The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-30
Will Require Week or Ten
Days and Possibly Longer
to Get Ready
REVIEW OF PLANS
FOR NEW STRUCTURE
Entire Block on Fifth Avenue Secured
With Exception of so Feet for
Which Condemnation Pro-
ceedings Are Necessary

| To procure title to the new Birmingham
postoffice site condemnation proceedings
against Jonas Schwab owner of the 50
feet Of property on the north side of
Fifth avenue, between Eighteenth and
Nineteenth streets, will not be instituted
by the government until numerous i'm
portant details involved in the case are
threshed out by the Attorney Generals
department at Washington. Assistant
United States District Attorney Thomas
B. Kennamer gave out the information
yesterday, and said also that the petition,
asking the court to condemn the prop
erty, would not be filed for at least 10 days
or a week and maybe later than that
time.
Postmaster T. II. Aldrich has turned his
interest in the proceedings over to AS
sstant United States Treasurer w. b. AL
len. The situation, he declared yesterday,
was about the same excepting that the
law department of the government is
working on some details which are i'm
portant In the proceedings.
That the new building will be exclusive
ly for postal service was the opinion of
Postmaster Aldrich. He said he did not
know what use would be made OF the
old structure but that it would make an
admirable free public library.
How the Matter Stands
The situation in regard to the new site
is this:
Two years ago Congress appropriated
100000 for the purchase of a new postof-
flee site. Two hundred and fifty feet at
the northwest corner of Fifth avenue and
Tsr.z
on Fifth avenue, was on the market for
$4,000 The government refused to in
crease it's appropriation, but through the
generosity and pride of Birmingham cit
liens an additional $4,000 was subscribed
and the tract purchased
Last year Congress passed q public
buildings bill authorizing the expenditure
OF $4,000 for the erection of new Bir-
mingham postoffice and an additional ex-
pendture of 100000 for additional prop
erty. The government Immediately be-
gan negotiations for the purchase of the
balance of the tract. which is $50 feet ad-
| joining the original requirement.
Mrs. J. w. Henley through her agent
| T. H. Motion, gave the government an
| option on 100 fet of the land No option
however. could be obtained ON the remain
| ing so feet The government made a bid
| for the 80 feet, 1t is said, but the owner
Mr. Schwab. asked price which was
above the limit of the appropriation. Be-
| ing unable to obtain the tract at the
governments figure, it was then decided
to institute condemnation proceedings.
Would Make Admirable Site
"If the government gets the entire 400
| feet the site for the new postoffice will
| be admirable said Postmaster Aldrich
'The postoffice would have entrances on
Fifth avenue, Eighteenth street and Nine
tenth street and also would have an al
i ley in the rear.
| "The building would not take up the
entire tract and there would be space
| for small park. The present building
| is well constructed, and If 1t is aban-
doned after the new postoffice is COM
pleted. l believe the representatives and
senators of Alabama should ask the gov
ernment to turn it over to the citizens
of Birmingham for a library"
| Funds for the purchase of additional
property and the construction of the new
postoffice will not be available until after
| the next session of Congress, said Post
master Aldrich. In the meantime, he said
| the Secretary of the Treasury has the
power to make plans. accept bids and
| let contracts.
| The postmaster believes, also. that in
| the future the parcel post business should
be conducted at or near the railroad sta
tions and this will come sooner or later.
Even though the new postoffice has an
| ideal central location he thinks that the
handling OF this class of mail would be
easier if parcel post stations were near
| the railroad stations. The other classes
of mail, he said, can be handled in a
most convenient manner from the loca-
ton Of the new building.