Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-20
BUSINESS INTERESTS ARE
H0PELEssLY DIVIDED D
All Efforts to Get Together on POST
Office Site Are Fruit
less.
WILL CALL ON McADoo TO-DAY
Chamber of Commerce ReafIirms It's
Position for Purchase OF Blair
-Magill Petition for Up
town Site Generally Signed.

railing altogether In uniting public
sentiment In favor Of a specific site
FOR new post-office building. the
board of directors of the Chamber Of
Commerce. which has from the be-
ginning advocated Federal purchase of
the Blair property at Eleventh and
Main Streets. yesterday afternoon held
special meeting and appointed n
large committee for audience with
secretary OF the Treasury McAdoo in
Washington at II o'clock this morning.
Before this action was taken the
poard or directors received the com
mittee OF three-R. E. Magill DR.. Jud
g. Wood and w. S. Rhoads-appointed
by the citizens conference held Mon
asking that the selection OF a site be
left entirely within the discretion OF
the Treasury Department.
WIDE DIFFERENCE OF
OPINION is EXPRESSED
Ringing argument upon statements
made by Postmaster Hay It. Thorn
ton aha views expressed by experts
sent here by the POST Office Depart
ment to investigate the committee from
the citizens conference advocated n
G.
claring that 1t would be impossible to
afford adequate service from an extern
sion OF the present site. The commit
tee was answered by John Kerr Branch
and Others, who dissented from its
views. and commented upon the fact
that these experts had failed to confer
with any representatives OF the cham
Der. although the chamber had been
principally instrumental In securing
the passage OF the bill appropriating
$4,000 for the enlargement of the
post office.
Other arguments for and against ex-
penditure of tho appropriation under
the terms OF the original bill con-
tinued but each side remained ada
mant. and the citizens committee
finally retired, with unanimity as far
off as ever IL had been.
CHAMBER UNANIMOUSLY
ADHERES TO IT'S POSITION
The board of directors of the Cham
ber of Commerce then adopted a reso-
luton unanimously adhering to its
original position in favoring the p.cs-
ent location of the post office and the
acquisition of the property adjoining
II on the east being firmly of the
opinion that. with proper architectural
skill. IL would afford ample facilities
for handling all mail matter il the
building were extended to Eleventh
Street. and Bank Street were utilized
for the reception and delivery OF mail
matter. The second floor of the post
office, Just above the level of Bank
street, could be utilized. leaving the
present floor just above the level OF
Main Street and the additional floor in
the extended building on that level for
the use and service of the patrons of
the post office.
The board OF directors also took the
view that the parcels post business, IL
It reached anything like tho dimen-
sions anticipated, would require ware
house room. which. as in the case OF
the express business, would have To Lc
located in proximity to the various
railroad stations of the city
DO NOT BELIEVE McADOO
HAS REACHED DECISION
The board also discounted the state
ment that the Secretary OF the Treas
ury had reached any final and un-
alterable conclusion on the subject Of n
site, rs IL felt confident that Mr.. Nc
Adoo would not have accorded con-
ference to the representatives of the
chamber and of other interests IN
volved' had not the question been an
open one
Present at the meeting OF the board
of directors were: William Il. Reed,
president; Coleman Workman. second
vice presidents r. a. Dunlop, secre-
tary; William IT. Dabncy, business
manager; f. S. Goodman, traffic man
ager; Hugh Antrim, w. b. Broaddus,
Arthur NJ. Cannon, II. c. Carter, John
C. Easley, o, Herbert Funston. r. Pcy-
.(Contlnued on Third Pago.)