The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-02-01
POSTOFFICF DESIGN
IS TO BE CHANGED
Ornamental Columns to Grace
Front of Building
PROTEST OF PEOPLE HAS EFFECT
OF CHANGING PLAN.
Congressman Smith Informed That
Change to Simplicity Was Result Of
Retrenchment Policy.

In letter of January 70 and ad-
dressed to Secretary James Mcmillan
of the Twin Falls commercial club,
Congressman A. T. Smith announces
that assurances have been given that
the unsatisfactory design for the post
office in this city will be 80 modified
as to contain stone columns for orna-
mentation, and that department offici-
ais say that the change toward simpli-
city was originally made in conform
ity with the new policy of the depart
ment in cutting out all ornamentatiOn.
and spending only the amount Of mo-
ney that was necessary from a practi
cal standpoint" The letter follows:
Mr.. James Mcmillan,
Twin Falls, Idaho.
My dear Mr.. McMillan
Making further reference to your re-
cent letter regarding the federal build
ing, beg to say that / had an extend
ed conference yesterday with the as
sistant secretary of the treasury, Mr.
| Newton, the secretary of the treasury
being in New York, the supervising
architect and the chief draftman, with
reference to the plan of the federal
building at Twin Falls, and was advis
ed that II it was necessary to prepare
new plans for the building we would
lose our turn and the construction of
the building would be greatly delayed
AS you are aware it is tho determine
ton of the present secretary of the
treasury to use his discretion in re
gard to the character of the build
ings to be erected, regardless of the
amount authorized by congress, con
tending that there is nothing manda-
tory in the law as to the spending of
the entire appropriation. I convinced
them that nothing less than an $3.50
building would meet the expectations
of the people and the necessities of the
pOstoffice service at Twin Falls, and
have the absolute promise of the as
sitant secretary and the supervising
architect that the outside of the. build
ing will be elaborated upon by the err
ection of stone columns, either round
or square, in front of the building so
as to give it a more pretentious ap-
pearance. They all had to admit that
the building was more plain than any
federal building that had yet been con-
structed, but insisted that the plan of
the building was in conformity with
new policy of the department in cut
ting out all ornamentation and spend
ing only the amount of money that
was absolutely necessary from prac-
tical standpoint. While feel confident
that the next administration will be
more liberal in allowing the people of
community, where a federal build
ing is to be erected to have some
choice in the outside plan of the build
: ing, l cheerfully acquiese In the con-
census of opinion of the people of Twin
Falls. as expressed in your letter, that
the department should proceed with
the construction of the building along
the plans now in preparation, on the
assurance that we will have stone col
umns or facings in front of the build
ing, instead of a plain square front a.
y proposed in the original plans.
1t is expected that the plans will b.
: turned over to the specification divi
, sion in the near future and that ther
will be no unnecessary delay in tn
advertising for bids for construction
when the building is reached in it
n turn.
! AS I wired you the other day tn
= urgency deficiency bill carried $500
If appropriation for the commencement
h of the building and an additional pro
k vision will probably be inserted in tn
s sundry civil appropriation bill whic
. will be enacted between now and tn
= first of July.
d I may say that the assistant secre
Is tary of the treasury and the supervis
= ing architect were very much sur
l. prised to know that we had such
magnificent court house and hig
school. and ! was glad that you ha
sent me the photographs to show them
Sincerely yours.
(Signed) ADDISON T. SMITH.
c4Dpirrr rorrpTINC nOEGN,rr CO