Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-25
ADVERSE REPORT
ON BLAIR PROPERTY
Newton to Recommend Rejection
of Site Adjoining Present
Post-Officc.
NEW BILL MAY BE NEEDED
Independent Measure Required
to Make $450,O00 Available
for Another Site.

According to Information received
from Washington last night. the report
and recommendation OF Assistant Sec
retary OF the Treasury Byron r. New
ton on the site for an additional post
ONCE building will be adverse TO the
selection Of the Blair property, at the
corner of Eleventh and Main Streets.
and against making any improvements
upon the present Federal building.
The report. which will probably be
made public to-day or tomorrow. con-
tends. II is said. that to purchase tho
Blair property and build an annex TO
the present post-ofTlce would cost tho
government approximately si,5Co. 900,
and that should this large amount be
expended the city would have no bet
tor Facilities &c: handling its vast
amount OF mail than exist under pres
cnt conditions.
"wAST'E or MONEY"
TO BUY ADJACENT SITE
Secretary Newton and the officials OF
The Post-Onlce Department are con-
vinced, IL Is said. that to buy the Elev-
cnth Street property would be waste
OF money They are convinced. 100. It
is said. that II Will he necessary for
another hill TO be passed by Congress
before tho sum OF s450.0o0 already ap-
propr!atcd can bc used elsewhere. This
ls contrary TO "A report recently made
mat the Treasury Department had al
ready prepared amendment TO the
bin to be presented in Congress, and
that the department believed there
would bc no ditnculty in having the
amendment passed.
Eut. as has been stated several times
especially at the mass-mceting Of the
members Of the Chamber Of Commerce
recently held In the Hotel Richmond.
IN" report Will likely recommend that
site be selected near a proposed union
station. Plans for such union sta.
;ion. II was stated at tho Chambers
mass-mee,ing, have already been
drawn. and site has been selected in
the West End
40 APPROrRIATION NOW
UNTIL EARLY IN Ini8
1t is certain that a post Office build
ing In keeping with tho growth and
progress OF Richmond will fnally be
erected. ~ Congress will adjourn
within the next ten days. however IL
II assured that no appropriation for
tho new building will i've made before
Ia" early part OF 1916. so that t; will
have 10 take its turn with hundreds
atoms have been asked. Al best. there
fore. it will be approximately three
Years before new building Is under
way. and until that time the prcscn;
appropriation OF si5oO00 will b. LOST
10 Richmond.
Tho question OF n site for an addi-
tion 10 the post office has long agitatcd
business circles. The original appro-
priaiion OF si5o,o0o was made for the
purchase Of the Blair property. which
was urged by the executive committee
of the Chamber OF Commerce as the
best suited for all needs. Experts
were later sent here by the Treasury
Department. and, after an exhaustive
inspection OF the Eleventh Street site.
they reported back that II was united
by natural disadvantages. which could
not be overcome. At the same time
the experts visited other sites. notably
the site Mt the corner of Eighth and
Main and the location at Seventh and
Main Streets. which, II Is said, they
round to be adaptable. There was
question over the valuation of the site
at Eighth and Main Streets. but the
property at Seventh and Main. II was
said. would come we'll within the an
propriation.
STARTS MOVEMENT
FOR RIVAL SITE
When ii became known that the cx-
perts had decided against the Blair
property. citizens committee, headed
by r. e. Magill, of the Presbyterian
Publishing Committee. was organized,
and bent all its endeavors to urge an
amendment to the appropriation, SO
that II could be applied to the purchase
OF any site other than that adjoining
this move was aroused and President
w. T. Reed. of the Chamber of Com
merce. called mass meeting of It's
members to indorse the action Of the
board OF directors In urging the pur-
chase or the Blair property.
The meeting was largely attended
ana, after an exposition Of the views
OF both sides. the yote was overwhelm-
ingly in favor Of the action taken by
the board. Addresses were made by
II. e. Magill and Postmaster Hay T.
Thornton, both of whom were opposed
to the purchase of the Blair property.
and by John c. Easily. John Kerr
Branch and Royal e. Cabell former
postmaster who favored the site at
Eleventh and Main above all others.
Mr.. Cabell. particularly. pointed out
that In his opinion the Blair property
possessed all the natural advantages
FOR n post office building, and said that
it had more natural advantages than
any other site that had been suggested
Mr.. Branch argued In favor of this
sitc because II is near the principal
banks, and is located In the heart of
the business district. Mr.. Thornton
stated that there were difficulties as to
light and ventilation which could not
be easily overcome. and stated that
tho floor space would not be Of the
amount absolutely required under tho
regulations or the Post Office DEPART
ment.
NEWTON CONDUCTS
HEARING IN RICHMOND
Following the mass meeting. n dele
CATION from the chamber was sent to
Washington to interview Secretary Nc
Adnn and Assistnnt Snnral n r.. A,a....a..