The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-13
MERCHANTS THINK
MORE ROOM NEEDED
FOR FEDERAL SITE
Supervising Architect Wen
derOth Will Be Here
Today
UNDERWOOD ASKED
FOR INVESTIGATION
Is Willing to Try TO Enlarge Postof-
flee Site il the People of Bir-
mingham Think 1t Is
Too Small

mingham Think 1t Is
Too Small
The opinion of business men seems
to be that the government in reference
to federal building for Birmingham
should build not from the viewpoint of
the present but of the future. 1t Is
held, in other words, that IL the lot
selected is inadequate for the eonstrue-
ton of a government building which
will serve the needs of Birmingham in
the future, additional space should be
acquired
To determine this point, Oscar Wen
dereth, supervising architect of the
treasury department will come 10 Biz
lmingham this morning. and Will spend
the day here. Congressman Oscar W.
Underwood states that If Mr.. Wende-
roth recommends the acquisition of ad-
ditional ground he viii endeavor to
secure an. additional appropriation for
that purpose from Congress.
There is no question" stated POST
master Aldrich, but that it would be
mistake to build a postoffice which
though adequate for the present could
not serve the purpose of the future.
This is very important matter of
course and | presume it was for the
purpose Of getting an expert opinion
on this viewpoint that Congressman
Underwood invited Architect Wende-
roth to visit Birmingham"
Not Adequate Ten Years Hence
colman Blach, in regard to this mat
ter, had the following to say: 1T Is
my opinion that the property owned by
the government will not permit of the
construction of federal building
which will be adequate for the needs
and requirements of Birmingham 10
years hence. I believe that it would
be wise should more territory be ae-
CURED"
Ferd Caheen's views accord with
those OF Mr.. Blach I'VE should do
nothing hastily" he said. 1T is my
opinion that the property is too samll,
and that If building Is constructed
thereon. there will be 10 years from
now a cry for more office space. The
government should construct a mag
nifieent building which, will be eapa-
BILE of filing Birminghams needs for
many years to come.
Il doubt that the location is ideal.
The property, If Il is so judged by ex-
perts, can be disposed Of without trout
Bile, as that site would make an ex-
cellent location for an office building
or an apartment house for bachelors
City Should Not Be Cramped
Louis Saks Is another business man
who believes that things should be
done right in the beginning" THE
government has plenty of money" he
said, land the more the government
spends In giving Birmingham a mag
nlfioent federal building, the better
everybody will be pleased. 1t would
be ridiculous, 1t appears to me, to
build building which in 10 years
would be too small for the needs
Birmingham This city should not be
eramped in any respect"
Felix Drennon said; 1T would be
very unwise in my opinion should the
government go to great expense In con-
structing in Birmingham building
which in the near future would be
found to be inadequate for the needs
of the departments. We should have
magnificent building, large enough to
serve Birmingham for a period of rs
or 80 years. If the property owned by
the government at the present time is
not large enough to permit the erection
of building which will serve local
purposes for many years, it is my opin-
to-. 4laf oh ha aa-
quired. This looks to me like simple
business proposition"
dtion than most of them in this COM
munity.
Repairs
There has been no recommendation for
repairs of these buildings for the sim
ple reason that they are out of date
and so large a number Of buildings ot
the wooden type is likely TO be burned
at any time and in my opinion it is
better that we wait until the board OF
revenue builds a new structure embrace
ing all of the requirements Of a modern
institution.
The Sick
There is physician CDR Stubbins)
elected by this society, who has special
charge of the sick Of this institution,
and the board OF revenue mas given him
absolute charge oyer this department
without restriction as to care, medicine
or food.
Recapitulation
"Flrst-rhere should be erected a now
aims house.
.seeond-The present one Ior pruder-
tial reasons should not be repaired
"Third-The inmates are kindly treated
and adequately fed.
"Fourth-The institution as now con-
stituted is well cared for by an efficient
corps OF managers
Jail
This bastile has been so thoroughly
reported by all the officials, both Of
state and county, that deem it unneces-
sary to make an elaborate report Of It's
construction, etc.
Ventilation
THE ventilation for the number con-
fined IS adequate. There are between
400 and 500 cubic feet Of space for each
Individual confined.
THE Jail is about filed to its ca
pacity; with an increase of any num-
her it would be overerowded and the
prisoners would have to be ordered
10 more commodlous quarters
"All who are incarcerated in this
Institution are compelled to live In
artificial light
"The jail is clean and bathing ia
oilities adequate
4sf5safr frod fs furnished and lie SOUND