Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-29

group of private buildings was also
placed the Navy Department with its
Is employees.
On the south side of Pennsylvania
avenue. opposite the six buildings,
structure was leased for the War De-
partment and its Is employees. IN
fortunately. this building, together with
its valuable records, was badly damaged
by fire few months later.
The Postmaster General was not then
a cabinet officer, and did not become
so until 1929 The members Of the
Presidents official family included only
John Marshall. Secretary Of State;
Oliver WoIcott, jr. Secretary OF the
Treasury: Samuel Dexter, Secretary of
War: Benjamin Stoddert, Secretary Of
the Navy, and Charles Lee, Attorney
General
Besides the Postmaster General and
his assistant, seven other persons made
up the entire administrative force Of the
Post ONCE Department at that time.
There were then in Washington
| 3,2I0 persons and 372 bujldings-109 Of
| brick and 263 of wood-or about nine
| persons TO each building. So, 1t can
| be seen, the newcomers did not have
an easy time finding desirable and sat-
| isfactory accommodations in the al
/ ready overcrowded city. small as 1t was
then.
Mr.. Bradley. upon his arrival In the
| city on May 30. found the quarters pre-
yiously selected by Him not ready for
| occupancy, and besides inconyeniently
situated Thus he was forced to Sc
cure quarters elsewhere.
| There Is very little 10 be found that
was written at the time regarding the
| removal OF the Government 10 Wash
| ington, but fortunately. two letters
written by Mr. Bradley give some in
| teresting information in this connec-
! ton. especially az to the Post Office De-
partment. On June 2.2l800. he wrote :
we arrived here on Friday last hav-
/ ing had pleasant journey as far as
we Travelled by daylight. Capt Steven
son, with whom / agreed for house
| before my arrival, wag not ready TO
| give possession. and the house was not
] convenient for u8 l have therefore
taken a large three~story house within
q few rods Of Blodgett's' Hotel. which
viii accommodate the Office and my
/ family. and the postmagter's Office, II
| is about eduidiatant from the Presi~
dents House and the Capitol"
| Nine days later in another letter he
| said:
we have not been able 70 open the
Office and commence business until this
day. / left Philadelphia Wednesday
! May II, and arrived on Friday evening
the 10Th. The President left Phila-
delphia the 26th and arrived at George
town June /. The situation Of the city
La extremely pleasant, and II viii prob
ably become the greatest city IN Amer
lea. We have taken DR.
Crocker'a house for this Office telose by
the Great Hotel and for my family at
$500 year. The appointment Of the
rent / shall leave ~ you. IL appears
that 800 year Ia as much rs ! ought
| 10 pay for house. Our Office Is kept
on the second floor. which contains one
large room and two small ones The
largest room h n by II feet and the
smallest rooms arc each ID by IA feet
The front room on the first floor was
prepared for Mr. Munroe's office, with
an apartment for BLANKS, Only half The
floors were laid when we took the house
and only four rooms were piastered
The owner allowed us 10 expend $500
Of the rent 10 make IL tenantable. Tho
b. carpenters are nov at work and We
shall complete, as far al our money