Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-18
NEEDS BIG BUILDING
Housing for Department Bu-
reaus in City Post Office.
TREASURY MAY USE IT
Senate Committee Told of Plans by
Government Officials.
CONGESTION TO BE RELIEVED
Saving in Money and Time-Dr.
Grandfield, Mr.. Taylor and Sec
rotary Hilles Heard.

The proposed So 100000 new atty post
ONCE for Washington was under discus
sion before the House committee on puo-
lie buildings and grounds today when AS
sistant Secretary Filles nj tfrr- Treasury
department. pT. GrapdfieIJ Of the Post
Office Department and Supervising Archi-
test Taylor enlightened tho committee
upon the governments recommended tons
for this Improvement.
Tho proposition is to construct on the
site now owned by the government adj
Jacent To the Union station building of
which the first consideration will be utiI-
ity, but which will conform i'm archi-
tectural beauty TO the general scheme Of
the plaza and the group of public build
inGs on Capitol Hill.
The new building. il is proposed. is
I" DC utilized by the Post Office De-
parfment. and possibly by the Treasury
department. and to result in a down
right saving at the outset of $4,000
year, now expended in rentals and
transportation of mails.
Plan of Building.
The building will be two stories
high III front. and because of the con-
formation of the land. six stories in the
rear, but presenting a uniform contour.
The city post office would occupy all
one floor. The rear building would ac-
commodate the supply division. the mail
bag repair shop, the dead-letter office
and some other bureaus of the Post
Office Department, with room for some
outlying bureaus of the Treasury De-
partment.
According to DR.. GrandfeId the build
ing would be the best lighted, best ven
tilated and most conveniently constructed
1F,lI hrtrI limo f>l l.
workroom for the city post office would
be artificially cooled for the employees in
the sweltering months of June, July and
August Besides saving money, there
would ne valuable saving in time IN
handling mails.
In the course of his remarks to the COM
mittee Dr. Grandheld commented upon
the inadequate facilities of the present
post office department building, especially
the quarters occupied by the dead letter
Office.
Those rooms are hardly fit for human
habitation," said DR.. Grandfeld. He went
OF to say that every bureau in the de-
partment was cramped for space.
Hilles' Explanation to Committee.
Assistant Secretary Hilles of the Treas
uYy Department explained to the COM
mittee that the act of 1908 appropriated
s5OO.vOO for site for a citv post office
The cost of the site was s4J5. 900. leaving
$4,000 made available for the preparation
OF plans for building.
The Postmaster General then designated
a committee of five to present the re-
quirements Of the Post Office Department.
These requirements were set forth and
presented to the architect, MIR. Burnham
subsequently the department deemed 1t
wise to put in the new building some bu-
reaus of the Post Office Department espe-
cially the supply division and the mail
bag repair shop. together with the dead
letter office.
So, Architect Burnham has planned a
building two stories in height in front and
six stories in the rear. the rear portion to
be given over to the divisions mentioned
above.
Secretary Hitler explained that the site
adjoining the Union station is admirable
and the location of the city post office on
that site would save the government
$4,000 a year.
Would Revise Plans.
suppose we don't want to put $500, 600
in the building was suggested by the
committee, will these plans then be
useless?''
Secretary Hilles said it was assumed
that the architect would draw new plans
to conform to the limit of cost These
plans were providing for many years to
come.
The foundations would be laid with a
view to adding other stories later, if
necessary. The part devoted to the city
post once proper could be doubled.
secretary Hilles said the problem here
was not the ordinary one of a city post
office, because the volume of mail is
relatively so much larger than in other
cities.
Our idea at the outset" suggested
Chairman Bartholdt, was to give Won q
building exclusively for a city post Of
nee But you seem to want to put 1t
10 other uses WELL
Present Crowded Conditions.
DIR. GrandfieId told the committee that
the present building is badly overcrowd-
ed The work of the office is hindered
by lack of space. There are 2267 en-
ployes in the post Office building. of
whom 551 are employees of the city post
Office.
There are other divisions of the Post
office Department scattered over the CITY
in rented buildings, necessitating dupll-
eating of forces and delay and expense
~ room for the clerks TO turn around i'm
these crowded offices, and the work suf-
ters In consequence he said
Dr. Grandfield explained in detail how
much would be saved by utilizing the
proposed new building. as well as facil-
itating the business of the government
He said IL is proposed to consolidate sub
stations b and G In the city post Office
when il gets into the new quarters.
Supervising Architect Taylor said the
new building would be constructed 6rst
with the idea of utility but also presery
ing architectural harmony with the Union
station and with the general scheme of
the plaza. the Library of Congress. the
office buildings and the Capitol.
No action was taken by the committee
today.
RELIGION Ann COTIEcrS