Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-13
'POsT-OFF|CE HEARING IS
FIXED FOR NEXT MONDAY
Assistant Secretary Newton Will
Conduct Investigation Into
Adjacent Site.
PROPERTY OWNERS NOTIFIED
Examination to BE Conducted Inde-
pendent Of Any Auspices and for
Sole Purpose OF Determining Suit
ability Of Adjoining Property.

Byron II. Newton. assistant secretary
OF the treasury. notified Postmaster
Hay T. Thornton yesterday that he will
como to Richmond Monday to decide
whether the purchase of tho property
between the present post -ofIlce build
Ing and Eleventh Street will furnish
the space necessary to afford adequate
and suitable postal facilities for Rich
mond and the adjacent territory served
by this office.
Mr.. Newton will he accompanied by
John c. Rooms. superintendent OF tho
salary and allowance division of the
Post-Offico Department, Washington.
The two Will hear from the owners OF
the property and others interested in
the matter at an open hearing that
Will be held at 10 o'clock Monday morn
ing in the chambers OF the United
States District Court on the third floor
OF tho Federal Building
WILL NOT HEAR
FROM ORGANIZATIONS
In accordapce with the wish OF Mr.
Newton the hearing ia to be indepen-
dent OF any organization or interests.
1t Will be In no sense n mass meeting.
While any citizen Will have the right
to be present. II is not the desire of
the government authorities to hear
from organizations as such, but from
individuals who have pertinent In
jacent site-the only site that Will be
considered Mt this time.
mr.. Newton and Mr.. Rooms will
come here for the sole purpose of de-
Gliding upon the ACCESSIBILITY OF ac-
quiring the property adjacent TO the
Thornton. "a former investigation by
Post-oflce and Treasury Department.
officials resulted in recommendation
against this site. The officials who will
be here Monday will decide upon
whether the first report should be in
dorscd, or the purchase OF tho property
recommended.
I'm order that tho orficials may con-
duct the hearing untrammelled. the
citizens committee which recently
adopted resolutions indorsing the rival
site further uptown. has temporarily
withdrawn Its petition to this effect.
placed with the Virginia Congressman.
1t has agreed to do this for the sake
OF furthering an investigation OF the
adjacent site, free from hostile influ-
cnces. with the reservation that IL the
adjacent site is again condemned, tho
petition will be renewed.
OFFICIALS WILL PROBABLY
INSPECT SEVERAL SITES
THE officials will very probably in
suggested. They are not here. however,
, to pass upon the question OF which OF
the several sites is the most suitable,
but solely upon whether the property
adjacent to the postoffice is adequate
for Richmonds needs, and whether its
, purchase should be recommended to the
department"
Notices OF the hearing on Monday
were mailed last night by Postmaster
Thornton to the Chamber Of Commerce
and TO the owners OF the property In
question. Every person attending the
hearing will be free to lay such infor-
nation as he possesses before the COM
! mission. but the desire has been ex-
pressed by Mr.. Newton that there be no
speaking for organized bodies.
An appropriation OF s450.000 has for
some time been available for the pur-
chase of the property adjoining the
postofiice. The owners have fixed the
price at S612,50o. Should the newest
commission recommend the acquisition
of the property 1t Is probable that con-
domination proceedings will be institute
ed by the government for it's acQuisi-
ton. II the price placed on the prop
crty through condemnation proceedings
exceeds the S450.000 appropriation that
Is available, and the owners refuse to
accept that amount, IT appears prob.
able that the whole Improvement
scheme will fall through and the money
V.
The citizens committee which has in.
dorsed the site three blocks further up
Main Street has besought the Virginia
representation In Congress to secure
| an amendment of the appropriation bill
empowering the Secretary OF the Treas
ury. in the event that the Eleventh
Street site named in the bill Is found
to be unsuited, to designate such site
as In his Judgment meets the require
ments.
For the sake OF making Mondays
hearing entirely harmonious, the
friends OF the proposed amendment
| have temporarily withdrawn their re-
quest and will await the outcome OF the
present investigation before renewing
1t. They have In no sense retired from
their position and still favor acquisition
| or the uptown site rather than Of the
property adjoining the postofice.
! Postmaster Thornton Is among those
! who consider the adjacent site made
quate. He will, however, make no for
| NAL argument before the commission
! The officials will make an independent
! investigation and base It's report to
| Washington on Its findings. Their de-
cision will probably not be made known
| for 3ofne time