NAME FOR FEDERAL BUILDING AT MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.

FEBRUARY 11, 1915.-Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed.

Mr. GUDGER, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 21383.]

The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 21383) to change the name of the old postoffice building at Minneapolis, Minn., having considered the same, beg to report thereon with the recommendation that the bill pass amended as follows:

Strike out all after the word "the," in line 6, down to and including the word "building," in line 7, and insert in lieu thereof the words "Federal office building and customhouse."

The object of this bill is to officially designate the old post-office building as the Federal office building and customhouse in order to avoid confusing it with the new post-office building. The old postoffice building now houses practically all the activities of the United States Government at Minneapolis, with the exception of the post office, which, as stated above, is in the new building erected for that purpose.

For the reason stated above, the committee believes that the bill should pass and unanimously recommends its enactment into law.

O

POST-OFFICE BUILDING AT EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, MO.

FEBRUARY 12, 1915.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. SUMNERS, from the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 21074.]

The Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to which was referred the bill (H. R. 21074) increasing the limit of cost of the United States post-office building at Excelsior Springs, Mo., having considered the same, beg to report thereon with the recommendation that the bill pass.

The purpose of the bill is to authorize the additional expenditure of $2,000 on the post office at Excelsior Springs, in order that certain desired betterments may be installed. These include concrete driveway, concrete sidewalk around post-office site, marble wainscots, and changes in the down spouts.

The act of June 25, 1910, authorized the expenditure of $60,000 for a site and building at this place. When the building was completed, it was seen that there were not sufficient funds for the proposed improvements; hence the need of the additional authorization. Below are given several letters bearing on this subject:

Hon. J. W. ALEXANDER,

Gallatin, Mo.

EXCELSIOR SPRINGS, Mo., November 25, 1914.

MY DEAR JUDGE: Upon my return from Kearney, after our meeting, I took up with the superintendent in charge the matter of additions to complete this post office. We went over the matter very thoroughly, and the suggestions herein will undoubtedly be for the betterment of the building. Such items as are asked for are usually incorporated in buildings of this size and cost. That they will improve the appearance and make the property more durable can not be questioned.

In the matter of change of sidewalks, as there will be, and now is, considerable travel on Elms Boulevard this sidewalk should be wide and therefore built out to the street curb. The sidewalk on Regent Street should be built to make a parkway on each side of the walk.

The principal reasons for desiring this additional change are, first, the inferior character of the present walks. These will not last but a year or two, as the walks are cracked badly in places already. Such sidewalks as the department construct

will last indefinitely. The present sidewalk concrete is only about 4 inches thick, with a bed of 4 inches of cinders and a top coat about three-eighths inch to one-half inch thick. The concrete has hardly enough cement to bind it together. Second, the trees on Elms Boulevard are too close to the present lot line to enable the contractor to install the lot curb. This curb is absolutely necessary to protect the lot from overflow of storm water. The sidewalk now is 6 inches from the lot line, and the street side of trees are 8 inches from sidewalk.

In the matter of the driveway in rear, contract provides for macadam; this should be made of concrete blocks on account of dirt accumulating. Horses tramping on this macadam in wet weather will soon cut it up and the dirt will become a nuisance, as well as the dust and odor.

In matter of toilets, first floor, the plans provide for a marble base only. These should have marble wainscot and marble trim throughout, not only for sake of appearance but for sanitary reasons.

In the matter of roof drainage: The plans show this to discharge into a storm water drainage catch basin. The outlet to this is wholly inadequate to take care of water that flows down from a street on the west. The pipe is stopped with débris most of the time, so that the water would be backed up in the horizontal run of our drainpipe from roof. This discharge from roof should be run into the gutter immediately in front of the building and a cast-iron box placed in sidewalk.

There is a sketch inclosed herewith fully illustrating all that is asked for in the above.

Now, I do not know whether there is any surplus in the appropriation for this building that would be sufficient to take care of these additions. There is inclosed here an approximate statement of items chargeable to the building, as follows:

Appropriation for building, $49,000; general contract, $46,360; lock boxes, $700; land standards, $150; painting plaster (which should not be omitted), $900; additional curb on the north line of lot, $75; tree trimming, $25; balance available, $790. Approximate estimate for desired additions, as follows: Concrete driveway, $420; sidewalks, $630; marble in toilets, $210; changing drainage to gutter, --; total required, $1,260; amount available, $790; balance to complete, $540.

It is apparent that some additional funds will have to be procured in order to complete this work. The people here are justly proud of the building we are getting, and I feel it would be too bad not to put in this additional amount at this time to make the work complete.

If it meets your approval, I would suggest that on your return to Washington, D. C., you confer with the Supervising Architect, who can give you first-hand information as to what funds are available under this contract. He may be able to make some suggestions to help us out that would be of assistance to you.

Now, Judge, not only myself but the people of Excelsior Springs would greatly appreciate anything you can do in our behalf in this matter. Very truly, yours,

W. H. Trrus.

WASHINGTON, December 28, 1914.

Hon. J. W. ALEXANDER,

House of Representatives, United States.

MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN: Referring to your recent visit to the Office of the Supervising Architect of this department, and particularly to the correspondence which you left, relative to certain betterments in connection with the new post-office building at Excelsior Springs, Mo., you are advised that the alternate for the painting of plastering, in amount $900, has been accepted.

Owing to the lack of funds, however, the additional betterments which you desire, i. e., concrete driveway in lieu of macadam, concrete sidewalk around the post-office site, marble wainscots in first-floor toilets, and the change in downspouts, can not be provided for, and you are further advised that it will be necessary to have an increase of $2,000 to cover the additional expense of same. The correspondence left by you is returned herewith.

Very truly, yours,

B. R. NEWTON, Assistant Secretary.