The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1910-06-02
P. O.. BUILDING
FOR BROOkINGS
HOUSE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS
BILL
TO COST AT LEAST $4,000
AND THIS MAY BE INCREASED IN
THE CONFERENCE.

buildings committee of the House
Of Representatives ON Friday rec.
commended an appropriation of
$4,000 for the building here. The
week previous the senate committee
through Senator Gamble reported fav-
orably upon a bill carrying an appro-
priation of $4,000. The bill will now
go to a conference committee of the
senate and house and the amount of
the appropriation decided upon. The
final bill will not carry an a%ppropria-
ton Of less than 100000, the amount
reported by the house committee, and
it may be increased to $4,000, the
figure recommended by the senate. 1t
Is expected that this amount will be
available Immediately and as soon as
plans for the building are adopted
the work will be started.
The government already owns a site,
on the corner Of Main street and Fifth
avenue, for which an appropriation
was secured two years ago by ex-
Congressman Hall.
The bill introduced by Senator Gam
BILE is as follows:
"a Bill providing for the erection
of a public building in the city of
Brookings, South Dakota.
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assem-
bled, that the Secretary of the Treas
ury be, and he is hereby, authorized
and directed to cause to be erected
upon the site already selected and
purchased by him in the city Of Brook
ings, South Dakota, a suitable building
including fireproof vaults, heating and
ventilating apparatus and approaches
the United States postofice and other
government offices at the said city of
Bookings, South Dakota, which said
building shall cost, complete, not to
exceed the sum of seventy-five thou
sand dolla.s.
Sec. 2. That the plans, specified
tions, and full estimate for said build
ing shall be made and approved &C
cording to law before work thereon
shall. be commenced. Until this is
done none of the money so appropriate
ed shall be used"
The senate committee submitted the
following communication from the
treasury department and also letters
to Senator Gamble from Postmaster
Breed and Mayor Leighty in support
Of the bill:
Treasury Department,
Office of the Secretary.
Washington, Nov. 9, 1909.
SIR
Referring to your request for a re-
port in connection with S. 1856, pro-
viding for the erection of a public
building at Brookings, S. Oak, for the
use of the postofflce and other United
States offices, at a cost not to exceed
500, 900. I have the honnor to sub
NIT the following:
There are no branches of the federal
service at Brookings except the post
office.
1t is estimated that a one story
and basement building having 5000
square feet ground area will be suffi-
cient, and that such a building Of fire.
proof construction will cost $4,000.
A non-freproof building of the same
capacity will cost $4,000.
The department deems it %unneces-
sary at this time to offer any criticism
as to the form Of the above bill.
Respectfully,
Charles D.. Eilles.
Acting Secretary.
Chairman Committee on Public Bald
ings and Grounds, United States
Senate.
Brookings, s. D., March 3, 1910.
Information and statistics secured
from reliable sources and relating to
the city Of Brookings, 8. Oak, submit
ted in support Of an appropriation
for the erection of a public building
to occupy the site already purchased
by the federal government for that
purpose:
The census of 1900 gave population
of city 2,346; state census, 1905, gave
population Of city, 1926; estimated
census of city, 1909, 1000.
As an indication that the country
tributary to this pnstofice Is growing
as fast as the city, will say that forty
families have been added to the list
OF rural patrons this spring. There
is not a vacant house or vacant store
building In the city. Transient pa
irons, aside from the college students,