The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-07-16
HOUCHTON NEEDS
GOVT. BUILDING
UNITED STATES SHOULD PRO-
VIDE HOME FOR PosToFFlcE,
WEATHER BUREAU AND
OTHER OFFICERS.

Houghton needs great many things
but there is probably no one public
building that the village is as much
in need OF as a federal building for
the housing OF the United States gov
ernments various offices in Hough-
ton and Hancock. Not only does
Houghton need a federal building but
there is probably no other town in the
entire United States that is more de-
serving of a federal building as is
Houghton. as there are few postof-
fees I'm towns OF this size that pay as
much into the treasury OF the post
Office department at Washington as
tho Houghton postofiice.
Houghton's postoffice according 20
the statement made by Postmaster
Richard b. Lang, last year paid to
Uncle sam net profits of $4,000 Twice
that amount of money will be sufii-
Client TO purchase a suitable lot and
build a splendid building Of sufficient
size TO contain not only the pestoffice,
but all the other United States gov
ernment offices in the village and some
of those of Hancock. Among these
other offices are those Of the weather
bureau. the office Of the superinten-
dent in charge of the Portage Lake
Canals and that OF the deputy collect
or OF customs. the last-named Office
being now located I'm Hancock
Uncle Sam Pays Big Rent.
The United tSates government is
now expending S2,4O5.O0 yearly in
rents for space In Houghton. This sum
is divided in the following manner:
Postoffice ..... ......... ....$l,625.OO
Weather bureau 60. ........ $4,000
Portage Canals 49,. ........ 10000
Those rents are not considered by
businessmen OF Houghton TO be ex-
brilliant but on the other hand, es-
pecially I'm the case Of the postoffices
these sums are considered somewhat
low. as compared with the rents of
other stores in the central portion Of
the village, and in this instance all the
heat. light and water Is furnished for
the one price. The weather bureau and
the canal superintendent's Office are
also furnished with heat and water but
the government Is obliged to pay for
the light used. The sum that Uncle
Sam is paying out yearly for rent in
Houghton is equal to five per cent on
an Investment of S4S.1OO.0O, which is
enough money to build a splendid
building for the accommodation of all
the government offices mentioned in
the fore going paragraphs.
Offices Need More Room.
larger quarters for all the govern
ments department In Houghton could
be used TO great advantage. Although
the altered postohice is now caring for
the vast amount Of business being
transacted there, it could easily util-
ize twice as much space and both the
other offices mentioned therein, the
weather bureau and ship canal Offices,
are cramped for room. A building lott
OF so by 100 feet centrally located i'm
Houghton could be secured for about
$4,000, more or less and the balance
of the s4s.1OO would permit OF the
erection OF building OF sufficient size
to accommodate all the United states
Offices, allowing each OF them fully
twice the amount of space they are
now occupying. as well as giving each
department ample storage space in
fire. proof vaults in the basement Of
the structure
The main floor Of such a building
could be divided into a spacious room
for the postofHce, with a private Of
Zee for the postmaster a room for the
and special delivery division
and an Office for the secretary Of the
United States Civil Service commits
sion. The second floor could be de-
voted TO the uses Of the Portage Lake
Ship canals. the weather bureau and
he deputy collector OF customs, while
he structure could be topped off with
/ tower for the weather observatory.
N this manner all the government Of
Ices would be well housed and all
would be together, which would be
great convenience TO the public.