The Washington herald., 1915-08-22
RAP DOWNTOWN
P. 0. FACILITIES
Merchants Emphatically De-
mand Branch Office in the
Downtown Section.
LETTER SENT PRAEGER
Postmaster Is Reminded of Promise of
Several Months Ago to Take
Matter Up Later.

An emphatic demand that postal
facilities be restored in the Postoffice
Department building, Eleventh street
and Pennsylvania avenue northwest.
is contained in the letter received by
Postmaster Otto Praeger from a COM
mittee Of downtown business men yes
terday. The letter reminds the post
master of his promise of several
months ago to take the matter up
later.
The letter, signed by Isidor Grosner,
Alexander Muncaster. Louis Jacobs. E.
Allen Harris, Karl F. Brodt and Lem
Towers. jr., reads:
''On behalf of business men and
others embraced in the territory from
Seventh to Fifteenth streets and B
to F streets northwest, we, a commit
tee named by the business men in the
said territory, in a public meeting as
sembled, do most emphatically demand
that postal facilities be re-esta blished
in the Postoffice Department building
at Eleventh street and Pennsylvania
avenue northwest on or before Sep
TENDER Is next
Your attention. and that of the au-
thorities higher UP. is again called to
the petition in the hands of the Post
master General from the many inter-
ests that we represent. comprising
every esta blishment in the said radius.
and to your promise in reply thereto
that just a. soon as conditions war
ranted postal facilities would be re-
established in the Postoffice Depart
ment building.
Postal facilities as now operated in
the downtown section. work to the dis
advantage of citizens generally. The
public press has. in addition to our
previous representation, teemed with
objections from individuals to the
service now in operation.
District Has Improved.
1T was the contention of your de-
partment that the territory to the
south and west of the Postoffice De-
partment building especially constitut-
ed a non-business district, and from a
social standpoint one that was not
worthy of consideration. On the con-
trary this territory has. through pro-
cess of law and a quite natural tend
ency for that section of the city be-
come an even greater business district
1T is realized that every executive is
in duty bound to administer his office
economically. but efficiently, and we sub
nit anew, in the name of our petitioners.
that the service in the downtown district
is not an efficient service as at present
constituted. and We submit that right
now is the logical and necessary time
establish service in its own building.
where it will have the advantage of free
rent. and the services of employees skilled
in the postal business. and able to assist
the public in the use of one of the great
est boons that this great nation offers
its people. no matter their rank or finan-
cial standing.
Many Conventions Coming.
During the latter part of September
Washington will be invaded by mighty
host in attendance upon the Grand Army
encampment. This will be followed by
other conventions and gatherings incident
to the session OF the coming Congress,
in the postoffice building by that time
the people of all the nation cannot help
but contemplate with Amusement a stu
alton where a great government clogs
the wheels of progress through a parsi-
mony both unwise and injurious.
We again ask your good offices to the
re-establishment of postal facilities In
the Postoffice Department building at
Eleventh street and Pennsylvania avenue.
and impress upon YOU anew the lmpor-
lance of service being had on or before
September IL to take care. not only Of
current needs but of the big gatherings
as set forth, and the increased volume of
trade which all good citizens are striving
for at this time.
Business cannot succeed without ade-
quate service. and surely the administra-
tors of the Postoffice Department desire
that the postal service shall fulfill at
least its natural functions, and the re-
establishment as set forth is the essen
tial means to that end.