The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-15
CHAMBER URGES
CONGRESS TO ACT
Wants Appropriation for the En-
largement of Richmond
Post-Officc.
SPACE BADLY contested
Growth OF City Has Crowded
Structure, Which Was Too
Small When Erected.

The board OF directors of the Cham
Der of Commerce. in special session
yesterday afternoon. adopted rcsolu-
lions calling upon Congress to provide
an appropriation to cover the cost OF u
| large addition to the Richmond post
Gee OF tSe boSk
| Tenth and Eleventh Streets on Main.
The growth of the city and the lnatlla-
| potent reasons for giving quick re-
lief 10 the congestion in the building.
| Copies OF the resolutions Will be mailed
to Congressman Montague. The Virginia
Senators and the members of the House
and Senate.
The text OF the petition foIlows:
"The board of directors of TIL. Rich
mond Chamber of Commerce most re-
sspectfully petitions your honorSple
service. no less than that of Richmond,
whose facilities and progress 1t is the
chambers special province to sub
taken to acquire the eastern part of
that block in this city. bounded by
Main, Eleventh, Bank and Tenth
Streets, for the purpose of an early
enlargement of the. Federal building
already occupying about three-fourtlis
of said block.
What Help In Needed.
This petition Is submitted for the
following. most potent considerations.
First. That the Federal building
now domiciles under its roof not only
the main post office of Richmnod but
l.
Appeals and District Court for Eastern
District, Custom House, Internal Reeve
nue. Department. and five other bureaus
or offices of the general government be
sides other minor Offices. most of which
are destined to grow, with the growth
partmont itself is already seriously
handicapped in its service for want of
suiiicient space sspeciaiiy SING since the
branch OF that service.
The urgent necessity for making
this provision for the enlargement of
the Federal building is most SIGNIFICANT
ly Indicated by experience at Rich
mGnd in e@n me- win III tho pu6lG
OF the city of Richmond.
pleted its IN. Library aady Building at a cost
afterwards about doubled the size of
the Library Building. by adding a wing
| thereto. and subsequently, in the year
1907 added two wings to the Capitol
| Building at cost of S135, zoe, and yet
II is now negotiating for land upon
To meet the growing requirements of
its various Offices and departments. :,
cost G't Of IN boS Gl ooo Which 'a
that time it was then thought would
meet the needs Of the municipality for
a quarter or half of a century. Yet it
has recently purchased an adjoining
block, OF about equal area as that upon
which the city Hall is located. for the
4
! City Hall
Can Be Bought ChenpIy.
Second The eastern part OF tho
block on Main street, bounded as above
described. which IL IL proposed shall
he acquired by the general government
| for the cnlarg emcnt of the Federal
building, 1t liz believed can now be
acquired At lower figures than Mt any
time hereafter, as IL il reliably reported
! that the present buildings now occupy
ing that eastern part OF the block.
| which are antiQuated, will be in the
! near future Supplanted by modern
the government would have, In acquir-
| ing the property to pay not only for
costly improvements. but also for an
| enhanced value of the land as real
estate in that vicinity Is rapidly ad-
vancing in value.
..Thc rapid growth Of Richmond is
| especially indicated by the marked inn
provemcnt in it's business centre. where
First National Bank Building the new
! Times Dispatch Building: the Virginia
| Railway and Power building, and the
! Chamber OF Commerce and Manufac-
buildings, have been erected at n total
cost exclusive Of the value of the
eround) of over S3.ooo.OoO. These
buildings were constructed to meet the
similar need is now felt and will be
more kecnly felt for increased accom-
modations in the Federal Building, as
well as in all other public buildings
Of the city, and their growth is paral
lei by building operations In all other
:For these important and urgent rea-
sons, your honorable body is requested
to take prompt steps TO hay haTe me Ihe
the view OF taking such action as may
be most feasible and advisable in the
premises"