Smyrna times., 1911-06-28
CONCERNING FEDERAL BUILDING
w. .. Hotfecker Makes a Statement
From information Secured From
Senators Dupont And Richardson

Senators Dupont And Richardson
Mr.. Editor. Will you allow me
space for a brief statement regard
ing the selection of the Smyrna Fed |
eral Building site? When the ques-
tion of choice, from the five sites
offered to and inspected by the Gov
ernment, came up for consideration,
it occurred to some of our citizens
that as the Federal Building was a
town proposition, and not measure
to be backed by an individual citizen
or group of citizens, the best and
fairest way to meet it, in view of
the fact that some of these sites
would command larger sum to ac-
quire than the amount appropriated
by the Government, was for the
town to bond itself for such a sum
as would cover this deficiency.
While petition was in circulation
for signers among our citizens, re-
questing the Town Council to procure
an Enabling Act to bond itself in
accordance with the plan above
referred to, group of citizens Sc
cured an option from the owner of
the Smyrna House, and announced
that they were ready to offer that
site to the Government for the sum
appropriated. This action, of course,
killed the bonding scheme. There
was a strong following favoring the
Market-Commerce Street site, and
to make possible it's procurement
after the same manner adopted in
the Smyrna House site, by absorp-
tion of the deficiency by certain
citizens, a bill was introduced and
passed by Congress, reducing the fire
space limit from 40 feet to 20 feet.
This was done in order to eliminate
the Phillips property, as there was
ample room on the Reynolds-Catts
property for the erection of the
building, as per the plans of the
Supervising Architect of the
Treasury. The fire space between
the Dover postoffice and the dwell.
ing adjoining on the south is 25 feet
While the bill, reducing the fire
space limit, was yet pending, al
offer of his asking price was made
, Mr.. Samuel Cats, by Mr.. Samue
. ]. Reynolds for his Market Stree
, property. Mr.. Cats refused to sell
/ Subsequently, it was reported tina
q he had reconsidered the matter an
f this information went to Washing
q ton. Early this month, Secretar
9 of the Treasury, MacVeagh, desir
4 ing to clear up as many matters a
IS possible before taking his vacation
took up the Smyrna Federal Buildin
question, and Senators DUPONT an
IN Richardson called at the Office of tn
Supervising Architect of the Treas
e ury and together with him, wer
over the entire matter. The Con
ie Market Street site being, c
e that occasion, considered as full
&c and with the same degree of elig
u bility as was the Smyrna Hous
d site. Senator Richardson, being
T. citizen of Kent County, and natural
Us supposedly thoroughly familiar wi
s. Smyrna, was asked by Mr.. Taylo
KS the Supervising Architect of Il
Treasury, which of the two sit
~ above named, he preferred. H
" choice being the Smyrna House pro
es erty, this site was at once decid
d. upon and a search of title ordere
&c Had the Market-Commerce Sire
en- site been Senator Richardson's choi
m the same procedure would have ft
NJ lowed. | get my information, co
ne cerning this matter, direct fro
OK Senators Richardson and DUPONT.
ce W. o. Hoffeckt
nv -