The Federal group should be only less extensive than that devoted to city purposes. The Chicago Federal Building, completed in 1905, is already inadequate. Indeed it has been the custom of the general government to attempt to house many and divergent departments of administration under one roof. In a great city like Chicago the dignity and the business of the United States courts demand a building exclusively for that one purpose. The post-office is now seeking a site on the West Side. Thus the opportunity is at hand to begin the civic center group with a building of importance, by locating it in connection with ground reserved on the plan as a public square which finally shall be surrounded with administrative buildings. The custom-house and the internal revenue office; the various offices of the engineers employed on lake and river improvements and surveys; the lighthouse service; the inspectors of steam vessels; the life-saving service; the recruiting officers for the army and the navy; the emigrant inspectors; and the various other officials charged with enforcing the rapidly growing body of laws for the protection of health and the promotion of good order,—all this army of employees of the United States should have suitable quarters in buildings erected for the exclusive use of the government. The Federal buildings alone, if they are to be adequate to the demands of the public business, would require a group of buildings of the first order in so far as architecture and location are concerned.