New-York tribune., 1902-01-05

California's transition and filled most prominent
and unique part in the public esteem"

CALIFORNIA; transition and filled most prominent
and unique part in the public esteem"
The growth of the Department of Agriculture
from small bureau Of the Interior Department to
its present proportions and scope is interesting
story 1t is only few years since this important
branch of the public service represented in
the Cabinet With the establishing of that port
folio interest in it awOke and since then its work
has been watched with keen interest both in this
country and Europe. The news that the
stone of a building VIII be laid for this
department is cause of rejoicing among its
friends, for it long outgrew the limits Of the
old building. and its wo-k has been handicapped by
Cramped quarters and insufficient space for llbora-
tories and for experimenting. There is
Iending before Congress bill providing for new
building, introduced by Mr.. Mercer of Kansas.
which, il is said by those most interested, will
speedily become law. This bill appropriates
$9.5OOGo0 for the erection Of a department home.
and specifies that the building shall be commodious
and hreproof. and constructed in accordance with
the approved plans heretofore secured in pursu-
ance of the provisions of the act of Congress ap-
proved March .. 1901" This appropriated s. 600
and authority 10 expend that ir the prepara-
ton OF plans for a new building. Ten of the lead
ing architects Of the country were invited by the
Secretary Of Agriculture to compete for the honor
of making the plans, and II commission of three to
decide among them appointed. This commits
sion-D. II. Burnham. +. l.. Olmstead and Angus
tus St Gaudens-were unanimous in preferring the
design of LORD & Hewlett of New-YOrk and their
decision has been ndorsed by the majority of those
who have examined the plans
Secretary Wilson'S commission was also named
by the Senate Committee District Affairs to act
as a park commission, and naturally had in view
the position a building would occupy in the
park system. and its relations to neighboring
buildings as well the needs of the department.
The rev department building will stand the
site of the present Its architecture is on sim
pie classic lines, it will be four hundred feet long.
giving abundant space for the &ccommodation of
the different bureaus and it will be built OF white
marble The main part of the building will be five
stories high and its roof will be Of glass. The Of
fees of the Secretary and his staff and the chief
bureaus of the department. VIII occupy the centre
OF the building and the wings will be converted
into Laboratories. AS soon the bill providing
for the appropriation is passed work one of the
wings will begin. and IL is estimated that in two
years the entire building will be finished
There is hanging in the lobby of the House an
excellent portrait of former Speaker Reed by
Sargent. which is a Mecca TO all the admirers OF
the Subject and the artist who visit the Capitol
but il fails TO with the appreciation of one
DAYS in Washington and had much to about
the big man from his State. This worthy person
stood. legs far apart and hands in pockets. for a