The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-11
DO IT ALL over.
First Floor of the Postoffice to
Be Changed.
Lee Ellery, Government Official,
Here to Make Plans.
NOT LIGHT ENOUGH.
Carriers Handicapped by Dark
ened Rooms.
Lobby Will Probably Be in
Middle OF Building.

Practically the entire first floor of the
postoffice will be changed and the Off
| ces and departments rearranged
The government has sent Mr. Lee
Ellery, superintendent of construction,
| and attached to the departmental archi-
tect's office to Topeka to make an in
spection Of the building and suggest an
outline of the changes desired.
The first suggestion was made to the
postmaster generals office by A K
| Rodgers, postmaster, and acting upon
this suggestion Mr.. ElIery was detailed
to come to Topeka and make an inspec-
ton
| The proposed changes include nothing
but the first floor and will not affect in
| any manner the offices on the second
and third floors.
The Encouragement is to be made
with the idea of giving the carriers
more room and light" said Mr. Rodgers
AT present the office in which thew
work is badly lighted and more room is
needed. The suggestions which Mr.
Ellery makes will be forwarded to
washington and they will finally de-
eide there what is necessary to be done
or course it must not be understood
thaI these changes have been settled for
good because it will depend upon the
Washington authorities.
II Will probably take from six to
eight months before the actual work of
reconstruction can commence" said Mr..
Eilery- The chances are therefore that
the change will not be made until some
time next spring or summer. The extent
Of the changes and their character will
depend uLon what their inquiry reveals
here and other data that they have on
record at Washington. I am making n
rough sketch of the proposed changes
and 1 have not yet made an estimate
Of Thn <cy- 49,
that will be given to the working force
of the postoffice.''
Inc reconstruction as proposed will
shift the lobby on the south side to
what is practically the center of the
building. The present lobby is 2O6
feet wide at the west end and runs al
most the entire length of the build
ing. widening out considerably at the
east end where the lobby gives en-
trance into the offices occupied by the
postmaster and his assistant
The new east and west lobby will
have an entrance into the north and
south lobby between the stairway
leading to the second and third floors
and the elevator shaft. 1t will have
width of 2O.6 feet and have a length
of 20 feet, being slightly shorter than
the present lobby and not so wide at
the east end. The present main lob
by Will be divided into offices and the
north portion of it Will be included in
TO the reconstructed lobby
The west end of this main lobby
will be constructed into offices for the
postmaster, assistant postmaster, and
the superintendent of delivery east of
these offices and occupying all of the
esat end of the present main lobby
will be the new room for the carriers
The present offices used by the post
master and his assistant will be turn
ed into a receiving room for the in
coming mail. A platform will be built
in the alley and all the incoming mail
will be brought directly to this place.
All outgoing mail will be sent from
the present place of delivery in the
areaway to the north of the federar
building. A new doorway will have to
be constructed opening on the alley in
the rear of the building and the door
way which leads into the postoffice off
from Fifth street will be torn out and
built in The windows to the south
will be left as they are now. On the
south of the new main lobby will be
therefore the offices of the postmas-
ter, assistant, superin tendent of deIiv-
cry and the room for the carriers on
the north commencing from the door
way will be the stamp department.
general delivery and box department
The stamp division which now occu-
pies quarters fronting on the north
and south corridor will be brought ov-
er to face on to the main lobby. The
room that they now occupy will be
given to the registry department.
Provisions will be made for access to