New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-04
Hays Hunting
New City Hall
Postoffice Site
Postmaster General Hears
Plea TO Wreck Present
Structure; Considers Plot
North of Municipal Bldg
Ready to Restore Them if
Investigation Proves They
Are Beneficial TO Service

Exceedingly hopeful Indications that
the old Federal Building may be
RACED, and City Hall Park restored to
its former dimensions were expressed
yesterday in the attitude of Postmaster
General Will H. Hays, following his
conference with the Citizens Advisory
Committee, comprised of representa-
tive citizens, appointed to advise with
him on the New York City postal
service
AT the conference. which was at
tended by Colonel Michael Friedsam,
Clarence II. Kelsey, Darwin P. Kings
ley, William Fellowes Morgan, and
Alfred E. Smith, the Postmaster Cen
eral commissioned Postmaster Morgan
to look over other possible sites for
the downtown postoffice, aneisto confer
with city. officials to see what PROPOSE
ton might be made regarding city
property north of the Municipal Build
former Governor Smith, who proposed
that the city might trade new site
for the old one Mr. Smith mentioned
the plot of land bounded by Worth
Leonard, Lafayette, and Baxter streets
but it was evident that this site did
not appeal to Mr.. Hays.
Historical Society Heard
Henry Collins Brown, representing
the New York Historical Society and
the Sons of the American Revolution
restoration of City Hall Park, was in
vited by Mr.. Hays to address the meet
ing Immediately before adjournment
When the Postmaster General in.
CURED of the committee following Mr.
Browns talk, if there was real senti.
ment for the razing of the Federal
Building, every member rose to mis-
feet and declared that there was.
After the conference Mr.. Hays tolo
newspaper men that he recognized fully
the propriety of the wishes of New
York's citizens regarding their parks
and that despite the recommendation
of engineers that the Federal Build
ing be remodeled, he was not com.
mitted to their idea.
"The question of what will be done
with the downtown postoffice is, o.
course, serious matter" he declared
There are certain necessary postal re
quirements that must be taken car,
Of in that neighborhood, but in oul
preparations to do that, you may b,
will be given to what seems to be no
only the wishes of large number O,
citizens, but also a reasonable sug
gestion of giving again to the cit.
park facilities there.
Parks are something that give
definite tangible result to the city
and they cannot be overlooked"
100000 Year For Rentals
u.
for a new building when he told news
was spending 100000 yearly for offic,
rentals in this city.
Questions of the reinstatement in thu
city postal service of the pneumatic
tubes, the ultimate necessity of separa
ton of parcel post from other classes
of mail, and the building of two new
stations also were discussed.
Mr.. Hays declared that he favored
the reinstatement of the pneumatic
tube service, and that he was willingt,
pay what it was worth to the depart
ment in its work. Postmaster Morgan
was commissioned to take up this mat
ter also, and to request the owners O.
the tubes to make proposition for i'm
mediate consideration.
Representatives of the Pennsylvani.
dHu ANeW 1Ulh OcNCTdl hdllrOaOS were
called into the conference and pre-
sented data on the potential handlin,
of mail from the proposed stations a
Thirty fifth Street and Tenth Avenue
over the Pennsylvania tracks, and a
Thirtieth Street and Eleventh Avenue
over the New York Central tracks.
"In addition to having become &C
quainted with the problems with which
we are faced, we have allocated among
members of the committees details Of
the situation for study and report" Mr.
Hays stated.
Center of U. S. Service
"New York City is the neck of the
bottle of the national postal service
There have been no increases in postal
facilities here since 1912, though since
that time there has been an increase OF
289 per cent in the postal business
We have to take care of that increase
1t means Improvement of the nationa
service. AS you know the Depar tment
is not for profit, but for service Wher
we make this improvement, however
it will have TO be kept within the ma.
tional means"
The Postmaster General pointed out