Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-02-15

It IL believed that when Uncle Sam
learns the value OF the eieva tor in the
Federal Building, 20 the people Of
Wilmington, and the entire State, for
that matter, be will begin 60 think
seriously about restoring the service.
During the past few days, since the
elevator has been idle, many com
plants have been heard, and If the
Washington authorities could be here
for a while Il is believed that they
could not resist the general domand
ITO have the car again set in motion.
The custom house and internal reve-
nu1 office are located on the third floor
of the building, which can now be
reached only by ascending two long
lfiRhts Of stairs-four flights, for that
matter, 40 each ascent is divided into
two. The internal revenue Office is
one OF thesbusiest in the city, and. IL
is believed, aside from the postotloe,
which 10 on the ground floor, takes IN
more money. IL is estimated that 500
hpoople have business, regularly, with
fthe revenue Office, and some Of them
visit u daily, while there are a few
who 20 there oftener. All who nre
lgubiect 10 the internal revenue tax
have to purchase their stamps in that
oiice, and ns many Of them are old
lmen, u is hardship for them to climb
flour flights Of stairs, but under the
hpreHent arrangement there is no alter
Inative. Urole Sam requirls them to
hpay tho tax or run the risk Of being
lprosscuted for not doing SO, and docs
mot provide them with means Of reach
1ng the Office, except as indicated
above. Besides the Wilmington people
4 H.. al
Estate having business in this Office.
The custom house, which, as stated,
lis alao on this floor, iB another place
which does a large volume of business.
All OF the boats entering and clearing
must send q representative there to
Hook after the entrance and clearance
papers, while it is also necessary for
people receiving goods through the
custom house 20 transact business
there. Many of the people having
business with this office are residents
Of other cities, some being foreigners,
ard they are wondering why there is
no elevator service In q place of the
size and Importance OF Wilmington.
Many think 10 does not speak very
well for tho place, but they generally
lind out that the city Is not to blame,
that it 10 the government.
Besides those directly Interested in
shipping, the best building concerns
and others Interested in boats have
business with the office, which often
requires a visit The present arrange
meut Is not calculated to add 20 the
attractive features Of the office, which
have been made 80 prominent during
the past few years, resulting in a large
increase In the patronage, much buai q
ness now going through this office
which formerly went through New
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore
ioliicea.
:. The second floor is equally busy,
bhnd, at times. much buster than the
third floor. II was not mentioned first
In view OF the fact that it is only half
~ high up as the third floor, but it is
almost ae tiresome job to reach that
ffioof a. u is TO reach the third. ON
this floor Is located the offices Of the
EUnited States Court, the judges and
FUnited States Marshal Finn.
So it will be seen that there Is a
hGreat volume Of business concentrated
kon the second and third floors of the
P6uildinR, In al OF which the United
Estates government Is directly inter.
Tested.