Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1910-07-05
Statement of Methods Employed by
Treasury Department in Securing
Sites for Federal Buildings.
Treasury Department,
Office of the Supervising Architect,

Federal building the treasury de
partment invites, through local news
paper, proposals for the sale or dona
ton of a suitable corner|
The offers are opened in Washing
ton at the time stated in the advertise.
ment, and as soon thereafter as prac-
ticable an agent of the department is
Isent TO make a personal examination
Of the proposed locations and such
Others as he deems desirable. Based
on the agents report, together with
representations in writing from other
sources. the department selects the
site and. il the property is to be &C
Quired by purchase. accepts the offer
Of the successful bidder, subject to
the conditions hereinafter stated and
the attorney generals approval of the
title No intermediary between the
landowner and the government is
necessary or desirable at any stage of
this business.
Whenever the department is unable
to purchase an acceptable site at rea-
sonable price or where acceptable IT,
tie can not be secured by voluntary
conveyance, a selection is made and
the title acquired by condemnation
proceedings. in which the price to be
paid is judcially determined.
The buildings df any on the site
should be reserved by the vendor, to
be removed upon notice after pay
ment for the land has been made
Generally, notice to clear the site is
not given until the construction of the
federal building is about to begin, if
the vendor is willing, pending such
removal, to pay a reasonable ground
rent.
There is usually a large volume of
site business before the department,
and while such work receives unre-
hitting attention until finished. it is
not always practicable to dispose of
a particular case as speedily as de-
sired by the parties interested Bid |
ders are at liberty lin case of failure
of the department to make selection |
within a reasonable time) to withdraw |
their proposals, but will be expected |
by the department to give notice of
such intention.
Plans for public buildings are taken
up in the order in which the titles to |
the sites therefor are vested in the |
United States, and the contracts for
their construction are let at as early |
a date as practicable.
Proposals.
No special form Of proposal is re-
quired, but the offer must be in writ |
ing, addressed to the secretary of the |
treasury, and, should indicate definate
ly the location and dimensions of the |
property and the price at which it is
offered. The proposal must be accom-
panied by a diagram or plat on
sheet s by 10 - inches on which the
following data must be clearly indi-
Gated, viz:
l. An outline map of the land Of
fered, showing accurately its shape
and dimensions in feet and inches Of
each side.
2. The width from lot line to lot
line of adjacent streets, width Of side
walks width of roadway between
curbs, and whether or not paved and
the character of the paving.
3. The width and location of ada
cent alleys, and whether public or pri-
vate, paved or unpaved
f.. The location in adjacent streets
or alleys Of gas, water, and heating
mains; electric-light conduits or over
head electric-light wires or cables;
sewers, with their depth below street
levels and their diameters, and wheth-
er they are sanitary or storm-water
sewers, or both.
Where there are gas or heating
mains in the streets or alleys, the
kind Of gas supplied natural or>arti-
ficiaD and the kind of heating (steam