Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-02
EN- TlRELY AVAILABLE
Senator Mcmillan Approves of Pennsylvania
Avenue for Public Buildings.
His Preference for the Municipal
Structure-Ought to Purchase All
of south Side of Avenue.

Senator Mcmillan, chairman of the Sem
ate committee on the District of Columbia,
is heartily in favor of building up the south
side of Pennsylvania avenue with govern
nlent buildings. He not only believes that
the grand thoroughfare should be improved
in keeping with the general beauty of the
capital, but that tine building sites north of
the mall are most favorably located for
the purposes of the government, both on
account Of their accessibility and the OPP
portunity they give for a display Of SPLEEN
did architecture, such as the government
should encourage by example.
Mr.. Mcmillan regards a location on the
south side of the avenue as eminently
available for the purposes of a municipal
building for the District of Columbia, but
favors the present court house site on Jul
dietary Square, because the government
now owns it and would be saved the ex-
pense of purchasing another site.
Mr.. Mcmillan expressed his preference
for plan for the acquisition at one time
of practically all the ground on the south
side of the avenue that the government
may want for many years to come, rather
than for its purchase from time to time,
as 1t may be wanted.
When his opinion was asked today on
the plan which Is almost unanimously IA
voreG by citizens, that the new municipal
building be constructed on the south side
of the avenue, he replied:
For many years 1 have favored build
ing up the south side of the avenue with
public buildings, and have believed the time
would come when this will be done. The
sites IN this neighborhood are conveniently
located for the transaction of business by
members of Congress with public officials,
and the avenue itself is so eminently fitted
as great thoroughfare for display of ar
should not be lost. OF course. 1 would not
favor paying extortionate prices for this
land, and If the government buys it, it
should be acquired at reasonable prices. AS
long as this government lives the avenue
will be- the scene of great national pageants
to be witnessed by people from all parts of
the country, and with the extending infiu-
ence and material expansion of the nation
the importance of this avenue will be cor
respoDdingly increased. In the location of
the White House and the Capitol building
it Is probable that Washington himself fully
realized that with the growth of the coun-
try the broad thoroughfare connecting these
two structures would become an important
center Of the city.
Il have favored the location of the new
municipal building for the District on the
present site Of the court house, on Ju-
dietary Square because that building, while
pleasing In some respects in outward ap-
pearance Is far from fit for the purposes
for which 1t has been used. 1t would cost
great deal Of money to remodel 1t, and
even With large expenditure for that pur-
pose II COulQ not De mace reaHy OeS1raDle.
The building should be replaced, and as that
site already belongs to the government, I
would prefer it over another site that would
cost great deal Of money. Otherwise,
would regard the south side of the avenue
as an entirely available locality for o site
for the new municipal building"
Paid for Avenue Property.
In connection with Senator McMillan's
remarks. it Is interesting to note that the
government has in recent years purchased
square Of ground on the south side of the
avenue, where the building now occupied
by the General Post Office Department is
located.
This land was acquired some nine years
ago by condemnation proceedings. A COM
mission was appointed to ascertain the val
ue of the property, and the result of it's VAL
uaton. which was approved by the court,
showed that the square and the improve
ments thereon were valued at $500, 1G2
which was an average of $11.1 per square
foot for the 5S,5U3 square feet contained n
the square. The government paid for this
property only what an individual would
have been required to pay If he had en-
deavored to secure the entire square This
Is demonstrated by comparison with the
price paid for the square purchased about
the same time by the Washington and
Georgetown street railway, now the Cap
ftal Traction Company where subsequently,
the cable power house was erected This
is square No. 255, bounded by 1872 and 14th
streets and E street or Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and d street: 1t contains 1910 square
feet, and the company paid to the owners
foot