The New York herald., 1921-08-08
New Drive Opens
For the RemopaL of
Old p. O. Building
Meeting Called This Week to
Map Out Plans-Wide Co
operation Sought.

The project OF removing the old post
Office building from the lower end OF
City Hall Park. which in the last thirty
years has been agitated score Of
times and abandoned as often. has
taken on new life again through the
activities of a joint committee made
up OF members Of the New York His
torical Society and the Sons OF the
Revolution. The committee will hold
meeting this week at which a def
mite programme OF operation will be
adopted, and in the meantime invita-
tions have been sent to a long list OF
individuals and organizations inter
ested in the preservation Of historic
monuments and the beautifying OF the
city. asking for their cooperation.
Henry Collins Brown, publisher OF
valentines Manual of Old New York
is chairman of the committee. His as
sociates are j. p. Morgan, Arthur Cur
tiss James. Robert Olyphant. Archer
NJ. Huntington. George a. Zabrisllie.
Simeon Ford, William Hamlin Childs,
Franklin d. Roosevelt, Robert W. De
Forest. Francis T. Gallatin. Willis
Holly. Barron @. Collier and Darwin p.
Kingsley. Henry III. Curran, President
OF The Borough OF Manhattan, and
choice OF the Fusion party for Mayor,
and Fiorello H. La Guardia, President
Of the Board OF Aldermen. who also
proposes TO be a. Mayoraity candidate
at the primaries. came out last week
as enthusiastically IN favor OF remov-
ing the old Post Office and stand ready
to do what they can.
Practically every person concerned
and eyery branch of government. Federal
or municipal. which has anything to do
with the old building recognize that II
has long ceased TO be either convenient
or adequate and that it ought to be
taken away. About all that has kept It
and Is keeping II where it is Is the fact
that the ground 1t stands on was ceded
TO the Federal Government by the city
at a very low rental, and practical coun-
sells stand in tho way OF the United
States giving It up for site that would
be procurable only at the present prices
Of downtown real estate.
Postmaster-G General VIII II. Hays has
declared frankly that except that it is
cheap. the old building is more OF a
nuisance than a convenience. Edward
NJ Morgan. Postmaster OF New York,
and Thomas G. Patten, who proceeded
him. agree with Mr.. Hays and what
they say is based on actual experience
never had Manhattan, they both agree,
needs a post Office downtown always,
but 1t needs one which has modern
facilities and wherein a clerical force
can work without risk to it's health.
Henry Collins Brown, chairman OF
the most recent committee which wants
to see the building torn down, is sure
that a way can be found to meet tho
only obstacle to taking it down IL the
city and State can get together and
arrange to give the Federal Government
something just as good on some street
where the realty values do not run as
high as on Broadway. The general pro-
posal is to move New York's downtown
post Office TO the lower region of the
financial district and let it form there
in due course the apex to a triangle Of
which the base angles Will be the post
Offices at Pennsylvania and Grand Cen
trail stations, the three busy corners
connected by some arrangement Of tun-
nels or tubes.
The main notion OF getting rid of the
old building Is to make foreground for
City Hall. The post Office stands or
what was once a part OF the City Hall
Park.