The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-14
Great Building Needed

When the government bought the
site at the northwest corner Of Fifth
avenue and Nineteenth street for the
new postoffice building, the first step,
and very important step, was taken
In supplying one of Birmingham S
greatest needs. But the appropriation
available at the time was only 5000, 900
and with that amount only $50 feet
frontage on the avenue could be ac-
quired.
1t is now felt by prominent citizens
that nothing short of the entire avenue
frontage from Eighteenth street to
Nineteenth street-400 feet-would be
adequate for a federal building in a
city of Birmingham's size and assured
future. The visit of Mr.. Wenderoth,
the government architect, is gratifying
and significant. He came on the inyi.
tation of Congressman Underwood and
he. was joined by Congressman Burnett
of the Seventh district, who will prob
ably be chairman OF the public build
ings and grounds committee in the
next Congress. While Mr.. Wenderoth
could not make public his conclusions
Yesterday touching the need for a
larger site, il is reasonable to suppose
that he got a thorough understanding
of the situation and will report ac-
cordingly. His report will be used in
Congress and there should be scarcely
any doubt that if the Fifth avenue
property is to be retained by the gov
eminent an appropriation will be made
sufficiently large to acquire the ad
ditional $50 feet. e
Two years ago when the question of
a federal building here was first Sc
riously considered, it was thought that
a million dollar structure would be
ample for the next % years. AS rapid
as was Birmingham's growth in the
last decade, the rate since the census
was taken has been phenomenal, in
deed. All former calculations as to
the future have been changed. They
were too low. The school census last
July showed that the population of
Birmingham had increased fully 10000
since the government enumerators did
their work The tide of population is
remarked by every observer. New
corners are settling here month after
month by the thousands and next year
promises to witness a still larger
growth than we have had this year.
The Birmingham postoffice is now
really great state proposition. Not
only is it the clearing house for postal
supplies for the entire state, but it has
to be used as a bonded warehouse for
the branch of the Mobile port of entry
recently opened here This bonded
business is increasing steadily; and as
soon as the parcels post service goes
into effect, still more room will be
needed at the postoffice. In less than
year from now the government will
have to provide an annex for the pres
ent federal building, for the old build
ing will not suffice a year longer,
Judging from todays indications.
The truth of the, matter is that Bir-
mingham should have postoffice that
would serve for population of
900 900, for any conservative prophet
will say that in 80 years, and maybe
earlier, this city will have something
like that many people. And when the
government does build a handsome
edliice, it makes it so strong that II
will last for 100 years or more.
But first ample room for the build
ing must be acquired The govern
ment should either sell the Fifth av-
enue site and buy much larger one
or acquire the $50 additional feet