The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-19
POS7OFFICE SITE IS
not YET DECIDED UPON
OpDonents of Present Location Still
Believe They Will Win the
Fight.
LONG DISTANCE PHONE
MESSAGES AUTHORITY
Interesting Facts Concerning Position
That Has Been Taken by Govern
ment Inspcctors-Talk Mass Meet
ing.

The bold statement made yesterday
that the Eleventh Street site for
remodeled postoffice for the city Of
Richmond had been chosen by Secre-
tary of the Treasury McAdoo is not
established by the facts as they were
presented to The Nirginian yesterday
from unquestoned sources.
In the first place, Mr.. w. Reed.
formerly president of the Chamber. of
Commerce, who is in Washington in
the interest OF the location at Eleventh
and Main Streets, or who Is credited
with being in the capital city for that
reason, has not returned from Wash
ington to make a public statement
-crediting the Secretary Of the Treas
ury with having made a decision.
Again, it is said by those who favor
q new postoffice building at Seventh
and Main Streets that the secretary
would hardly make decision without
first asking the approval of the Post.
office Department. and the Postoffics
Department Is on record thus far as
favoring the Seventh Street location.
Architect plans for the Seventh
Street location have even been drawn
up by the Postotflce Department
Some months ago weli-dressed
man visited Richmond and called on
local real estate dealers for quota
tons on certain Broad and Main Street
properties. Ttris man was apparently
a business man contemplating a pur-
chase of real estate in Richmond,
Local real estate men gave him
quotations and submitted engineers
drawings of property at the north
west corner of Fifth and Broad
4 A. - -
and Brood. the northwest corner OF
Eighth and Broad and the southwest
corner Of Eighth and Main Streets
1t came as a surprise when the gem
tlcman. who gave the name OF Davis,
later admitted that he was a govern
ment inspector. and that he had in
mind a new postoffiee for Richmond,
the present postofffce to be retained
and used as a customs house and
United States courthouse.
At that time II was generally under
stood that Congress had appropriated
s450. 600 for the sole purpose Of re-
building or adding TO the present post
office by the purchase OF the property
adjoining on the northwest corner OF
Main and Eleventh Streets But the
inspector explained that the bifi pass
ed in Congress, in substance, provided
Abt l1te T4ttNtHkEI street luCdIOH uu-
less the Secretary OF the Treasury de-
termines that some other site is more
eligible"
1t had not then occurred to those
interested In the matter that the gov
eminent might select another location
with a view to building a postoffice
separate from the present building, also
used as customs and courthouse.
Advantage of Present site.
One advantage offered for the use
of the present site with the purchase
OF the building adjoining on the cor
ner of Main and Eleventh Streets was
that the building could be Immediately
put into use to relieve the congestion
of the postofficc locally. whereas IL
new postofficc were erected such re-
lief would be delayed until further APP
preparations were made for the new
building This is one of the strongest
arguments presented In favor OF the
present site.
Those opposing this argument hold
that it is said by the postofffce archi-
tects and inspectors that the plan. to
use the present site would provide for
relief for n period of Ave years, where
a. the plan for new postofflce would
provide for period of fifty years. 1t
is also held that further appropriation
would have to I've made by Congress
even If the Eleventh Street property
was chosen as agents for the owners
OF this property had declared that they
could produce proof that bona-fi dc
sale of that property for the sum OF
s505. 0o0 to company planning a
twelve story building on site, has beer
made. The agents and owners would,
1t Is argued. expect al least that price
for the property even IL 1t were con-
demned This would necessitate an
increased appropriation just as much
as plan to build an entirely new post
office.
The Nirginian is trying TO present
facts in this controversy; not to take
sides with either party interested In
the postoffice location.
To again refer to the visit here of
lContinnel on Eighth Page.