The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-13
NEW WPOSTOFFICE
 MUST PROVIDE FOR THE FUTURE
Postmaster T. H. Aldrich Gives His Reasons for Ad- vocating Larger Site for
 the New Building

"We must have larger site for the proposed new postoffice as the present one at the corner of Nineteenth street and Fifth avenue is inadequate to build postoffice that will meet the needs and requirements of the Birmingham district for ten years" said Truman II. Aldrich. the local postmas ter yesterday.
 "I have already expressed myself fully on the subject at various times and my views are well known in favor of a magnificent postoffice building for this city, as Birmingham is the coming city of the south. and the government should recognize her progress by building a postoffice of imposing architecture as well as of the latest modern design to meet the requirements of the local ser vice for the next 20 years.
 My opinion regarding the present site purchased some time ago 190 feet on Nineteenth street and 250 feet on Fifth avenue is. that it is not large enough and so far as I am individually tonNVAhtu Niit tOHllIlltt iO bONbtdlt a larger site.
 Open Space of Forty Feet
 "On postoffiee sites and building the federal law reads that for the protee- ton from fire and the vaccisitudes of climate there should be 40 feet of open space between any federal building and adjacent bnildings-streets and alleys are counted as 20 feet of cleared space.
 Thus quoting from this law the pres ent site would have to reduce it's front age from 250 feet to 210 feet and in width ITO feet instead of 190 feet neces much larger than the present building which is ITS feet by 40 feet,
 From this 1t can be easily discerned that unless the government buys the balance of the half block adjoining the present purchased site 40 feet of land must be left vacant, which. as stated before, will reduce the frontage to 2l0 feet--an entirely in- adequate site This is the practical rea- son why the United States should buy the additional 150 feet. as then the frontage would not be reduced by so many feet for there will be streets on three sides of the site and an alley in the back which the law recognizes as 20 feet of vacant space.
 New Demands of Parcels Post
 Another reason why the federal gov ernment should purchase the needed half block is that since the site was bought some time ago the whole pro gramme of postoffice buildings has been radically changed by the passing of the postoffioe will require a lot of space in the rear of it's building for the use of wagons, auto trucks, automobiles and all the necessary conveyances to ade- quately handle the future express busi- ness the government.
 "The present purchased site is by no means large enough, taking the parcels post into consideration as we must. and the only site that would suit would be to purchase the remainder of the half block, making a site of 400 feet on Fifth avenue, from Nineteenth street to Eighteenth street, and 190 feet width. This would enable beauty as well as filling all the needs of the department for the next 70 years.
 UnderwOOd's Bill
 Congressman oscar w. Underwood has already introduced bill in Congress for an appropriation of $l, 2oo,o0 which is evi- dently designed to secure the balance Of this block and build 8 million dollar post office for Birmingham.
 If this needed additional property can not be purchased except at too great a price, the United States will sell the pres ent site and locate elsewhere. There are a number of excellent locations where a whole block can be procured at what l think are reasonable figures.
 ',rhe new postoffice should be a per monument to the growth of the Magic City. 1t should be long and nar- row and have abundant space in the rear for the parcels post business, which is certain 10 be very great factor in the postoffice business of the future. The figures of the present growth of Bir- mingham and the postoffice business show that it will require building with three times the space the present build ing has in order to accommodate the ad- ditional business of the next score of years.
 No Plans Yet Drawn
 'There have as yet been no plans drawn for the proposed Birmingham postoffice, as everything is held in abeyance await ing the action of Congress on the matter. It seems to me, though, that the beauty of the half block square with a handsome building in the center and well kept lawns it would be a creditable addition to the architectural aspect of the city, and would be an improvement that could be shown with pride to the hundreds of visitors that come to Birmingham yearly
 That is not all; think of the pride of my successor, who will be the high mogur of this magnificent building, An, ,tis sad to think such bliss should come to democrat. Here's to him whoever he may be. 1 wish him success N0RWOOD Vman1lAT m Al TAn M