The Washington times., 1902-07-25
Commission Holds Pre-
liminary Conference at
the Treasury.
ONE FEATURE Determined
Structure Will Not Be Extended Over
E Street-Park Commission Objected
to Closing of Thoroughfare-Unani-
nous Agreement Reached.

An important conference of the COM
mission created by law to take charge
of the erection of the proposed munich
. pal building was held yesterday in the
office of the Secretary of the Treasury.
The commission is composed of the Sec
retary of the Treasury and the Board OF
District Commissioners.
The meeting yesterday was the first
of the commission and had for its OBJ
iect the discussion of plans for the pre-
liminary competition to obtain an archf-
tect fort building. Several matters
also were talked over relatively to the
size of the building and the views OF
architects as to the condemnation of f
Street and the extension of the build
ing over that thoroughfare.
Architect Gives Views.
Mr.. James X. Taylor, Supervising
Architect of the Treasury, was present
at the conference by invitation, giving
his views upon the various subjects dis
cussed. Owing to the illness OF Com
missioner John W. Ross and the alb
sence of Colonel Biddle from the city,
Commissioner Macfarland and Acting
Engineer Commissioner Newcomer rep
resented the District Board. The meet
ing lasted for about two hours.
Commissioner Macfarland laid before
the commission large amount OF data
obtained from conferences with Mr..
Charles F. McKim, of the Senate Park
Commission, from Mr.. Elliott Woods,
Architect OF the Capitol, and from Mr..
Bernard R. Green, Architect of the LII
brary of Congress. Mr.. Macfarland also
presented letters from the various heads
of departments of the District govern
ment giving the amount OF space re-
quired for the proper housing OF the
office, aggregating about ioo,Voo square
feet of floor space.
Not to Be Extended.
The ideas of these architects coin
eide with those OF Mr.. Taylor that it is
neither necessary nor desirable for the
commission to exercise its authority
under the act of Congress for closing E
Street and construc ting the building
over that thoroughfare. 1t was their
unanimous opinion that the powerhouse
square, bounded by D, E, Thirteen-and-
a-half and Fourteenth Streets north
west. affords sufficient space for the
building, and that by confning the
structure to the square there will be
no interference with or departure from
the general plan OF the city.
The expert advice, indeed, was very
strongly against the occupation of E
Street In view of the data before them
and the views OF the architects, the
commission determined to conhne the
building to the square described.
Architects to Compete.
The commission also decided that the
architect of the building should be Sc
lected by limited competition OF gen.
eral plans, as in the case OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture Building and the
Municipal Hospital Building. Mr.. Tay
lor will draw up the program of compe-
tltion, for the approval of the commits
sion. In passing upon the plans sub
Initted in the competition, Mr.. Taylor. as
in the case OF the Department of Agri-
culture Building, VIII probably have the
assistance of other experts as judges.
Inc SlglS VI DullQlHS 10 De erected,
and the material to be used in its con-
struction We're reserved for discussion
at a meeting OF the commission to be
held next Tuesday, after the return of
Secretary Shaw from his visit to the
President at Oyster Bay.
A Fine Building Promised.
Commissioner Macfarland stated after
his return to the District Building from
the meeting, that every effort would be
made to expedite the preparation of
the plans of the building, and it was
his belief that a commodious, adequate,
and architecturally beautiful structure
would be provided for in the plans to
be worked out.
Though the preliminary meeting Of the
commission has been delayed by the
serious illness of Commissioner John W.
Ross, still, matters pertaining to the
work of getting up the plans has prog
ressed rapidly. Through the energy of
Commissioner Macfarland q great deal
OF data has teen prepared, and the
advisory architect will have in hand
by next week all the information nee
essary for the immediate preparation of
the preliminary plans, and the drafting
of the program OF competition to obtain
-nhf far hA 1svfld