The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-24
Open P. 0. TONIGHT
North Side Federal Building
Ready for the Public.
Appropriation Followed Action
of Senator Curtis.

A house warming will be held this
evening. beginning at o'clock, at the
new federal building at the corner OF
North Kansas avenue and Gordon
street, permission having been given
by the postal authorities at Washing
ton to throw the building open at this
time for inspection by the public. The
Boys Industrial school band will fur
nish music. Employees will act as
guides.
For many years the efficiency of the
North side postoffice department has
been handicapped by housing condi-
tons, and petitions were made to pos
tai authorities at Washington request
ing that a separate building be erected
for the Sub-Station. The first move
ment of this kind was made by Alpha
Robinson, then superintendent of the
North Topeka station, now employed
at the Topeka postoffice. The matter
was later taken up by the North To-
peka Civic club and Senator Charles
Curtis was asked to interest himself
in the project. Senator Curtis met
| with the club and promised his hearty
support.
At length, owing to the untirine eff
forts of Senator Charles Curtis, North
Tepeka's native son. an appropriation
was made, a location purchased. and
work was to have commenced in July
of 1918. The entrance of the United
States into the world war checked all
federal building. After the signing
OF the armistice, Senator Curtis again
brought his influence into play. and
received the promise that the North
Topeka postoffice would be one of the
first buildings to be erected when fed
eral building was resumed.
The contract was let to the w. d.
Lowell Contracting company Minne-
apolis, Mimi, and work was started
January 1920. The $4,000 building is
Inf rnfr for
is fireproof 1t contains a street floor
and basement. The public lobby, main
work room, money order and regis
tered mail room and the superintend-
ent's office are on the main floor. The
basement contains a rest ROOM toilet
and showers and the boiler and coal
rooms
| The building is set in extensive
grounds, which have been sown to
grass and planted with shrubs and
trees Concrete driveways>on the east
and north lead to concrete parking
space at the rear of the building.
| Criticism has been made that the
| building as only one story. 1t is not
usual for q sub-office in a city the size
Of Topeka to occupy federal building.
but owing to the efforts of Senator
Curtis an exception was made in the
| case of North Topeka. The building.
while not large, is entirely adequate
to the requirements of the North side
| department. 1t has the latest style
equipment and handsome office fix
! lures. In common with all federal
/ buildings secret passages furnished
! with peep holes. give access to every
part of the building to permit gov
| eminent inspectors to watch clerks at
work, while they themselves remain
, unseen.S
The department expects to be in
! the new building about the first of
/ March. A force of fifteen men will be
I employed. They will be the superin-
! tendent. w. S. Gentry, who is also Gus
! todian of the building: the three pres
ent clerks, L. H. Kingman. A. S.
/ Strain, o. C. Myer and a new man who
has not yet been appointed: city car
riers are: E. S. Meade, route No. 1;
Clarence e. Kistler. route No. u:
Berk C. Kingman, route No. "a; A. G.
| Gurtler. route No. 36; rural carriers
! are: Phil E. Mecord, route No. 8; E. H.
| dangers. route No. 4; w. A. Geer.
| route No. 6: J. F. Conkle. route No. 6.
! Special delivery man, ]. 3. Duncan.
| JanitOr, Will Ripley.