New-York tribune., 1907-01-24
FOR NEW P. @. BUILDING.
WILLCOX MIKES APPEAL.
Points ont Great Volume of Business
and Need of Room.


out memorandum concerning the New York
Postofice and its requirements. Mr.. Wilcox is
very anxious that Congress should pass the bill
introduced by Congressman Olcott last Tuesday
apprOpriating S3,5000O0 to build postoffce in
Eighth avenue. from 3lst $50 streets. He says
that the necessity for the new postofice is very
great ana declares hat Congress should be spurred
to do its duty 10 make possible the erection of the
new building without further delay.
The memorandum is follows:
The bill introduced into the House of Represe1-
tatves by Representative OlcOtt. OF this city.
office building on the Site acquired by the gov
ernment in Elgh:h avenue from slst to SSd streets
9snAnds more than passing notice The tmme-
dlate needs of the postal service in this city have
understood by the great majority Of our citizens
It mas also been difficult for Congress 10 under
stand such needs or to appreciate to what pro-
portions the business Of the postal establishment
When the present FostOffice Building erected.
n NE 80 the Snngai a. ~ al receipts OF the Rostoee at New
a. H.S!l2S2 @ q. or more than tive times as much as
cate the enormous growth in the volume of Dusi-
postage rate for letters three cents for half an
was much higher than at present 10 that the
amount taken in at that time did not begin to rep
resent the volume Of business which the same
amount would represent at the present time. At
shGeld also be drawn 70 the :aGt @ f9at tas
S3lSOll g. and In 1875 the excess OF receipts over
nous growth of profit 10 the government at this
Office during the last thirty years.
the total number OF carriers and clerks was ss6
carriers. not including substitutes aEgresates 55sS
which is six times the force employed here when
Other features Of the business transacted at this
The growth and prosperity OF the country is evI-
] 1en1ed by the great increase In the volume OF tho
Office. and as New York Is the point 10 which all
mission and certhcat!on. it is well 10 look to
figures submitted here Last year the total Of the
was over $3.50 10000 an increase Of 2s per cent in
Ro mails fom Tope Of which come her.
tor transmission to various parts OF the United
steamship to bring 500 or ZOO bagS Of ma i in
single trip. and all OF this has TO be handled
through the New York Postofice.
post Rad been eRered nio at the
time the government has negotiated such treaties
with several OF the countries OF Europe, and only
last year the parcels post treaty went into eTeCt
large volume OF business. practically all of which
ofice ' ''
During all this time not only has no additional
building been erected by the government but no
steps have been taken 10 meet this very large
Rns been he met bas been m % 1nd me only way II
side space at different times. tina, the number
the numbered stations. located In various drug
At tie time the building was erected provision
MAS, Was also MADE TOT the accommodation OF the
number ard in amount of business transacted
for ana ana n ufh the more Tcn room Is
Incidentally connected with the courts. At the
present lIHe every DFdnCn or the court service is
overcro"ded ana there Is no room for further ex-
pansion- In order to DO the work that is neces-
obliged to use the basement for twenty-four hours
to work in these uncomforthe dnaTters in nrsr
that the business Of the Office may be done
The session FOR an omnibus public buildings act S G #
gs 4 mot be possible sess6n to o. this
for layman to understand why so great need.
whole country should be postponed simply because
% congress does not this year expect to pass its
ings When il is borne in mind that the receipts
ceipts Of the Postofice Department and that the
business transacted here is greater than the post
Office business OF the whole state OF Illinois, In
cludinr Chicago or of Pennsylvania, including
that Congress should immediately take steps to
relieve the congested condition that exists here
a fS for he sfTg ' az 6s
Of the governments business
1t will be borne in mind that two years ago Com
considered the matter OF the postal facilities
5000 square feet Of space in the New YORK s3
tral Railroad station but II IS now ascertained
pancy untiI isi2 or eight years after the same was
postal business will have more than doubled from
what It vas at the time the 2uthorization was
purchase Of site over the tracks Of the Pennsy-
and now after two years the government has ac-
3 IN 600 II is now en,i3entiv nroner that Cow
gress should follow up this legislation by approprl
81 ths @ dity and that no time should be lost in So
session OF Congress whole year will be lost. for
II will not be possible to perfect plans pre-
pare specifications for the letting of contracts until
the money has been appropriated for the erection
of a building. II Is not asked that building OF
architectural pretensions shall be erected a
monument to some architect. II is sincerely hoped
provision shall be made for the erection of
a building such the costing S7O00000 or
ss0oe.OOO recently erected in Chicago: or even
building poorly adapted to postoffice needs
the present postoce building in this city, but il is
hoped that a building adapted for pOstofiice pur-
poses shall be erected at the earliest possible time
and is believed that Congress ought to be spurred
70 its duty 10 make tae sbpToprIarpn SO that this