The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-29

The Public buildings.

Washington Sentinel OF the l2h instant permit me
Editor, 10 review The grounds upon which i, ia has
Ia 1888, when the Treasury building was burnt "A \
question came up Of new aud more secure stturtn
Tor this department. and, being then 10 The service al
government, took ~ the subject at am early ns,oI
fore the meeting OF Congress, prepared and submip
plans for this structure 10 President Jack son. prsdis
upon si.s for the executive Offices which -
allow OF building large enough TO accommodate M
these Offices under one roof This site was Iaf.,..y
Square, the building occupying three sides of The sam
the norh wesi, and east. leaving the south sds Co.,
thus forming hollow square This plan was spnros. 4
by General Jackson, who submitted ii 10 the commits,
OF Congress which had charge OF this subject Inform
nately. the views OF the majority Of This commi,as "
not coincide with those OF the President Whis !, NJ
under discussion here, endeavored 10 eopyn,, '
committee OF the propne,y and expedency OF oroyiss
building which, in It's plan should be spacious enor
| 10 accommodate eventually, all The executive off,
| under one roof There were some Local circumstaDo
which presented TO the committee against The oe,
pancy of the Lafayette Square with buildings and seem
this, proposed another size south OF the Pfesldenr
Square, where there was more independence OF action
room for The extension OF the building when REQUIRED
The grand front would have been TO the Plesidenr
House, ranging from 18th 10 l7h streets. with an ONE
space in the centre equal TO the front OF the President
House, 10 form vista the river, sc. This front line
The building as before said, would extend from III 10 7i
streets; the opposite front would be The Presidents gar
wall, distant some $50 feet This would have provedal
admirable site for these buildings, looking down I'D
broad Potomac and fronting south and north Blu, how
desirable il might be to place all the Offices in juxa
position with each other, the expense would subject lid
government TO complete The buildings and the compaa
tive low state OF the treasury at that time, induced III,
committee to report, simply 10 erect building for lid
treasury upon the old ste, and further, that should
built OF the materials OF which the Capitol anil
Presidents House were built To The President was eLl
the selection OF the plan and the appointment OF the anil
chect was called upon by the President to preparI
plans suited to the site selected by Congress- which we
submitted and approved then appointed the all
chec and received instructions TO embrace as much N
the original design adopted as is now completed Near
eighteen years have elapsed since the Of h
edifce laid. This e1ent Of building then con
sdered uncaled for but time has proved the d
this Judgment Had not induced the government 10 all
low me to provide treble the accommodations of the pre-
u0us Treasury building what would have been the con-
don OF the public archives, and accommodations OF of
fee at this day The writer in the Sentinel tod
sweeping in bis censnre, that all cur public archives
exposed TO the fiery elemen, from the want of tie fe
proof character TO public buildings. He forge,s thai
moi only the Treasury, but the General Pust Office AMI
Paien, Office buildings, all of the frepoof characts
and little is left than the War and Navy DepamH
archives exposed to this fiery ordeal
There is no question but il would have been the wisss
policy 10 government 10 have adopted the plan sub
med in 1885 10 have erected building large enough
accommodate all the executive Offices under the sansI
roof, and such building made te proof but this wa
not done. one. of two things Tor consideration
namely:
Fret TO complete the two blocks oil buildings a.
melted out by the committee of The Senate in their ae
report, which will furnish Office accommodations eas
for the present generations the space TO be occupied
these buildings and their grounds will still leave for ih,
Presidents Mansion and grounds an equal space be
tween the blocks of buildings that OF Lafayette Square,
with an open front 10 the sorth. From the nature
government the pro1 muy OF the departments The
Presidents Mansion s an essential requisite. The ques.
lion then comes up, Will any Inconvenience arise from
the existing proximity The distance thai each end Of
the Preside nts Mansion will be IRON the proposed build
ings equals 400 feet, this is sufficient for privacy The
complaint made in the SeHtnel is, that there sis per-
pelual tbrong passing ADD epassing through the Pfes
denls grounds, toe very porico OF The ITSELF
But this is republican liberty, and may be offensive
to the President IL any inconvenience arises from
any time, the correction is at band-he gates can be
closed leading to and from the departments; then all
will be private. While no mpi.ini is made, the peo'
pie will delight 10 draw nigh their Presidents Man,
sion and truly speaks volumes Of confidence and al
fec'ion on both sides Mr. Jefferson when he was Pres
den, had only posiandra fence around The mansion,
and, TO enable free intercourse between the mansion
and the departments, be commenced The present
building on each SIDE. which, when completed,
communicate with the Treasury and Navy buildings (he
only buildings then erected, aud which contained all The
executive ohcs 81 for the private intercourse OF himself
and Secretaries. These the palmy days OF our
public, and well do remember them as a student
Bot 10 return 10 our subject AZ long as we are true
TO our republican principles shall be satisfied that
President will also be- and object be near proI
unity with bis cabinet officers Until he complains no
change OF location will be required.
Second. Should The official transactions OF our CO..
eminent increase 10 degree that will require as much
more office room as now needed, then ], may be
necessary TO provide another position for he Presidents
Mansion, and no more appropriate and beautiful size
can be found Than the public mall, where there would
be comparative quiet, splendid gardens, jet feaw,
walks, and drives When the necessity we have
been considering shall occur, the beauties OF the
mall will be appreciated, aud sought for in case oil
this character But we may hope no necessity OF this
between President and the people will always be as
il is now and that both will appreciate The blessing,
Whoever takes upon himself the duties OF The responsible
office oil President oil republic devote bis iahot
tune TO It's requirements, and will need dose unity 10
has officers UntiriBg vigilance belongs 10 The office, and
the approving voice Of his fellow. citizens will be bis chief
reward
RoBr. MILLS Architect
CRY or WAsHsGros
For the Union,
Navy onnccrs in Command OF Private steam