Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-20
LOCAL INSPECTOR DID
WORK FOR DEPARTMENT
Report on Need OF Additional Postal
Facilities Is Completed
and Filed.
MosBY WAS INVESTIGATOR
Findings OF Richmond Man Will BE
Basis for Decision or Post ONCE
Department--For Time Being Rec
concentrations Are Kept Secret.

On the findings OF Inspector Hal B.
Mosby, OF this CITY. Will depend
largely the decision Of the Post Office
Department In regard to tho acauisi-
ton OF property here for the purpose
OF increasing the local postal facilities.
Inspector Mosby was ordered several
months ago to make e. careful study
Of the situation here, and has at last
completed and filed his report with the
department.
The sum OF $4,000 has been appro-
priated by Congress to purchase the
property adjoining the present Federal
building. upon which 1t Is proposed to
erect an annex, The owners Of the
property placed what the government
considered n prohibitive prico on the
site, and the Post-OHice Department
promptly began to consider the ad.
visibility OF purchasing in q totally
Inherent place, and erecting there q
building for the sole use OF the Rich
fnond post-office.
QUESTION WHETHER MONEY
CAN DE USED ELSEWHERE
Whether the appropriation would
cover the purchase OF another site la
question which has caused consid-
cradle agitation. Tho Secretary OF tho
Treasury, by the terms OF tho act
may refuse to purchase the property
adjoining the Federal Building If n.
thinks another site Is moro suitable,
but 1t is not believed that the money
could be used for any but the specific
purpose mentioned In the act. In
event of the government finally deoid-
erty. the money would revert back to
the Treasury, and another appropria-
ton would BIO necessary.
Among those who do not think the
money Is available for the purchase of
any except the specified site, are Con
I'M N mil To. Co.
and Senator Claude A. Swanson, both
of whom were active in getting the
original appropriation. Postmaster
| Hay T. Thornton, Of this city, Is GER
! tain that the money is available to
| purchase any suitable site, and other
officials agree with him.
Just what action the Post-On1cc De-
pnrtmont will take Is not known The
Treasury Department., which has juris-
dlction over all public buildings, has
loft the decision up to the Postmaster
General. as 1t is now the policy OF
the government to put the post offices
In buildings by themselves IL deemed
| advisable. After the Post.Office De-
partment makos its decision. the legal
department OF the government will
have to pass upon the right to spend
the money, II It Is determined to buy
elsewhere than adjoining tho Federal
Building.
y Inspector Mosbys worked for many
weeks on the problem. Just what Ills
report is cannot be foretoId, as Post
master Thornton Is the only local
official who has seen 1t. It is believed
however. that tho inspector has advised
| against the purchase OF the Eleventh,
Street property, and has recommends
the acquisition OF another site. NJ
Business men generally have In
dorsed the Eleventh Street site. The
Chamber OF Commerce, Real Estate Elk
change. Business Mems Club and other
civic bodies have passed resolutions
| Endorsing 1t, and the sentiment at the
time of tho passage OF the bill was
strong for the annex.
a. B!erne Blair and his associates
| own the half OF tho property fronting
on Main Street, while the Cnrneal in
terests own the rear half The sum
| asked for the two parcels OF property
Is S612,500. or considerably more than
| tho appropriation. &
a movement Is on foot to have the
government enter condemnation pro-
ceedings to acquire the property, ms
such action would In no way bind the
government to Its purchase, but would
set n real valuation on the ground, and
put an end to the controversy.