New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-17
WHITEHALL
urW BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE HISTORIC STREET-HOUS1NG
THE IMPERIAL SERVICES-A
TRADITION PRESERVED.

Museum is to be completed at a cost OF
uOOOOoO and a Postonice Savings Bank IS to
IA erected in West Kensington at expense
100000. In addition to these public works
mere will be an outlay Of Sc. 100 900 for public
offices in Whitehall. The Admiralty Buildings
are to be enlarged and completed: new War
ofBce with an estimated cost Of $2375 600 Is
N be built opposite the Horse Guards on the
Darlington House site which S25O0OOO has
already been expended. and $1,000. 900 has been
appropriated for the Offices Of the Board Of
Trade the Education Department and the Local
Government Board on the Parliament-st. site
The expense Of acquiring this site at the top OF
Whitehall has been 81 .125,OOO.
These improvements in Whitehall will repre-
sent in sites and buildings expenditure OF
NO475000 When the buildings occupied
10 Pail Mall and Whitehall by the departments
which are to be rehoused are vacated and Sold
there will be an Offset Of S5OO0OOO to this large
outlay for public works. If Mr.. Akers-Douglas's
expectations are fulfilled. Whatever may be the
architectural effects of the new structures. there
will be 4 marked improvement Of the approaches
to Westminster Abbey and the Houses OF Par
Iament. The removal Of the block OF buildings
between Parliament and King SITS. Is already
well under way. and the Abbey can be seen
from the old banqueting hall opposite the Horse
Guards The new public Offices for the Board
Of Trade the Education Department and the
Local Government Board will front upon White
hall and be in line with the Colonial and Home
Offices and the Treasury. extending as far back
az the Institute OF Civil Engineers in Great
Georgc-st. Whitehall which has been blocked
at the top with unsighty structures. viii be
widenei. and great public building will flank
the Houses Of Parliament and the Abbey
In the course Of the debate on these votes for
public works Sir William Harcourt expressed
with grim pleasantly serious apprehension OF
the Disagreement Of Whitehall II architects
Were allowed to reproduce such structures as
the New Law Courts and the Police Offices.
The point would have been better one II he
hal named the Treasury. Home. Colonial and
Foreign Offices. which are huge but unsghtly
and unimpressive structures. The New Law
Courts and Police Offices arc ordinarily regarded
a. among the most ornamental buildings in
london. Sir William Harcourt was wholly
right. however in condemning the public Offices
as unsuitable and inconvenient for the trans
nction Of business. Architects designed them
without reference to the uses to which they
were to be put. and large body Of civil SER
wants is condemned TO work in dark. il-venI-
lated rooms The only exception is the new
Admiralty Building. which. while not an orna-
mental structure, Is at least admirably designed
for the requirements and comfort of the work
Ing force
PRACTICAL REQUIREMENTS FIRST.
PrOhting by experience. the Board OF Works
has decided to adopt the plan which was carried
out in the construction Of the Admiralty The
officials II the War Department and the other
BoarIs which to be housed Will be Invited
TO prepare groundpans. When these have
been revised and perfected. architects Will be
called in 20 provide Portland stone cxtcriors
which viii harnonize with other structures in
Whitehall The Parliament-st. site offers an
Opportunity for splendid architectural effects.
but the practical requirements OF these great
departments Of the public service must first be
considered When the New Law Courts were
built the architects were allowed to plan an
ornamental structure. which would redeem the
Strand from the rcproach OF plainness ana ush-
ness. They succeeded in producing pictur-
esque and impressive exterior: but the court
rooms. corridors and Offices arc dark. and the
building is q most nconvcncnt one for the ad-
ministrauon Of law. The new War Office In
Whitehall will have an area Of $1,000 square
feet and the site is fine one for an ornate
Architectural design: but utility will be made
the first consideration, and the comfort OF the
working staff OF officials win not be sacrificed
to external effects. Competitive designs VIII
not be submitted for any Of these new struct-
prcs.
The British Government has been most de-
lberale in providing permanent working quar-
tiers for its great army OF officials Sir Gilbert
or tuli CT where