Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-03-27
BIG CHANGE IN
GOVT. BUILDING
Salt Lakes Growth Necessitates
Addition to Federal Struc-
ture Here.
FAMILY TO BE ASSEMBLED
Offices Now Scattered About City to
Share Space In Big Home
Now Being Planned

The Federal building in this city is to
be enlarged. Immediate action is con-
templated by the government. Gov.
A. J.. Thomas, postmaster and custodl-
an of the governments present head
quarters in this city has received in
structions from Washington to get
into touch with all government offices,
not chartered in the Federal building
on south Main street
OFFICES QUESTIONED.
Various departments scattered about
town are being questioned as to the
number of offices they now occupy;
what room will be needed, and other
details. Heads of the various depart
ments are calling upon Custodian
Thomas 10 tell them their needs and
lay the required information before
him. The compiled data VIII be sent
to Washington without delay.
CHANGES NEEDED.
There is any number of reasons why
the change could be under considera-
ton AS II is now there are a half
dozen government departments which
were crowded out of the Federal build
ing-an elegant structure erected by the
government for its Utah branches.
Those which are unable to find room
with other departments. were forced
10 lind locations as best they could.
Some stayed where they have been for
years. as in the case of the weather
ir, II IN,
things in this scattered condition Is
far from satisfactory.
COSTLY, TOO.
The question of rents enters into the
problem, too. DO doubt the government
figures the rent ii pays out monthly to
cover outside offices can pay for need
ed alterations in its building here. The
most important departments among the
outsiders at the present time are:
The weather bureau, occupying five big
office rooms in the Dooly building; the
bureau of animal industry. occupying
three rooms in the Eagle block; forestry
department, using about the same num-
Der in the Mercantile or Walker block
and Atlas block offices OF j. Greenewald
Inspector of the port of Salt Lake.
NUISANCE GENERALLY.
1t can be seen the Outsiders are
distributed about the city in widespread
shape. This makes concentrated work
difficult; is inc6nvenient to those i'm
the departments and those having deal
ings with them; means a big monthly
rent-expenditure and is branded as u
nuisance generally by all interested.
The requests from Gov. Thomas set
tongues a'going this morning in gov
eminent and other circles.
moo CAfAU NOW
Change in the federal building is
needed. Not altogether satisfactory
from the start, is the entry which Is
placed In the federal buildings column
anyhow. 1t is four-story structure
of costly material, erected in splendid
style. but hardly convenient, neverthe-
less. The postoflice, especially, has been
handicapped by lack and arrangement
of space.
All tie faults are to be corrected and
a most modern and capacious home will
result.
PECULIAR CONDITIONS.
A peculiar question arises when this
matter is gone into. however. Gould
the weather bureau conduct its OBJ
servances ON the Federal building UNI
less several stories--three or four-were
added? With the Newhouse buildings,
IL stories high, on the east and oppo-
site side OF the street, and the Rail-
road Exchange. seven stories high, 10
the north east can the weather bureau
get correct observations. An unob-
strLcted skyline Is needed so wind cur
rents and other atmospheric conditions
can reach the weather bureaus tower
unhindered or changed.
With couple of stories added to the
present building and a tower built on
top of them, these troubles would be
eliminated and this is probably what is
planned. Still I'm other cities the gov
eminent is erecting separate buildings
| on open sites for the weather bureaus
In Cheyenne, Wyo.. a handsome federal
building has just been completed; there
is nothing in any direction which
| reaches its height so an ideal weather
| observatory site Is offered by the tor
| of the building but the government Is
| going to build an entirely separate
| building for this.
SALT LAKES GROWTH.
Although the government building
was completed just II few years back
| IL Is highly evident Salt Lake has grown
faster than the government ever
| dreamed possible The business
government departments has grow
almost double In something like foui
| years. Now the governments bushes,
| house here must be doubled TO keel
| up with Salt Lakes progress Th,
| news OF the coming changes Is regarded
rs most significant by thinking citizens
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