Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-09
THE AVENUES SOUTH SIDE
a fOrmer New York AIderman.s Viz.
"rous Remarks Concerning 1t.

The editorial in The Star recently said
Donald Gallery, formerly a member of rbe
new york board of aldermen, to a Star re-
porter advocating the building on the
south SIDE OF Pennsylvania avenue of the
proposed municipal building or, as we call
H. the CITY Hail of Washington, involves
'he unfolding of scheme of urban i'm
PfoFement at once so splendid and striking
as to commend itself highly to the resi-
dents of your already surprisingly beauti-
full capital
And, in speaking of city halls, the peo-
pie of my borough of Greater New York
are themselves considerably torn up as If
were over the question of u municipal
onlidlng to replace the present old historic
structure brought home to Washingtonians
as the place in Manhattan where Admiral
Dewey was formally received and given the
freedom of the city.
Ihis old building is of white marble on
IT'S south or front side, and on the east
ana west wings. On the north however it
IS Dulit OF brown stone, because, presuma-
b!y' the city would not grow above it, and
; tme people would not observe the econom-
lcaI though somewhat inartistic tastes of
tne city fathers of the early part of the
last century. There are many of our own
people who are unaware Of this architec-
tural incongruity.
1t seems to me that the nronos;tto, 70
line broad Pennsylvania avenue with pub
nc buildings Is so replete with arguments
IN Its favor that determined opposition
pennsylvania avenue is nearly, if not quite
twice as wide as Broadway in New York
and Is, therefore, of sufficient width TO
snow on to advantage high structures
Broadway is so narrow, and its parallel
ehcompasSment of sky-scrapers SO high and
PERCEPTIONS, that the street takes on the
appearance or a great groove in the CITY
MOI SO pennsylvania avenue. Architectural
axa hn lit
than the new Star building can be desiredD
are possible. and the mind may easily pic
lure a vista as grand as the most ardent
NaShinstonian may wish.
In fact, because of the present unusual
Wloth oil the avenue, its buildings with a
lew exceptions. appear in themselves small
ana low This appearance would give way
to another view if the perspective were
relieved by tall granite or marble edifices,
ana, to my mind, public buildings of gran
lite or marble should be erected. Brick is
too dull in color The pension Office is a
good example In this connection. The pen
sion office should enjoy the distinction of
remaining the last brick public building
erected in Washington.
Il would go even further and condemn
all that part of the city south of the ave
nue. from Sd to 18th street, and bring the
park line to the south side of the avenue
This scheme may be considered impracti-
cable on the score of the great cost of the
property in question: but 1t would GER
tadnly add tremendously to the general ef-
feet, and ought to have been accomplished
years ago. when the property could have
been had at low figure
In my frequent visits to the capital and
occasional chats with congressman find
a pretty general sentiment of friendly in
terest toward the city. Having been poll
ticfan myself I do not lose sight of the
fact that these men represent distant con-
stituencies, and their favor at home de-
ponds upon what they do for their own
people and communities. Naturally, they
cannot be expected to give as much at