Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-20
M 'ADOO FORMALLY
ANNOUNCES CHOICE
Present Richmond Post-Ofic,
Building to Be Extended
on Blair Property.
ENDS LONG CONTROVERSY
Orders Immediate Changes tc
Improve Conditions Under
Which Men Work.
Especial to The Times-pispatch.l


WASHINGTON. February I?.-Sccre-
tary OF the Treasury McAdoo to-day
formally announced his decision In tn"
Richmond post office site controversy.
selecting the Blair property for the
enlargement of the present Federal
Building in order to relieve the con-
Eested postal conditions at Richmond.
Secretary McAdoo's decision was
made in accordance with the Montague
hill. which passed Congress last year.
This bill provided an appropriation Of
$3.50. 00n. with which the secretary was
directed "in his discretion 10 acquire
by purchase. condemnation or other
wise the remainder OF tho block
bounded by Main. Tenth. Eleventh and
Bank Streets" for the purpose of Civ
ing Richmond additional post-office
facilities.
STATEMENT MADE: PUBLIC
BY TREASURY DEPARTMENT
In announcing Mr. McAdoo's long
expected decision. the Treasury De-
partment to-day made public the fol-
lowing statement:
Secretary McAdoO decided to day 40
acquire the Eleventh Street end OF the
government building stands in Rich
mond, Va. with the view TO tho en-
largem"nt of the present post office and
Federal Building in that city. The
property will be taken by condeinna-
tion. II Is understood that the city
authorities Will grant to the govern
ment the right to use fifteen feet on
the west side OF Eleventh. adjacent to
the property. for the purpose of giving
adequate access to the enlarged Fed
eral Building
Secretary McAdoo went in person
TO Richmond held Il public hearing, and
made thorough investigation OF the
present building and all suggested
sites and carefully reviewed the whole
situation. lie pointed out that the
supervising architect OF the government
had estimated that the enlargement
OF the present building would provide
adequate facilities for the needs of
the government until 1894 Pending
the construction OF the extension, the
existing buildings can be altered and
used for post-oftice and other govern
mental purposes.
DIRECTS IMPROVEMENTS
IN PRESENT nuILDING
Secretary McAdoo said that the hear
ings in Richmond had shown that the
conditions under which men work in
the basement Of the present building
needed to be rcynedied. He has di-
rected that n system OF forced ventila-
tion be Immediately installed in the
basement. so as to correct the present
unfRvorable conditions under which
men work. The secretary has also
ordered that nine OF the solid doors in
the present building be taken out and
windows substituted. so as to provide
more natural light on the Main Street
floor. The offices now occupied by the
postmaster and tho assistant post
master will he moved TO the second
floor or tho building, and the present
office quarters Will be enlarged
and the lighting conditions generally
will be improved.
The necessity for immediate action
at Richmond the secretary considered
most important. and. in view OF tho
fact that the present Legislation does
not permit the selection Of any other
sites, and as attempts to change the
legislation might result in prolonged
delays. lie felt that the best interests
OF Richmond would be Subservcd by
tho selection of the site adjoining the
present building