Year: 1867

THE PROPOSED NEW POST OFFICE SITE.


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Another Meeting Of the Couucilmanlc Com


mittec-Spceches and Papers Agninst the


sale Of the Park-Other Sites Suggested, &c.


The special Councilmanc Committee appointed to hear
parties the subectof repeating the ordinance for sell
ing the ground in the City Hail Park the government
for erection thereon Of Post oics held another
meeting yesterday, Councilman Gilmore in the chair,
and al the committee present


The CHAIRMAN stated the committee were ready 70 hear
anything the subject before them


General STORMS said that he took interest in the
subject; that he did not like the neghborhood Of
the City Hall 'stufed up" In tho it is He
tended the meeting in consequence Of the report
in the HERALD. a. native OF the city, and
would not like TO zee the lower part Of
New York 90 obstructed as Il would be by the
Post Once In preference he would take the north
ern extremity Of the Park including lots from No. %
TO IS Chambers street. and Centre from Cham
bes 70 Rsade street. and Rsade srest from No. TO
Is Those lots are think the central part Of the CITY,
Elm street could be opened for foot passengers only
All the Western travel comes directly toward
the Park from Jersey, the railroads come down
past 1t from the North, the building would be
perfectly square; then there would be the
new Post Once, Court House, the City hall
and Mr. Benefits Hne building all in the same
vicinity. The buildings that ground in Chambers,
Centre and Reade all different and not a all
attractive Elm street IS only set Of rookeries that
do not amount to much. As native Of the city who
used to skate on the pond in the City Hall Park, the
speaker thought 1t proper to give his ideas


Mr.. g. W. rErL read the following paper against the
building OF the Post Office ON the site proposed


The interest lately excited In the public mind with
gard to the selection of site most eligible for Post
Oice has induced several meetings TO be held by the
committee tor the expression of public opinion It is
much TO be regretted that so few individuals have
expression OF their Views both favor Of and oppo.
sition to the project


The site at present proposed We deem unsuitable for


Frs-The shape Of the plot is entirely Objectionable
FOR the erection Of building with reference to archtec


Second-The sale of the ground to the general govern
ment at less than one-fifth its actual value.


Third-No more Objectionable situation could possibly
be chosen for holding the city of New York. in
OF the noise occasoned by vehicles Of every


Fbth-rhe crowded state Of the thorouahares at this
particular point rendering dangerous and almost un


FifA-The additional obstruction to the locality by
mail wagons constantly arriving and departing.


These are a few Of the many objections which might
be urged against the present selection.


As stated former occasion, am OF opinion that
the present City Hall could be easily converted into
post Office and the proceeds Of such sale by the general
Government could be Appropriated to the erection Of
new City Hall on Madison square, 1t will not be many
years before the rapid increase Of population win loudly
call for the erection OF building in that locality


General STORMS said that he credit to the Council
for having the spunk to give the old Knckerbockers
. chance 70 be hoard on the subject tLaughter)


The CHAIRMAN announced that the following paper had
been sent in to the committee II was accordingly


All who have paid the slightest attention to the
increase OF business in all parts Of this city must have
been struck with tho generally state Of many
day This is emphaticaly true Of all the streets below
Canal street. It Is not without difficulty and danger
that oven the City Hall can be approached from tho
eastern and western sides OF the city during many
precious hours OF the day. Accidents continually
occurring from attempts to cross Broadway Park
Euperadded to the natural increase OF the number Of
persons and vehicles passing all the thorougnfares
'os e 1 ss s
location Of the great Post Office Its lower end must
be apparent that hardly any point in The city can offer
be forgotten that the proposed edce is 70 be costly
structure lifted 70 answer the special purpose Of its
OF the souheriy end OF Manhattan Island Is crowded
excess with business men and their commercial and
shat part of the city is rapidly forcing banks insurance
offices and the wholesale trade In all branches Of bust
ness further and further up town every month When
OF the great interior OF the continent Of which, New
York city the natural and necessary outlet, and
astempt 70 calculate the consequence in the way Of
increased business and population Of the city from
density Of the culsivator Of the soil compared to the


distant and the opening OF several lines or railroad COM
muucaton with the Pacific shores Of our country ono
suds q our city sssa within the short space cf half
century 10 suppose for moment that the end or the
PARK -. Sy that time time Ss % the proper place FOR me es9s
seems u Thai the edce should be erected where IL
WIN answer the purpose for the future e well as for
the present Of the whole population OF the Island Of
Manhattan. the greater part Of which will doubtless
be wanted for the business population within the
place for the Metropolitan Post Once in view Of the
rapid increase Of population and the extension Of bust
ss q M TO have
all the consideration due 70 the importance Of the sub
tect


erca classes Of fellow citizens who do business In
che lower wards Of the city In the undtubed possession
that the present Post once should be retained where
ds Cedar street. the permanent great southern sta
tion and that the ednce should be erected in the
centre OF Union square, one Of the blocks Of
Madison square, bounded BY Broadway, Fifth avenue
and Madison square No lower point than Union square
should bc selected much II any, above Madison
square When 1t s recoleced that almost all the mails
reach the city by rail from the East the West and from
the ocean FAR above the City Hail. II seen that
that point is too low for the present accommoda-
tion OF our people very great proportion OF the land
All such mails must necessarily remain n tue Cedar
post office throughout the night and be distributed
only the following day through the uptown stations
70 the general population and TO merchants on their
arrival at their places of business down town.


BY the proposed establishment OF the great Post
Office at Madison Union squares an evening de-
livery Of letters would enable the whole population to
receive their letters before ton O'Clock 7. NJ, whereas
now all such letters the Office greater num-
Der Of hours than to bring them from Boston,
Albany or Washington. The greater part OF the sea
letters touch the shores Of the CRY at points acccs
sibIe to Union Madison square than to the Cedar
street post Office. BY the establishment Of the great
distributing oface at one Of the points mentioned,
great facility will be afforded TO the general population
or many hours in the receipt OF their letters, and OF
several hours in their despatch 70 their respective des
tnatons by the avoidance OF sending letters down town
TO be mailed some hours before they leave the city


wo have hastily sketched some Of the various reasons
which justify the Abandonment OF all idea OF the City
Hall Park suitable place for the Post ONCE and for
the recommendation Of either Union square or Madison
square, locations infinitely favorable, not only
for tho present interest OF the city but still more 30
for the great OF the growth and wealth OF
interior population OF the whole country, OF which
1t Ia the financial, business and social centre


During the reading Of the paper Councilman LAMB