From the Richmond Times-Dispatch, 2/6/1909, p. 8, c. 1

REJECT SITE OFFERED ON CHIMBORAZO BROW
Chief Moore Wires That Government Must Have Original Location or None.
FILIBUSTER MAY FAIL YET
Blockading Attitude of Committee May Not Be Indorsed by Council.

According to a telegram from Chief Willis L. Moore, of the United States Weather Bureau, received yesterday by Local Director Edward A. Evans, the proposed Weather Bureau building will be lost to the city unless the Council takes the matter in hand and gives the site selected by the chief on his recent visit to Richmond. As Mr. Evans announced before the committee Thursday night, the location on the brow of the hill will not be acceptable. The telegram follows:

“Accept no site other than that chosen by me.”

It seems, therefore, that if the Council follows the recommendation of the Grounds and Buildings Committee it will be practically equivalent to notifying the government that Richmond will not accept the Bureau.

Means to Benefit to City.

“The idea in getting the building,” said Director Evans last night, “Is to increase the efficiency of the bureau in Richmond. The most up-to-date appliances will be installed there, and the whole object will be to improve the service for the benefit of the business interests of our city and section. It is a matter of vast importance, as any of the business men can testify. All of the commercial organizations have already expressed themselves very emphatically on the subject.

“What the Grounds and Buildings Committee proposes to do is to force on the bureau a site that will greatly decrease its usefulness. It will prevent us from giving that service which we desire, and will render null and void all the efforts we make to improve the service. I hope that the members of the City Council will reflect seriously on the matter before they allow a location to be forced upon us, which really, in my opinion, will mean that Richmond will fail to get the building and will be deprived of the benefits arising from it.

“Every fifteen minutes to-day I have been called upon either in person or by telephone by people who have been surprised at the action of the committee. It seems to be the general opinion that the city will give us the original site, and I believe that we will get it eventually, in spite of the opposition.”

Mr. Evans stated also that he had received the same assurances of hearty support for the original site on Chimborazo Park that came to him when he was making the fight for the bureau on Gamble’s Hill from the business organizations, especially the Chamber of Commerce and the Richmond Produce Association. Both of these organizations will take the matter up again and push it with vigor.

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