The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-01-03
BILL FOR FEDERAL BUILDING.
Its Introduction by Congressman Has

| The introduction of "a bill by Congress
man kittredge Haskins in the house o
| representatives, asking for AN appropria
| ton of $4,000 for public building ii
Brattleboro has revived discussion of the
subject, and although the fate OF a bill in
| troduced by Col. Haskins at previou,
session, when an appropriation OF $JO,0W
for a similar purpose was asked tor, Ii
fresh in mind, there is general feeling
that the bill introduced at the present SEES
sion will be favorably considered. Since
the bill was referred to the committee on
public buildings and grounds and ordered
to be printed, the proper officials at
Washington have sought from independ'
ent sources in Brattleboro information as
to various existing conditions here, and
this, together with the manifest need OF a
public building, doubtless is responsible
for the general feeling of confidence as
to the outcome of the bill, as it is too
early at present for anybody to know
what the committee will do with it, says
the local correspondent of the Springfield
Republican. The people of Brattleboro,
individually or collectively, doubtless could
help the matter along by making known
to the committee their desires and the
needs which exist for better post-otfice
quarters, a United States court room
WHICH WOulu Dt easily dCctsslDlc loI TIC
public, and Offices for the transaction OF
other government business, such as civil
service examinations.
There was some opposition when the
question was up before, principally be-
cause Of the loss in revenue to the town
which would result from removal of
the post office out of the town hall build
ing. So far as is known there is no OPP
position on that score at the present time,
because it is known that the demand for
convenient quarters for other purposes
would quickly take up the room now oc-
cupied by the post-office. Moreover, the
post-Office business has grown 80 rapidly
in the past few years that the quarters
are greatly overcrowded, and something
will have to be done before long to re-
lieve the congestion. An extension of the
carrier service within few, days has
The receipts of the Brattleboro post-otice
already make it rank third in the list of
Vermont post-offices, the figures being ex-
ceeded only in the cities of Burlington and
and it is expected that the re.
ceipts for the present post-office year will
make the Brattleboro Office rank as an
office of the first class.
The question of site also has attract
ed some attention and caused some dis.
cussion. Sentiment seems to favor the
site now occupied by the old water-cure
building on the north side of Elliot street.
1t is corner lot, centrally located, and is
On a level with the principal business
streets. In addition to this it is spa
,ious, would give opportunity for drive |
way on every side, and would more than
meet the government requirements as to
to other buildings. These re-
luirements are that the site shall leave
he government building unexposed to dan
ger from fire in adjacent buildings by an
open space of not less than 40 feet, in
,iuding streets and alleys. The water
,ure building was famous sanitarium in
years gone BY, and was visited by many
noted people, but it is now used as
enement house, and although it yields a
rood income on the investment, it shows
he wear and tear Of years and is not
,lassed with the better pieces of Brattle-
,oro real estate. 1t is owned by Edgar
1. Davenport of West Brattleboro.