Year: 1868

Causes Of Delay in Building the New York


Post Ofice.


WASHINGTON, April 10, 1S68
There has been great deal Of complaint among
the citizens OF New York city-for which they have
good and sufficient cause-about the incomprehensi-
BILE delay attending the erection Of the projected Post
once and Court House. Everybody could under
stand that the preparation Of plans for the edifce
and the settlement OF the prelimindres were taking
up an unreasonable length Of time but very few
understand who is to blame for the procrastination
Your correspondent, happening to fall into conver-
sation yesterday with an able and experienced
architect and civil engineer, who has been for long
time past In the service Of the government gathered
few points Ii relation TO the New York Post ONCE
that may be interesting to the public coming as they
do from one who has given the whole subject care
full investigation.


First, 1t was suggested that large proportion OF
the time was uselessy consumed In making trip to
Europe for the purpose Of examining the c0nstruc-
ton OF post offices there-uselessly wasted, because
brief consultation with any one familiar with the
plans Of those buildings would have disclosed the
fact that no plan Of post oce in Europe could be
adopted in this country for the reason that no Euro
pean country has postal system like our own. One
feature alone Of the European postal systems-the
absence Of the box delivery" which forms so
prominent feature In ours-would render the plans



States. The interior arrangement Of q post office
which has no box delivery would OF course be more
compact than one which must be provided with
thousands OF boxes for private individuals as well
as for the general delivery No advantages, there
fore. could be derived from an inspection of foreign
post Offices except by the individual who is thus
abled to make q comfortable European tour at the
expense Of the government.


Another prominent cause Of delay In fixing dr6n
plan arose from the number OF architects inter-
ested in the one finally adopted, Controlling de.
sire on the part Q. commission to incorporate in
one plan az me features Of the numerous plans sub
mitted Which struck them as being meritorious led
To the adoption Of one, after long and mature deb
efatiOn protracted by hesitation between this and
plans of several architects This new composite
order az architecture having so many authors the
details, as matter OF course, could not be speedily
decided from the difficulty OF providing for all the
friends Of the authors who enjoyed superior facilities
for furnishing building material.


These obstacles however, having at length been
surmounted, the plan, together with its specGca.
tions and estimates, is presented to Congress, and
more delay must Inevitably result from the doubts
engendered in the minds OF some OF the committee
as TO whether the same degree of comfort and con-
venience and the same beauty Of exterior finish
could not be obtained for more moderate sum-
with little alteration Of the interior construction


These doubts induce the committee to refer the
whole caseto the Secretary OF the Treasury In order
to obtain thereon the opinion or the government
architect His opinion, after the lapse OF further
time, finally comes in the shape of "wet blanket"
on the main features OF the plan. The report does
not tend to dispel the doubts OF the House commit
tee which seems to feel the necessity OF examining
O little further into certain portions Of the plan;
SUCH for instance, as the wholesale use Of iron for
inside finish.


The informant Of your correspondent was OF the
opinion that II the new Post Onlce had been allowed
10 take the usual course-be erected by the govern
ment empl9yes-e9ually as good q plan IN. would won,
ing would be finished and ready for occupation two
years after ground was broken for the foundation.