Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-22
What Washington Needs.

IF the scheme propose should seem too
large for immediate contamination, then
let the government acquire the district In
question block by block each session This
plan would be more expensive In the end,
but the needs of Washington are such that
minor details of expense which might be
considered Of moment elsewhere should have
no application to the capital.
second, we should progress with the
building OF these structures In the capital
by positive additions each session. as we
progress with the building Of our navy
Washington belongs to the nation and is a
municipality individual unto itself. With
the construction Of the new committee
rooms on the west front Of the Capitol it has
been splendidly demonstrated what may be
done in the remodeling Of the interior Of an
old building without defacing any of its his
torical lines The next step will be the con-
struction Of the east front and portions of
the building adjacent to the dome and ro-
tunda, which are now not fireproof, ought
to be torn out and replaced in marble and
granite. Then. the proposed congressional
office building on the south of the Capitol
ought to go up without delay. The engines
in the Capitol are at all times more or less
and they should be removed and heat and
light transmitted from a separate building.
The huge piles of coal and cordwood. Of
boxes and barrels. which are continual eye
sores on the east side, would happily dis
appear. In short, the Capitol needs good
overhauing and renovation and the money
thus spent and as proposed for new build
ings would be one of the best investments
Congress could make and the people would
applaud it's action.
Importance of Early Action.
Third. I would consider the building for
the agricultural building next in the order
of Importance. would like next to see
the block opposite the Congressional
Library occupied by a building devoted ex-
clusively to the judiciary branch of the
government. The half Of records ought to
| be built at some point south Of Pennsyfva-
MIA avenue as soon as exfiedient. The con-
gested condition. Of the public buildings is
not only disgrace. but sas positive menace
to their safety. The APPEARANCE of the
ing is shamefully married. by the disfigur-
ing piles of documents and implanted pine
board frames damned with papers. 1t Is
nnsght hs and they agA. to se removed n,
building is, 1 UNDERSTAND AU the three up
per floors, a serious pr8 ~ tor solve until
a suitable place be pro The same is
start, documents and - OF inestima-
BILE value, and Which be replaced,
are in danger. IS IL -. -.
ed i fs %es sss Xxx e saaE ssa
! Navy departments. both. 81 which depart
| ments uncomfortabry crowded, and out
| side quarters are rented, The patent office
| exclusive use. This Office has under
stand, a sinking fund of $4,000 900 received
| from fees. and it could be placed to no bet
ter use than in the construction Of a new
patent Office. Every model, since the very
| first received, should be displayed. not as
now, but in the sequence. of the improve
| ments of the times. Thus the various i'm
provements upon the primitive fail for
| thrashing out grain te-the-g giant steam
| power thrasher of today; from the scythe
of biblical days to the newest moving ma
chine, and other of the great inventions
| likewise shown.
What Great Fire Would Do.
| "Must we suffer the consequences of n
| great, devastating fire In one or more of
| the department buildings before It is real
| lied how badly Off the government Of the
United States is as regards adequate fire.
| proof buildings? Suppose the Wilder build
| ing, with its priceless army records, were
| to burn. or the old Ford Tfleater building,
| both Of which buildings are old, and are, in
| the light of building construction of today,
| veritable fire traps? MUST we contemplate
| the disastrous results following a fire In
| the old treasury Building before We begin
with the reconstruction OF the east front,
| and. what ought to be donesS the remodeling
| of the interiors? And ali of these probabiit-
| ties, as they are admitted to be more than
| mere possibilities, in the face Of the fact
| that the capitals fire department has been