§ MR. RITCHIEasked the Postmaster General, Whether it is proposed to enlarge the accommodation of the Telegraph Department of the General Post Office by adding a story to the present building; what height from the ground the new story will be; how many persons will be located in the building when completed; and, what precautions against fire it is proposed to take?
§ MR. FAWCETTIn reply to the hon. Member, I may state that the height of the floor of the new story in the Telegraph Department above the pavement is 76 feet. The maximum number of persons employed in the entire building is about 2,500. Of course, the whole number are not employed at one time. About 300 are employed at night. The building is fire-proof, and every precaution is taken against fire by having large tanks on the top of the building and hydrants on each floor. The means of exit are so good that it is considered that the whole staff at the busiest time of the day could leave the building in 10 minutes.
In answer to a further Question from Mr. RITCHIE,
§ MR. FAWCETTstated that, to the best of his belief, no more than 2,000 persons were ever employed in the building at the same time.