The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-24
NEW POST-OFF|CE
IS VERY IMPOSING
-Four Stories in Height, With
Ground Area Of 2o,5oo
Feet.
Times Dispatch Bureau,
Munsey Building,


Though there are no important de-
velopments In the matter of the loca-
ton Of the Richmond post-office, the
subject is engrossing the attention Of
portion Of the Richmond population,
" the correspondence of Senator Mar
tin be indicative of anything. The Sen
ator has received IN the course Of the
past three days o large number Of let
lers from business men of Richmond
located on Broad Street asking him to
INTRODUCES a resolution allowing the
Treasury Department to select the site
for the building. With one exception
these letters were identical.
Letter to Senator Martin.
The following is the letter:
"As citizen of Richmond I desire
to see handsome new post-office
building erected here as soon as posi-
BILE. ! therefore, In view of the fact
that the Congressional Committee
which has just been here are not salts
fled with the present site, urge you to
Introduce a resolution in Congress
authorizing the Secretary of the Treas
cry to select site for a post-offce in
Gals city and commence building opera
tons al once, utilizing the present APP
preparation of 100000 for the pur-
pose"
Senator Martins Reply.
The reply OF Senator Martin outlines
the position OF those who wish the
Treasury Department to go ahead and
build the office on the present site
His letter was as follows:
my Dear sir.-I beg 10 acknowledge
receipt of yours of the Goth inst /
note what you say about your desire
to see handsome new public building
in Richmond as soon as possible. !
very cordially concur with you in that
desire, and have devoted a great deal
of time and effort towards accomplish
ih5 that result. Years ago the location
OF the public building was fixed. Sex
eral years ago wien tie question OF
charging the location was agita:ed ,ile
committees OF Congress heard very
patiently a full discussion of the mat
ter by delegations from your city. The
House Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds, of which Mr.. Mercer was
at that time chairman, visited your
city, and on their return determined
that the location ought not be changed.
end thereupon about S225,0OQ was eX-
pended for the acquisition of additional
land, and little later Congress au-
thorized the expenditure of 100000
for remodeling, charging and improv-
Ing the building on the site owned by
the government, as above stated. The
LcpdAlilItlll mas DttIl al WORK
endeayoring to carry out the provisions
OF that law, which is still in force.
Plans Now Complete.
"The plans for the new building are
now complete. / have examined them
and have no hesitation in saying that
they represent an exceedingly hand
como as well as an ample building.
In letter addressed TO me from
the Treasury Department. of cate the
18th inst. it is stated:
:" 1t may be OF interest TO you tol
know that when the proposed altera-
tious are made the completed buillin3;
will be four stories In height, with
Easement and attic space in addition,
aad VIII be approximately OF the foI-
lowing dimensions: face on Main and
Bank Streets 16i feet. and on TentnI
street lSi feet, giving a ground area
OF 20.50O feet.
The first story will be occupied
entirely by the post office service. the
third floor BY the two courts and the
court officials, while on the second and |
fourth floors it is intended to provide |
offices for all the other government |
officials entitled to quarters in the new
building
, You Will readily see, therefore that
the quickest possible way to accomplish |
your desire is being pursued"
Capt. Lambs Position.
Representative Lamb reiterated to- I
day the statement that he was not GO
ing to do anything for any measure af-
fecting the post-office site, except that |
he was pushing the bill to make an |
appropriation for the pur-
chase of the entire block on which the
office now stands, and also his bill APP
$4,000 for the erection of |
quarters for the post-officeI
force while the new building is being
erected.
"Will you support legislation which
Chairman Bartholdt, of the Public
Buildings Committee is contemplating,
providing for the selection of site by
the Secretary of the Treasury" he was
asked.
"a man who has two bills on the
same general subject before a commit
tee has his hands full" said Captain
Lamb. II do not know what / might
have to do under conditions which have
not arisen"
1t is understood, however, that Cap
tain Lamb is not making any efforts
to have the law altered so as to PERI
init change of site. He is working
very vigorously for the bill for the
purchase of the entire ost-ofice
block. 1t will be a close shave If the
bill gets through the House and SEN
ate. AS for bill along the lines pro-
posed by Mr.. Bartholdt, it might pass
the House, but there is not remote
possibility of its passage by the Sem
ate.