Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-03-01
BoULEVRAD OF PALACES.

Washington Correspondence of Baltimo'ss
There is just now lively revinf
the agitation in favor of goverug
occupancy Of the entire south sid 7
Pennsylvania avenue from the Gail
to the Treasury with continEt
chain of magnificent public buildilI
The idea is grand ore, andrI
doubtedly it will ultimately be cam
out, but most probably not in then q
furure. Quite a number of Seniss
and Representatives are giving exFl
sion to opinions on the subject, i
without exception they regard 4
project with appreciation. The 50 \
did width of Pennsylvania avgI
makes that thoroughfare peculirI
suitable for the erection OF impo;|
structures, and a mile of eoyernnI
buildings in one solid array wo|
furnish a spectacle not paIallelsi
any other capital in the world.
would be a pride tc our own pei
and an admiration to all Others,
There could be no better opportui'
than the present for the government
acquire ali the land needed and at I'd
reasonable rates. There is not ans
pensive building on the entire SOL
line Of the avenue within the liHi
proposed to no taken up, and praS
cally the land would he all to be q
sidered. There are several small hot
but all Of antiguatsd construction,
it is doubtful if dozen new hoa
of any kind have been put up since'
Civil War.
One proposition is for the govs
ment to make a single transactiOt
the purchase of the land and d
erect the buildings at its leisure'
financial convenience. This would
more economical than tc purchase
square at time. as the price Nr
be bound TO rise with each succes:
purchase.
The opposition to the wholesale
will be too great in Congress to per
anything of the kind, however,
the advocates OF the plan will hav'
be content with the gradual proc
1t is contemplated that each buiId
shall haSe a square for itself, alI
most cases that the approaches shal
made beautiful and attractive by 10
scape architecture.
There are several bills now pend
in Congress for the acquisition Of
OF the other of the squares, and
possible, but not certain, one
them may go through before the
of this session.
The avenue scheme originated BE-
the Civil War, and it is believed
it not been for that struggle coming
it would long before this have bee
rapid progress toward completion
| As it is, very promising begllil
has been effected in the erection OF
new postoflice building, which b
its tenants the Postofiice DEPART
and the city postofiice. During
administration of President Buch'
one of the features of the aV
scheme was for the government
acquire the land on both sides q
west as Third street, and throw
into the Capitol grounds. Sinct
Civil War nothing has been heal
this, and it is not known whe;be
suggestion will be renewed. bu
shabby appearance of the imme'
approaches to the Capitol from
west have long been universally
msnted upon, and foreigners are
stantly giving vent to amazemeDt
such building as the Capitol !
set in the midst of park proportl
for its beauty and srlendor.
So far as this is concerned.
there is still much room fol imp
ment, the enlargement of the ia
grounds and the elegant and ar
manner of Improvement furnish
pleasing contrast to tho conditlo
20 or 30 years ago.