The times., 1899-10-15
CHANGES In THE AVENUE
An Architect Suggests Some Gi-
gantie Improvements.
He Thinks That Permanent Com
mission to select sites for Public
buildings should he Appointed
Plans tn Condemn the south Side
for n Government Reservation.

II is now likely that Congress at the
coming session viii take some acton to-
ward the reconstruction Of Pennsylvania
Avenue. and beautify that thoro -gafare.
The matter is being agitated and tie prop
osition being made now is that the whole
south side of the Avenue be condemned
and turned into a Government reservation.
on which public buildings OF the future are
10 be constructed. thus making Govern
ment Mail from the Treasury Department
building to the Congressional Library on
Capitol Hill.
There are many property owners IN this
city who favor such action. and il is said
that ali the opposition that has ever been
made to the project has come fiom resi-
dents who own and rent buildings to the
Government.
a prominent student of municipa' archi-
lecture said recently that Pennsylvania
Avenue ought to be the hand somest
thoroughfare in the world, but ins tesd OF
that. the first impressions OF it on a
stranger create disappointment. The
buildings, ne said. were poor. irregular ia
height, and slovenly in appearance. This
is particularly true in the half mile Just
west of the Capitol Yet it is through
Pennsylvania Avenue that the great his
torical pageants of the country are des-
tined to pass as long as Washington re-
mains the Capitol.
The Critics Views.
In discussing the possibilities for i'm
pTovement this gentleman says:
Il believe that We should have a COM
mission appointed TO study the location
OF our public buildings, for this is destined
to be a city OF great edifces. Their pres
enee would make any thoroughfa-e famous.
Heretofore they have been dropped down
at haphazard.
We have heard great deal about
board of policy in the Navy for deciding
what ships the United States ought TO
build, so as to make the doings OF each
short Administration fit in harmoniously
with a general plan running through the
years. 1t is exactly that thing which We
need in Washington in regard TO the public
buildings.
The commission could indicate the
blocks to be condemned for the use of pub
lie edifiees. These Congress could take up
one at time, as the occasion for their
use arose. We should thus know where
our buildings were 10 be and the city
would develop much more symmetrically.
1t seems TO me- he continue that
the north side of the street should be
treated by the public authorities much as
the Rue de Rivoli has been in Paris.
Il would have the equestrian statues
which are scattered over the city in more
or less obscure places brought 10 the Little
triangleS on the Avenue, and by degrees
this thoroughfare, or the part between the
Capitol and the White House would be-
come the finest in the world TheTe ara
no serious objections to the plan
The property ON the south side of the
avenue is now ridiculously cheap It
would be a great convenience to have the
Government workshops comparatively near
together. or at least in line OF aceessi-
bility. Persons coming here on business
with the departments could transact II
much more easily and inteIligentiy than
now
Great Public Buildings.
Three great public buildings are now
under way-a Government Printing Office,
a Department OF Justice. and Census
building. The demand for hall of records
is crying. We shall soon need a building
for colonial affairs. The Census building.
which has been undertaken by private In
dividuals, ought to be taken up BY the
Government, and, if 1 mistake not, con-
siderably enlarged. AS soon as any new
building is completed, the first thing We
hear is that it is too small Congress never
properly anticipates the growth of public
business.
1T is mistake to put public buildings
in our parks The new public library Is
need all these little parks and reservations
as the city increases in population, and the
temptation OF Congress to save the cost OF
land, by putting public buildings upon
them. is altogether too great 10 be
encouraged. This is one OF the dangers
which the proposed commission would
avoid.
The location of the new Department OF
Justice building, on the Avenue diagonally
across from the Treasury, is reasonably sat
isfactory but Congress ought TO condemn
the Lafayette Square Theatre building, to
give an open space on that side OF the
Department of Justice to correspond with
the space on the other side. Government
buildings. unlike business blocks, should
have such space about them for dignity
and effect. Senator Morrill, planned TO have
a Temple of Justice built east OF the Capt.
tol, and just north of the Library OF Con-
gress He wanted the courts to share 1t
with the Department of Justice.
This combination is not practicable. The
Attorney General, as the Presidents law
adviser. is the member of the Cabinet who
needs to be nearest TO him always The
Supreme Court quite as distinctly ought
to be near the Capitol and the Congress
sonal Library. AS coordinate branch
OF the Government with the legislative and
h.
should have building of their own. and
not be mere tenants