The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-08-23
The Question of New District Building
Again Agitated.
THE NECESSITY FOR IT IS CLEARLY POINTED OUT
Initial Toward Procuring
Builders

U$ CSaleu UPON 10 supply Tue DlStTlcG Win bnaJ
which no other of its size in the United States
is without--a municipal building. For some
time this need has been apparent, but no def
mite steps have been taken to secure from Con-
gress an appropriation for the construction of
building 10 be devoted exclusively to the
Offices Of the District government. To obtain
such structure is the pet scheme Of Commits
sioner Douglass. Hehas been carefully study
ing the matter for some time, and, though as
yet no fixed plan has been decided upon, he is
gradually looking over the field and collecting
such statistics and data as will enable him to
put the claims of the District before Congress
in such form as to prove that the new build
ing is not only sorely needed, but will be
financial saving as well as an additional at
traction to the beauty of the Capital. In his
efforts to promote the best interests of the
District, Mr.. Douglass is earnestly aided by
his associates on the Board of Commissioners.
Both Mr.. Ross and Colonel Robert apprecia-
ting the necessity of such building, have
heartily indorsed Mr.. Douglass idea, and
when the proper time comes they will use
every means in their power to secure that
which the District should justly have. The
Commissioners feel that they will be unani-
mously supported in their appeal by the citi-
zens of the District. Every one recognizes
the fact that the present building is made
quate in many ways to supply the officers of
the District government with proper accom-
modations. In order to make room for the
assessors who were recently appointed,
barn-like addition had to be constructed
which they could use for an Office Then,
too, the Office of Building Inspector Entwisle
consists of one room into which it is but neces-
sary to take glance to demonstrate that it is
so overcrowded that business is interfered
with. Il is so with many other departments
Besides this, some of the branches of the Dis
trict government, whose business is so closely
related TO that of the Commissioners that
they should be in the same building, have been
obliged To seek accommodations elsewhere, as
the Police Department and the supcrinten-
dent OF the street cleaning department. Both
these branches should be in the District Build
ing. But the former could not be on account
Of the necessity that it should be located near
the courts with which its connection is very
close. When the District Buildings were sit
mated on Four-and-a-half street, they were
comparatively within easy access, but since
the Commissioners have been in the present
structure on First street the location, so dis
tant from the business section of the city, is
one that is severely complained of, as business
men say that at least half an hour is lost in
going TO and from the building. Another
reason for the contemplated building is the
fact that but one part Of the present one is
1ire-proof. All the documents of the District
government for years back are keptin the Dis
trict Building Their destruction would be a
loss that could not be restored, and, as Com
missioner Douglass said: 'If this building
should ever catch on fire, it would go up in
blaze and the loss of the archives of the Dis
trict, which are stored here, would be most
serious Cua.'
In speaking OF the proposition to ask an
appropriation from the next Congress with
which 10 construct a permanent municipal
building, Commissioner Douglass said to a
HERALD reporter: 'tYes, | think, without
doubt, the Commissioners will ask for this
appropriation, and l intend to put fourth
every effort to secure it. When / suggested
the matter to Mr.. Ross and Colonel Robert,
they quickly fell in with the proposition, and,
though no concerted action has been taken,
I think the Board of Commissioners will
unanimously recommend such an appropria-
ton. 1t would take at least two years to con-
struct the building and thus it would only be
necessary that we should secure an APP
preparation for half the contemplated cost of
the building at this session of Congress. No
plans or location has been adopted as yet, but
in a general way / have been looking over the
ground. There are in the hands of Architect
Clark, OF the Capitol, some plans for a
District Building which were drawn years ago,
which ! wish to look over, but Mr.. Clark is
out of the city just now, and l am waiting for
his return in order to obtain them or course,
all the branches of the District government
should be accommodated there, and those
with which the public transacts the most
business should be the easiest of access. The
location of the building is naturally ques-
tian of great importance, aud it is only after
considerable study that as far as | am
concerned the reservation just in front
of the Washington Market, on the south.
west corner of Pennsylvania avenue and
Seventh street, seems to be the most suitable.
In the first place the land is the property OF
the District and would cost nothing. When
the market was built this space was donated
for that purpose, but it was found that il
would not be needed and was returned to the
District. The location Is a central one and il
easy Of access, as almost every street car linz
IA the city, if they do not pass by it, are but ;
llock distant.
1.-The building should be five or six storie
In leighti hre-Proof, and drst-class in ever.