Evening star., 1900-01-31

board of trade IS wise in recording itself in
favor of locating the proposed municipal
building on Pennsylvania avenue. There
was never any argument for combining the
District government and the courts in one
building on Judiciary Square, except the ar
gument of expediency. The housing of two
separate and distinct branches under one
roof generally causes confusion and fric-
ton. as attested by the deplorable expert
ence of the local government in the court
house building half a century ago. There
are strong reasons why the courts should
stay in their present location, because of
the property interests relating to them
which have grown up in that neighbor-
hood, but no reason why the District gov
eminent should be located on the same
spot A combined building for both
branches on Judiciary Square, properly
constructed. and large enough to meet the
requirements of the near future would cost
in the neighborhood of s4.0O0,OO0, while
probably s2.aS3.oo0 would be sufficient to
secure the site and erect separate and
distinct municipal building on Pennsylva-
mia avenue leaving the present court house
one of the city's few remaining landmarks
to be further remodeled to meet the needs
of the courts.
The general proposition to locate future
public buildings on the south side of Penn
sylvania avenue has in its favor every con-
sideration of historical and economic rea-
s0nabeness. There cannot be more than
bare handful of men in the houses of Con-
gress who are not heartily in favor of doing
everything within range TO develop the cap
ital in harmony with the national growth
as token of the republic. Much has al
ready been accomplished. There are some
beautiful structures. many Well-kept parks
a great expanse cf tree-lined. well-paved
street area, and municipal equipment rap
idly approaching the ideal of perfection.
But there yet remains to be evolved truly
national avenue, in its proportions and en-
beliishments suggestive of the union of
states. The street is here, with its noble
width and length, and at each end is a
type of the governments power and sta
biIity, at the east the Capitol, at the west
the treasury. What more appropriate more
effective. more practical than that the space
intermediate be filled with structures, each
contributing its share to the utilities and
to the adornment of the capital? the post
office alone is now there, but the conven-
ience of its location is so apparent that ii
movement so sincerely desired by all lovers
of the true capital ideal.
ne ecoloiilicf'i sue Vi me matter Is III
portdtt- me 'iioiileii' 'he soNe' iiiiiei. ue-
cHes. 10 conslr"eI o'her IMAM d mere sh'ch
cipapie -ol housing its cieihS anu oii'cels
aiio resorts 10 eitioeIiisi'iheht u JUSTLY 'he
enterprise II hlahes investment III the true
eaP''ai eNo'uNoh. Every ooiiar spent aooNe
the pare heeus Is uoliar spent ior the
oeauuhcaIioh Oh washington anu the per
petuatlon oI the repuplc siofS' III eidt
sense II j. an uiiuehid"ie pusiiie9s Pi'po9i-
ton that the greatest return from such n
Nestments VIII HOW from the assemptaSe
OF lhese orndHlefltal structures with f"l;i-
ton 10 each other, rather than thelr seSr"-
CATION IN Unrelated localities Inc ora'-
menting OF neiShborhood Is not so impor-
tant as the oinamenunS OF the whole cap
ital, and the capital is to be most surely or