Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-28

The excellent result of the new rule now
in vogue in the construction of government
buildings is shown in the fact that the sue
cessful architect in the competition for the
new Department of Justice building is
of the leaders in his profession, and his de-
sign is far superior to the average of the
government bureaus output for many
years past. Whatever may be the indi-
vidual criticisms of the plan dictated by
personal tastes, it is assured that the pub
lie generally will feel content that the gov
eminent had the pick of the best to be had
in this country for the money allowance
prescribed by Congress. and the building,
when completed, is far from likely to be
subject to fault-finding
Already 1t is noted with regret that the
site is not large enough to afford such a set
ting as the design and the character of the
building demand. This has been feared
fl ON the outset But the circumstances in
this case We're peculiar There was most
urgent necessity for immediate action. The
cid building was known to be in a danger
Gus condition, and many lives were daily
menaced. Congress granted the appropria-
ton for new building only upon the most
urgent representations of the Attorney
General and the President, supplemented
by appeals from the public and emphasized
at every opportunity by The Star. Fortu
nately, regards the precaution of de-
molishing the old structure before it col
lapsed with fatal results, the government
owned sufficient ground to accommodate
new structure. and thus Congress was not
confronted with the usual problem OF
choosing between rival plots, which has
often heretofore defeated many worthy
public building projects. 1t might, of
course, have appropriated for the extension
of the site by the purchase of adjacent
grounds, but the time was short, the ses-
sion then drawing to a close, and it was
certain that mention of buying land
would arouse criticism and perhaps defeat
the bill. Consequently, of the two evils.
the continued use of the shaky Freednan's
building and the use of crampcd site, the
latter was readily chosen the less men
acing.
Subsequent disclosures amply justified
this choice. When the building was RACED
to make room for the new structure 1t was
found to be in even worse condition than
the examinations had suggested. 1t was
seen that another season of use would
most seriously have jeopardized the lives
of scores of clerks The cry of danger had
not been sounded a moment too early.
1t is really not too late to make good
whatever deficiency the site may show
when the plan is laid down. Work cannot
be begun for several months. and Congress
will long before the start of operations
have opportunity, if it should see fit to en-
large the limits of the site. This, of
course, should be done promptly, as not
to interfere with the actual construction of
the building. 1t should be an established
principle of public architecture to locate
no government building in close proximity
to another structure, but to leave ample
approaches and as far as possible to give
each construction an Independent site of its
own. 1t will only be by following such a
rufeth the capital will be fully developed
along the broad lines laid down by its
founders and manners.