
The estimate Of Messrs. Hale an
Nye at yesterdays meeting of the CON
mittee as to the cost Of site for
! building at Minneapolis, agrees wit