The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-11-10
NO DECISION REACHED
IN P0sT-0FF|CE MATTER
Washington Officials Trying To Find
Out What is Best for Rich
mond Patrons.
URGED TO ACT WITHOUT DELAY
Comptroller Of Treasury May BE
Asked Whether Present Appropri-
alton Can BE Used Except in Block
Where Building Now Stands.
tspeeia, to Tho rimey-pispatch. !

4 Especial to Tho Times- Dispatch.l
! WASHINGTON. d. C., November o.
Neither Assistant Secretary Byron
| Newton nor Postmaster General Albert
/ Sidney Burleson have reached any de-
cislon AZ to where the $4,000 re-
! Gently authorized for the purchase OF
u site for an additional building FOR
the Richmcnd post-otiice shall be spent.
/ Neither VIII either of these officials
give an opinion as to whether the
money can be used for land other than
/ the space adjoining the present Ead-
eral Building.
! The bin. which was fathcred b.
Representative Montague, is exactly
tue same rs all other measures au-
thortzfng money flor public buildings.
/ 1t reads:
| That the Secretary OF the Treasury
i be, and Ia hereby. authorized and d.
rected. In his discretion, to acquire. by
| purchase, condemnation or otherwise
the remainder OF the block bounded by
Main. Tenth, Eleventh and Bank Streets,
/ In which the post office, courthouse and
I custom house, in the city Of Rich
mond. Commonwealth OF Virginia, is
located, at cost not exceeding $3.50. 200.
/ provided. That, in tile Judgment OF
the Secretary of tho Treasury, tho pub
/ lie interest would DO better served by
| acquiring said property than by ac-
! Quiring another site for additional
post office facilities.'
! MAY GIVE AUTHORITY
TO SELECT NEW SITE
The last section OF the law. II Is
said by Treasury officials unofiiciaily,
/ might give the Secretary of the Treas
ury authority to change to another
site. should he deem 1t for the public
good to do so. But Mr.. Newton and
PostmasterGenernl Burleson, the two
men who will have the last say I'm the
matter, do not venture guess as to
haf hnir "A ,.-tII lNn
Those interested in the property
joining the present Federal Building,
among them being Mr.. Blair. have
urged MIR. Newton to decide quickly In
the matter They have pointed out
that II is proposed to build sky
scrapGr' next to the Federal Building
should Uncle Sam fail TO see the Wis
I dom of buying the land. Mr. Ncwton's
advice to these men is to go ahead and
build the "skyscraper' or any other
kind of building they desire.
AT present. Messrs. Newton and Bur
Lesson are trying to ind out just what
will be best for the patrons OF the
Richmond post -officc. Until they are
satisfied as to this. there will be no de-
cision either In favor OF the annex
proposition or the property at Eighth
and Main Streets
SWANSON AND BLAIR
CALL on NEWTON
Mr.. Newton told The Times Dispatch
correspondent to-day that Senator
Swanson and a. Beirne Blair, the lat
ter Interested in the site adjoining the
present post-otiice, had been to sec
him. The junior Virginia Senator had
urged him, lie said. to go ahead with
the contemplation proceedings necos-
sary to take over the Blair property.
I What we want to know" said Mr..
Newton, lis the best location for the
new building. Until we can get def :
mite information on this point there
will he no decision as TO any site in
Richmond
1--WE appreciate the fact that Rich
mond Is n large and growing city. The
opening OF the Federal Reserve Bank
is going to make that city more i'm
portant than II is now. 1t Is going
to bring lots OF business to the vir-
ginia capital, and we want to figure
on buying property that will be in
Keeping with the growth or the city.
Just now we arc undecided whether to
build adjoining The present quarters
or go elsewhere and put up n modern
building in keeping with the progress
of the city.
! ''Should we pursue the latter course,
the old building would continue to be
the home of the Federal court, the
| customs officials and other Federal
offices. and the new building would
be used exclusively as n modern post
Office"
In the meantime. 1T is believed, Comp
troiler of the Treasury Downey will be
asked to give his opinion as to whether
| tho present appropriation can be used
elsewhere. should It be deemed to the
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