Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-21
NEW THEATER SITE.

Nettle HOOD Emerson; limited StateS our
Glorious Land" by Mr.. Donald Fletcher of
Denver, Col.
| NEW THEATER SITE.
| Mr.. John w. AlbauSh Vigorously Pro-
tests Against Government Seizure.
| Mr. John w. Albaugh has made vigor-
Gus protest against the amendment proposed
| by Senator Gray to the bill Oh. r. S51S au-
| thorizing and directing the Secretary of
| the Treasury to acquire by purchase or
| condemnation "all Of lot in square 221
| and part of lot in said square, adjoining
said lot 9, said parcels of land being known
as the James G. Blaine premises" Mr.
| Albaugh's protest is as follows:
| The lot known as the Blaine lot, which
| is now proposed to be taken by the govern
| ment, was leased by Mrs. Blaine to Paul
| d. Conner, and subsequently assigned by
| Conner to John w. Albaugh, for a term of
| ninety-nine years at the yearly rent OF
$1,000 for the first thirty nine years, and
| $4,000 for each of the remaining sixty
years. immediately upon the execution of
the lease and it's assignment Mr.. Albaugh
preceded to raise the necessary money 10
build a theater, and secured attractions for
| the next season, among others, five leading
| European attractions. and has expended
! large sums of money in prosecution of the
enterprise.
! NE Albaugh gave pledges that he would
| erect upon the lot a theatcr, absolutely
| fire-proof, safe in its exits and artistic and
beautiful in appearance.
Mr. Albaugh protests against the taking
| of his property by purchase or condemna-
| ton.
| First. Because there does not exist any
| need or demand, or any reasonable proba-
| bility of any need or demand, for said prop
erty for the uses of the government.
RacallSa condemnation
entail a great cost to the government
| which in the depleted condition of its
| treasury would be improvident.
Third. Because the erection of the build
ing would give employment to at least 100
men for the next nine months, with food to
their families, and because with the great
want and poverty now existing In Wash
| ington among the laboring classes, this OPP
! pCrtunity for employment should not be
| taken from them, and after completion en-
ployment to at least fifty men.
| Fourth. That the government should not
! interfere with any legal enterprise or bust
| ness, unless there is an absolute need of
| the property for the immediate uses and
! purposes of the government
Fifth. Because it has not been the custom
| or policy of the government to acquire
property for its prospective or possible fu-
| ture needs.
Sixth Because the building now occupied
by the Department Of Justice (ard marked
| on plat lot ~ is more than ample for its
present needs, and there are now large
| number Of rooms unused and unoccupied;
| and because there are vacant lots adJoln-
| ing (marked on plat Nos. 5. and . belong
| ing to the government, containing nearly
| 1900 square feet, sufficient to erect a
| building upon more than double the size
| Of the present building.
| Seventh. Because there Is an alleyway
| Shown on plaD twenty-five feet wide be-
| tween the present building Of the Depart
nent of Justice and the Blaine lot, and be-
| cause as the building proposed to be erect
| ed thereon, and for which permission has
| teen given by the inspector of buildings,
| upon plans submitted, showing the pro-
posed building absolutely fire-proof, and
| far superior in this respect to the present
Department Of Justice building. all question
| of danger to the Department Of Justice
| building from fire is absolutely unfounded.
| Eighth. Because In the preparation of the
| plans of the proposed building due regard
! was had to the location of windows, the
| style and character Of architecture, the
| avoidance of unSightly blank wallis and OF
| windows overlooking those Of the Depart
| ment of Justice building, everything having
! been duly considered and the greatest care
| exercised to avoid making the building OBJ
| jectonable in the slightest degree.
| Mr.. Albaugh respectfully suggests that
| there has been an almost universal demand
| for a theater in the city of Washington
| which would be artistic and modern in de-
| sign, fireproof in construction and safe in
! it's exits. That Congress has repeatedly
ps ssed laws requiring the present theaters
| in the city of Washington to conform, as
|
| the construction of theaterS in matter of
| safety and in cases of accident. He re-
| specially asks that he be allowed to pro-
| &C ed in the erection of a theater which in
| the matter of safety would be in advance
| and in elegance equal to any theater in this
| country. If by the action of Congress he
| is not allowed to build his theater so to
| rahle him to carry out his contracts with
| attractions, he will be injured in credit
and caused financial loss far in excess of
| any damages he could reasonably hope to
| obtain by any award of condemnation. He
| respectfully states that for years the
| Blaine property hs 8 been on the market,
| and repeatedly offered to the government,
! who repeatedly refused to purchase it. upon
| the ground that it had no use for it, and
| that not until the purpose of building his
| theater announced, and the buildings
| heretofore erected upon the property torn
| down, was there any indication that the
| government wanted or needed the property.
| He respectfully states that the exercise of
| the right of eminent domain on the part of
| the government is an unwarranted interfer-
| ence with his rights, and against which he
| is helpless and without adequate remedy.
| That il the theater is in any way a
! nuisance, the law provides ample remedy
| which question he will most gladly meet.
| The drama ranks among the fine arts and
| should have a suitable home at the capital