The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-19

met these inspectors. All four inspec-
tors reported and 1t was then that the
government began to make architect
plans based on the Seventh Street loca-
I ton. The advantages claimed were
new postoffice. light from the west,
which would give light to employees
until sunset, drop in the street for
4 back entrance for wagons and other
less important features
The gentlemen representing a mass
meeting of citizens. known as The
Citizens Committee" then presented
the argument that Richmond was Of
fered two alternatives. The first was
rebuilt postofice with part IF
Eleventh Street blocked, the street OF
be made practically an alley. The sec
ond was a twelve story building which
owners OF the Eleventh Street prop
erty claim Is already fully decided
upon, the building of an entirely new
postoffice and the retaining of the
present building as a customs house
and United States courthouse.
Roth Sides of the Question.
There was much CONSERVATION In
the camps Of the gentlemen who
elected to appoint n Citizens Com
mittee" Yesterday when the statement
was read that the secretary of the
! treasury had decided on the Eleventh
Street location, and that the City
Council would be asked to contribute
fifteen feet of Eleventh Street for this
purpose. Though members of the
Council had signed a paper offering
TO give the government the use of
fifteen feet of the street, and, though
seven Of these cOuncilmen afterwards
declared in letters and kilograms that
they did not intend to be quoted as
fayoring the Eleventh Street site. II
the government preferred the Seventh
street site. it is probably a fact that
II the government asks for the street
the Council will unhesitatingly give
It,
The position OF those who are
anxious for a postoffice and who are
dislnterested in any real estate trans
fer seems to be to leave the matter to
the government. That is the situation
in nutshell.
There was much talk yesterday of
monster mass meeting to get express
sions from the people of Richmond.
Hon. A. J. Montague, the congress
man from this district. has been flood
ed with letters and kilograms from
both sides to the controversy Messrs.
Martin and Swanson, the senator's
from Virginia, have had their respec-
tive mails largely increased by reason
Of numerous communications by wire
and letter along the same line. while
even Secretary McAdoo and Postmas-
ter General Burleson have had to give
the Richmond postoff1ce matter large
part of their valuable time. despite
the fact that they represent the entire
nation, with hundreds of other cities
and towns clamoring for their own
community interests.
It is probable that some action will
soon be taken on the postoffice site
question. That any action was taken
by Mr. McAdoo on Thursday, as stated
in certain newspapers Is denied most
emphatically by at least two RESPONSE
Bile gentlemen with whom reporters
for The yirginian talked yesterday af-
ternoon. These gentlemen claim TO
have kept in close touch with wash
ington by long distance telephone and
TO have been assured that no decision
had been reached up until noon yes
terday by Secretary McAdoo. on the
other hand it Is claimed that the sec
rotary is still open to conviction, and