The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-11-03
NEW POSTOFFICE IS NOW RAPIDLY
 BEING COMPLETED
Interior Finish to Make It One of the HandSomest Federal Structures In the South.
 Third Story Promised

Birmingham will be using the new postoffice early in
 March.
 Contractors expect to have the building completed and
 ready to receive the local gov
 ernment officials early in the
 windy month. Full equipment will be moved and properly in stalled and the building in full
 running order by April, accord
 ing to the government repre- sentative, j.. M. Geary, ana f. w. Leimer, building superln- tendent.
 Walking through the corridors of Birmingham's new Georgia marble postottce. which adorns the corner of Fifth avenue and Nineteenth street oc- cupylng ha,i Of the block with the Flrst Metnodist Church, it looks like the building could be occupied now. Apparently, everything that is neces- sary to be done has been done except putting Tn tle windows However, there IS a world of decorating and peautitylnS, winch. when placed fn the building, Will make 1t one of the most striking structures of the kind in the sorth-that is, on the inside.
 There is just one drawpack-gover ment officials of Birmingham agree that 1t is already too smaIi GO accom- modate the business in the Magic oitS, and within five years they preuict that IL will be wholly inadequate. 1he clerks depar,ment, espeelaIly, one which necessarily needs much space and space conveniently arranged TOT the flles anu the lnlInense Vc4ume ot
 business which must be conducted through the office, is rather cramped. Long years ago they outgrew the quar- ters which they now occupy in the oid
 postoffice building, and the new ones
 which they will have are comparatively
 little larger and not so conveniently arranged.
 NOT LARGE ENOUGH
 The plasterals practIcally com pleted. Plasterefs have been busy put
 ting in first class work for the past
 three weeks, ana the walls, when thA decorations are completed. will be among the handsomest in the south.
 tie eHllre IlrSt floor Will be used by
 the Birmingham postoffice department
 closed balcony running the length
 of the workroom directly down the
 center and above the heaus o1 the post office employees is equipped with look
 out holes in the floor al. connects by a
 secret passage with the otfice of the postotflce inspector on the second floor. From this balcony the inspectors may view any portion of the workroom at any hour of the day or night without being seen This preeaution, which is customary feature in every postoffice in the United States Is taken to in :
 sure safety.
 The workroom where the mail of Birmingham will be handled is spacious and equipped with every convenience Tor the comfort of the employees The entire rear side of the room which looks toward Sixth avenue is enclosed Tn glass, insuring strong north light. even on the dullest days. and making for efficient work with the least DOS slble wear and strain on the eyes of the
 employees. Artists would rave over this
 north light, which has been provided for the postoffice clerks to work by. The floor of the work room is com posed of mastre asphaltum. d substance
 which. while firm and guaranteed to wear, is elastic and easy on the feet A brick wainscoting seven feet high has
 been placed around the walls. The tContinued on Page Nine)