Show Contract Sign Signed d for Post Office Building Postmaster General Arthur E E. E Summerfield announced today that a contract has been signed for the construction and lease to the Post Office Department of a new post office building in in Manti Mantl Successful bidders were Richard Richard Richard Rich Rich- ard J. J and Mary 1 N. N Stromness of Bountiful Construction of the new post office is expected to begin immediately and completion completion completion com com- is expected by March 1 10 1960 The lease will run for 10 years with renewal options up to 10 years To be located at approximately approximate approximate- ly North Main 1 Street this modern post office structure will provide 1452 square feet of in interior interior interior in- in space an outside loading platform and ample sur hard faced space for parking and truck maneuvering Specifications Specifications Specifications call for the latest modern lighting and equipment including including including ing a low open service patron-service counter Postmaster General Summerfield Summerfield Summerfield Summer- Summer field stated This is another important step in the Post Office Office Office Of Of- fice Departments Department's modernization program to improve postal services services services ser ser- vices for the public by providing providing provid provid- ing new buildings and equipment equipment equip equip- ment designed for efficient and economical mail He revealed that under the Post Office Department unique commercial leasing program the Department now is awarding contracts for new postal f facilities facilities facil facil- cil- cil at the rate of three a dayTo dayTo day To liTo achieve complete modernization modernization modernization modern modern- of the postal plant more post offices must be re replaced replaced replaced re- re placed due to lack of space and obsolescence Adding further details concerning concerning concerning con con- postal service today he noted that that the more than post offices are handling a a. a total of 61 billion pieces of mail annually annually an annually an- an an time all-time record and an increase of more than 20 perc percent nt- nt above the approximate 50 billion pi pieces ces handled only I 1 10 years ago Postal services are being im improved improved improved im- im proved in many ways the Postmaster Postmaster Postmaster Post Post- master General said We Ve are making bold alterations in our transportation patterns to speed the movement of the mails We have expanded the use of airplanes airplanes airplanes air air- planes Highway Post Offices trucks and buses when these carriers have shown they can carry the mail faster He lie pointed out that the postal facility to be built in Manti is typical of many others going up elsewhere throughout the tIe coun coun- try And the new new post offices he said contain not only the modern service patron counters and saving eye-saving fluorescent light lIght- ing but a separate patron lobby to allow patrons use 24 hours a day New mechanical equipment equipment equipment equip equip- ment and furnishings will be provided Color harmony is part of the painting program through out The Postmaster General said mail users will find mail mah ma 1 service ervice in the years ahead im improved improved improved im- im proved through an unprecedented ed program of or scientific postal research and development The liThe Post Office D Department already has under development he said a ua machine that willrea will rea read the addi addresses esses on mail and sort it automatically Other machines already in mop mop- op operation include those which sort mail and parcel post semi semi-au- Mail handling on the work floors of larger post offices is rapidly being mechanized with conveyors to end the fashioned cd of hand lr-bor lr and the resultant clutter raid and nd confusion The Postmaster General pointed point point- ed out that the new post office in Manti one of oC 1400 p post o 0 s t offices being built in 1959 will remain under private ownership while v leased to the Federal Government and hence will pa pay local real estate taxes Comparative cost studies be between between be- be tween owned Government-owned and commercially l leased buildings over a year 50 building life Postmaster General Summerfield said have shown that the post postoffice postoffice postoffice office departments department's commercial leasing lensing program saves between 30 and 40 10 per cent in ultimate costs to the taxpayers |