The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1905-1908, 1907-11-07
FURTHER DELAY In
FEDERAL BUILDING
MIR. M'QUOwN IS yExED WITH
DELAY IN COMPLETION OF
DEAL FOR SITE FOR
NEW POSTOFFICE.
Threatens TO Withdraw His Offer;
II is Stated That He Has An
other Offer for Property,
and Wants Decision.


Recent developments in the matter
of closing the deal for a site for the
new postofiee seem to indicate that
the chances for beginning work on
the proposed structure at any time
in the immediate future are more re-
mote than ever before. IT will be re-
membered that after q hard fight on
behalf of other proposed sites the
government last summer decided
upon a lot owned by Mr. J. NJ. Nc
Quown at the corner of College and
Sixth streets as the proper location
for the building, and it was thought
that the matter was settled. But
when United States District Attorney
Frazee went TO examine the title he
found the property located in the six
teenth section, and discovered that it
would be impossible for Mr.. Nc
Quown TO give a fee simple title
thereto This fact was reported to
Attorney General Bonaparte, who
said that the United States would buy
no property unless an undisputable
title could be given, and suggested
that Mr. McQuown apply to the legis-
lature for relief and request that
body to pass a special act permitting
him to make a legal sale of the
property.
Mr.. McQuown took the suggestion
under consideration and the matter
remained in statu quo until a few
days ago, when he had another offer
for the property, and wrote United
States District Attorney Frazee that
unless the deal was closed at once
the offer, insofar as the government
was concerned, would be withdrawn.
In reply to this letter Mr.. McQuown
received communication from Mr..
Frazee stating that the matter had
been referred to Attorney General
Bonaparte, and that no steps could
be taken until after that official had
been heard from.
1t is learned authoritatively that
the offer for the McQuown property
was made by Mr.. Charles F. Sherrod
of this city. Mr. Sherrod owns quite
a lot of property on and near South
Market street, and is very anxious
to have the new postoffice erected on
the Bradford square, which is located
at the corner of South Market street
and Fourth avenue. The section line
passes along the northern boundary
of the square, and all of the property
except a few feet near the northeast
corner is situated outside the bounds
of the sixteenth section. The section
line runs due east and west, while
Fourth avenue, on which the Brad
ford property fronts, runs northeast
and southwest. This makes a small
portion of the property come within
the sixteenth section line. The line
at this point runs about midway
the sidewalk, so that in the event
the property was selected as site
for the new postoffice the building |
would be entirely without the con-
fines of the sixteenth section.
In the event that Mr. McQuown's
deal with the government fails of
consummation, and the property is |
sold TO Mr.. Sherrod, it is the inten- |
tion of that gentleman to make an |
effort to have the postofice erected |
on Bradford square. This is mat
ter in which the entire population of |
Columbus is deeply concerned, and
future developments are awaited with
interest.