Putnam patriot., 1930-04-24


 On Tuesday President Hoover sub mitted to the house supplemental estimate calling for S2S,693, ,4b0 for the public buildings program of the government.
 The sum of S25, GOO. 900 is set apart for the constructions of public build ings in various parts of the country and includes an increase of $33.500 in the cost of post office in Put nam
 The purpose of the estimate is to permit the secretary of the treasury to enter contracts under the S315,- 000,000 authorization for public build- ings and Co begin the initial work.
 Dormant Since 1928
 The last heard of the proposed Put nam post office was when The Pa- triot in its issue of December 18th. 1928. announced that, because the treasury officials were not able Co se- cure site acceptable to the post office department. it was improbable that Putnam would receive new post of- fee building until well toward the end Of the 5-year building program and that this city had been put well down on the list.
 The intent of the administration to proceed with a public building pro- gram on a large scale to afford em- ployment and as an impetus to bust- ness may bring the new federal bulld- ing for this city earlier than was aE. ticipated when the last word on the subject was uttered over n year ago.
 In addition Co this. it is well known that the post office department Is greatly dissatisfied with the present situation under which mail is deliver cd at the local office The only means of delivery, since mail commenced to arrive in trucks. Is through the Union street entrance or by hand carrying from the railroad station. The lat- ter method is often necessary because automobiles are parked on Union street It was but few weeks ago that the post office department re- questcd the common council to keep Union street clear for the mail vans. This did not receive an enthusiastic reception from the city fathers and, as far as known, no action has been taken to give up Union street to ae- commodate the government. This situation may also be a factor m ex- pediting the erection of new build ing.
 Fund SI19,0O0 Available
 In September, 1927, L.. H. Blanton, site agent of the federal post office department was in Putnam to inspect possible locations for q new building. He stated at that time that there was $85. .500 available for n Putnam post office and that the present site at the corner of Grove and South Main streets, owned by the govern ment. was for sale. He added that the amount realized by the sale of the lot would go to enhance the build ing fund With the additional ap- propriation of S33,50 there will be available q fund of $tl9,000, plus whatever the sale of the lot may bring.
 After looking over possible sites, Mr Blanton told the directors of the Putnam Chamber of Commerce that he found that the citizens seemed to favor the Bove property at the cor ner of Main and Richmond streets. He said that he also favored this above any other site he had viewed. Mir Blanton admitted that the amount of money then on hand was not sum- cient to go through with the program. He advised that the congressman from this district be approached to get further appropriation, $3O.000 being suggested as the amount.
 Congressman Freeman was be- sought Co work for the additional ap- propriation and promised to use his l influence in getting more money. Ap- parently his efforts are about to Do crowned with success.
 Nearly Twenty Years
 For approximately nineteen years the matter of federal building m Putnam has been under advisement. If was i'm 1911 or 1912 that the gov ernment purchased the property It now owns from the late George A. Hammond for ss,500. In February, 1913. Mir. Hammond received word that SIO,00O had been appropriated to begin the work of erecting new building. In January 1914 word was received to clear the land. On the site was q house owned and occupied bv the late Dr. M. J. Bullard. The site was cleared.
 In March of tho same year, 1914, opposition 10 the erection of post office budding at the corner of Soutn Main and Grove streets developed. A petition of remonstrance signed by 900 citizens was sent to Washing ton. This stopped whatever plan. to build had been formulated. Since that time rumors and investigations have I followed one another until the matter has reached such a state of uncer- tainty that the people will not expect to see a new federal building in Put nam until the work is actually com