The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-24
THE PosTOFFICE.

The postoffice building agitation is with us and every loyal New Havener Is hopeful of the best results. But in spite of it all. little active senti- ment has been shown in the matter Inspector Underwood, of the super vising architect of the treasury de- partment's office at Washington, has been In town for days looking over the situation and making out his report. He has not been approached by any of our public-spirited citizens as far as is known. though 1t Is not to be supposed that elsewhere, in other cit les where he goes, he fails to find all possible pressure brought to bear up- on him to the end of obtaining a re- port sent In by him favorable to new building. In the meanwhile re- ports come from Washington of the great progress made by some of our sister Connecticut cities toward get ting new public buildings and post offices. Altogether we are told, the chances are that Connecticut will get five new buildings" And what are these five? The five buildings referred to seem to be in Bristol, An sonia, Naugatuck. Winsted and New London. In the latter place there will be an addition to the present building, for which s5o,o00 will prob ably be granted.
 This paper has already pointed out what 1t believes would be the lack of wisdom in tearing down the present federal building on Church street. The brown stone front has too many good architectural features and it is too we'll constructed along the lines of the conscientious building ideals of the masons of a half century ago to give way. But the fact cannot he denied that the New Haven postoffice needs, and needs badly. new, larger and better equipped quarters than it has at present. Two remedies are available. if the brown stone front is to be saved They are either to en- large the present building upon the little land still available. or to build separate quarters elsewhere suitable for the postoff1ce and leave the pres ent building for the use of all the other federal interests in the city, for which it would be none too large. MT. Tarr has already expressed him self as willing, it is understood, to move over to the building with his local branch of the weather depart ment. provided a suitable coop Is provided for his use on the roof. And the other outlying federal offices. such as the recruiting stations, dis trict engineers office, and the rest, can be gathered under the govern ment's own protecting wings thus say 1 ing it considerable in office rents.
 The second plan is also commenda- ble. It might be located according to the general suggestions made in the annual report of 1907 of the post master general, which would bring 1t near the new union station which the New Haven road has been promisine the city and which is certain to be- come reality some day. This would mean great saving in the time and expense of handling and transferring the mails Waterbury. Hartford. Nor wich and other cities about the state have handsome and up-to-date post office buildings. We are told that Bristol. Ansonia. Naugatuck, winsted and New London have good reason to expect them.
 It is high time for New Haven to l look out for its own interests. Ii may count on MT. sperry's aid. The pro- motors of the city beautiful plan should act The New Haven Business Mems association should act. It has