The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-30
POSTAL SERVICE SHOWS
DEPRESSION PASSING
Return OF Congested Conditions Inn
minent at Richmond ONCE;
More Space Needed.
BUSINESS INTERESTS NEED
no UNITE ON AMENDMENT
Unless Earay Action Is Taken TO Have
Congress Make $450.0OO Available
For Amy Site Richmond Business
VIII Suffer.

That business depression which has
been general during recent months ID
ut an end and that conditions are
again normal is shown IN no more
certain way than in the steadily In
creasing volume of business that the
postoffice has to handle. This In
creased volume of postal business,
which obtains throughout the coun-
try, is manifest here In the return OF
. conditions closely crowding conges-
( ton, and once more the emergency
which became apparent at the Rich
mond postoffice sometime before the
depression began. is asserting itself
Richmond must have larger space for
the transac tion of postal business II
ancient service is TO be given.
The possibility OF return to con-
xested conditions IL SO imminent that
there has been revived the movement
for q getting together of Richmond
business interests on the proposition
TO have amended the $4,000 appro-
prtation measure for the enlargement
of local postal facilities. Unless steps
are taken to make the appropriation
available for expenditure for a site
for additional postal space in Rich
mond the business of the city will
suffer.
The appropriation was put through
Congress in the face OF difficulties.
Congress was eoonomizing. 1t went
through as an emergency measure
and former Governor Montague IL
deserving of full credit for securing
its passage. The Chamber of Com
merce of Richmond. too is deserving
Of credit, for IL sFeee to the erpeEg-
ency In. manner that helped to I'M
press Congress of Richmond's i'm
mediate need OF larger postal faciii-
Ties.
Reject Eleventh Street site.
A site at Eleventh and Main Streets
was made available through the eff
forts OF the Chamber and of business
men associated with both the Cham
Der and the syndicate controlling the
property. This site was named IN the
appropriation bill and the secretary
of the treasury was authorized To
purchase 1t IL, in his discretion. he
found 1t best suited 20 Richmond's
needs.
Postal inspectors and representa-
ttyes Of the treasury department. a
congressional committee, and even
Assistant Secretary Newton. with an
agent of the postofica department,
visited Richmond, inspecting the
present postoffice building and the
Eleventh and Main Street site. and
hearing business interests In the mat
ter. Three adverse reports were made
on the site, and 1t is improbable that
the appropriation will ever be used IN
lis purchase.
70 Richmond and to secure eite on
which a new building Tor postal bust
ness may be erected, II necessary, a
A large number of the larger users Of
IRE postoflfce got together and pre-
ssnted petitions to the Virginia repre-
eertatives praying an amendment
nern,ftting the secretary OF the treas
nry to expend the money In the pur-
chase Of any site that. In the judg-
ment OF the departments, seems best
adapted to the best interests OF Rich
n,ond's business and the efficiency OF
the service.
Must Get Together.
These petitions, however. were
withdrawn when opposition TO an
amendment developed and nothins
has been done since tho public hear
ing given here several months ago by
Mr.. Newton and postoffice depart
ment representative. The result OF
this hearing was the last adverse
recommendation to the secretary Of
the treasury. and there Is no likeh-
hood tHAi 3nS appropriation Tfht w.
he used unless all parties interested
-, together and work to secure
Amendment to the appropriation
Measure early during the coming con-
gressi cnal session.
The growth of postal business
AGAINST the inadequate facilities DOS
sessed here, resulting In congestion
THAT win mean slow, fnefsictent and
unsa tisfactory service, makes impera-
tive early action on the part OF the
city's business interests.