Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-18
BANKERS DO NOT WANT
POs7-OFF|CE MOVED
Financicrs Ask Department Officials
to Purchase Property AdjOin-
ing Federal Building.
PETITION SECRETARY M'ADoo
Views Of Bankers Strongly Endorsed
nj Meeting Of Board OF Richmond
Chamber of CommcrCe-Other Or
CARNATIONS Favor Acquisition.

Directors of the Richmond Chamber
OF Commerce. meeting In special ses-
sion yesterday afternoon. approved
petition addressed to William G. Nc
Adoo, Secretary of the Treasury and
signed hy all OF the banks in the city
with two exceptions. asking that the
government purchase the property adj
Joining the Federal building in order
that the post -oniCe be enlarged to fur
nish adequate facilities.
Nearly "a year ago the Chamber made
known TO Federal authorities that Ii
favored the acquisition OF property ad-
joining the post office rather than the
purchase of ground at the corner of
Main ana Eighth Streets, or at other
possible sites for II post-oi building
which has been suggested. The board
instructed its secretary to forward the
petition. bearing the Endorsement OF
ihe Richmond Chamber OF Commerce,
TO Secretary McAdoo. This was done
last night. Richmond banks signing
the petition were: American National
Eank. Merchants National Bank. Eir-
Gin!a Trust Company. First National
Bank Savings Bank of Richmond. Union
Bank Of Richmond, broadway National
Bank. National state AMI City Bank.
Bank of Commerce ana Trusts Plant
ers National Bank. Merchants and Me-
chanics Bank. Manchester National
Bank. Church Hill Bank, the Richmond
Real Estate Exchange. Travellers Pro-
tcctivc Association and the Business
Mems Club have already Endorsed the
petition asking that the property adj
Joining the present post office building
he purchas ed.
ENPECT DISCUSSION on
SITE IN NEAR FUTURE
Decision by the postal and Treasury
department officials In the matter of
selecting a site for additional post
,ffj hpr ic a1 n
the near future. Inspectors from the
Post-Oftice Department have been here
looking over the ground and studying
general business conditions as they re-
late to additional post office convent
ences and facilities. The contents OF
tEe report made by the inspectors to
Postal Department officials have not
been made public. although Washing
ton press dispatches yesterday told of
current rumorS at the Capitol that the
report would recommend the purchase
OF property for n site AT the corner OF
Main and Eighth Streets. II is recog
nized that in any event the growth of
the parcel post business will neceSsi-
tate the erection of warehouses near
the railway stations for express bust
ness.
The selection OF any site for the cree
tion OF a post office other than the one
adjacent to the Federal Building would
involve the erection of an entire new
post-ofilce building. Should the prop
crty adjoining the Federal Building be
purchased. the erection of An annex to
the present building would. il is he
hcvcd afford ample facilities for hand
ling the rapidly increasing business OF
the Richmond Office.
The chamber board of directors at it's
session yesterday passed q resolution
pledging the support of the Richmond
Chamber of Commerce to Representa-
tive Montague and others in an effort
/" secure Il larger appropriation for
III" maintenance and Improvement OF
the James River channel. In the dis
cussionS il was pointed out that the
commerce on the James River iWstiies
the expenditure Of larger sums of
money by tn. government, and that
this route OF trade is one of vital i'm
nortancc 1" a large area OF country
The meeting yesterday afternoon was
called primarily for the purpose OF
hearing objections from the Retail Mer-
chants Association regarding the atti-
tude Of the Chamber OF Commerce to-
ward the application of the Virginia
Railway and Power Company. for au-
ihority 10 revise its rates for light and
power to consumers.