The morning journal-courier., 1908-05-18

MAY ID, 1908.
TO the secretary of the treasury was
duly received, with Enclosures from the .
in which attention Is call
ed to tho necessity for additional room
for the postoliice division in the build
Ing in your custody and In which you |
recommend other Improvements, all es-
tlmated 60 cost as folows
one story extension .,,,,.,,,,,, $4,000
and enlarge en-
trance steps and platform,n. 6000
Two additional revolving doors, 1880
Two suitable outside lamps.... 500
Total 49,, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, $4,000
There is no appropriation under con-
troll of the department from which the
extension could be built, the matter be-
ing one in which special legislation by
congress Is necessary, The other items,
estimated at $500, and which might
be considered in the nature Of repairs,
could not be taken in a lump sum from
the annual appropriation, in view of
the large amount involved and the de-
mands upon that fund for absolutely
necessary repairs, II Is suggested,
therefore, that II steps are taken look
ing to special legislation for the extern
sion of the building, the amount neces-
sary TO cover these improvements be
included in the estimates.
Respectfully,
(Signed) j. i. TAYLOR,
Supervising Architect.
The Custodian TO Hon. \. ID. Spcrry.
New Haven, Conn, Mar. 9, 1908.
Hon. n. u. Sperry, NJ. ca
House representatives, washing
ton, d, G,
My Dear Mr. Sperry-I see In the dis
patches from Washington, yesterday
that public building bill is likely to
be introduced at the present session of
congress, and that each of the five
members from Connecticut will be en-
titled to name one new building.
Should it be determined to introduce
and press the passage of such a bill,
may | not draw your attention to the
need of New Haven, for either a new
building, or an enlargement of the
present one to meet the pressing de-
mand Of the postoflice division for adj
ditional room adequate to the necessi-
ties of the work in that division?
The greatly increased business of the
pcstofilce has made necessary a large
II crease of employees and OF furniture,
until the room at the service OF the
postal forces and equipment Is wholly
ii adequate to the esrvice. More than
$50 men are in the employ of the p 0.
department in this building. confined In
their operations TO the first floor, the
Limited capacity of which is perfectly
familiar to you. These employees are
crowded or jammed, together in their
work to such degree that they are
personally very uncomfortable, and
they unavoidably interfere with one
another and work to disadvantage The
-employes and the service necessarily
suffer from this condition of things,
which is constantly growing worse
from the continued growth of business
and the increase of clerks carriers,
etc.
There has been much said, informal
~ and loosely, among our people as to
the necessity for a new building. 4
large, handsome structure, Of modern
style and equipment. which would
serve the needs of the government and
of the public during the next half GEN.
fury. would be hailed with great sat-
isfaction by the citizens of New Haven
and would be a good thing for the
/ city To purchase the necessary
ground and to construct such an edifice
as that suggested, would probably re-
quire not less than one million dollars.
The cost OF the Hartford Custom
House and p. o. building dncluding re-
pairs) UP to June T. 1907, is officially
given as N,1O5, 5000. Tho cost of the
New Haven Custom House and r. O.
building, up to the latest report Of the
supervising auditor, 1907, Gncuding re.
pairs) was s30S, i66. iO-not one-third OF
what the Hartford edi1ce has cost.
New Haven, with much larger pop
ulation than Hartford and with bust.
ness In all departments practically as
| large, and destined TO be larger, may
well demand that in the near future
the government shall give this city a
federal building In every respect a.
least equal to that which Hartford al
ready possesses, and logically superior
to IL.
Meanwhile, the needs of the postofflce
division of this building are so press
ing as to require serious consideration
at an earlier date than that within
which the erection of a new building
here could possibly be accomplished.
on the 25th February, ultimo, | ad
dressed a communication to the secre'
tary Of the treasury, division of the
supervising architecO a copy of which
Is herewith transmitted.
It appears to me that such an addl-
ton on the south side of the present
structure, as suggested In the letter
mentioned could be built during tn
present wear If congress acts favorabl!
upon a public building bill during the
present session-and that 1t woul,
meet the want Of the postoflice for sew
eral years, until the plans for mil
lion dollar building for New Haver
could be authorized by congress, anC
duly constructed.
In the event OF no action being taker
by the present congress upon a genera
bill for public buildings, perhaps, II
consideration of the earnest necessity
Of relief in the New Haven p, O., bill
for an addition sucn as have outlined
might be favorably considered and re-
commended by the committee on public
buildings and grounds.
May / not hope that you viii give
this matter your careful consideration
and advise me Of your opinion relativ