Evening star., 1902-08-22
QUALITY OF THE BRICK
ANOTHER VIEW OF CONGRESS
HEIGHTS ENGINE HOUSE.
Mr. Arendes Replies to Commissioner
Bidd1es Comment-A1leged
Unsightly Structure.

Joseph NJ. Arendes of Congress Heights
has written to Col. Biddle the Engineer
Commissioner, acknowledging receipt of the
latter's reply to petition in regard to the
new engine house. Mr.. Arendes says:
''As regards the quality of the brick be-
ing used, there is no question about its
rough and half-baked appearance, and to
the ordinary eye it is decidedly unsightly.
What 1t will look like when the building is
completed is a problem for the future.
1T is evident there is no blame to be at
tached to the contractor and inspector, be-
cause the whole bone of contention, The
quality of the brick is permissible under
the specifications, and should the building,
when completed, present rough and un-
slightly appearance, as our citizens now
think it will, the building department alone
is accountable.
Now to the past, claim the right
to show where you have been miSinformed
as regards a similar protest against the
Congress Heights school house.
Alleged Poor Material.
''On November >, 1897, the citizens stated
in a protest against poor material, ETC.:
Some bricks are one color and some an
other. We consider the school houses of
Washington an architectural disgrace, but
while the plan of the Congress Heights
structure is far superior to any other
school building in the District, the paint
ing on the outside ruins the whole effect.
Thus showing that the protest was
against the Unsightly brick used. The
storms could have made streaks, but could
not have made some bricks one color and
some another
''On the following day, November 6, 1897,
The Eening Star in an editorial under the
head line Higher Ideals in Municipal Art
said in part, commenting on the above pro-
tnS Hha 1isSi hay ndprf lion
to bring some of the principles of art into
the local situation, and henceforth. the
smaller school buildings of the capital may
not present a wholly unbroken front of
ugliness plainness and crudity.'
Further, the same editorial says: Tt is
encouraging to note this protest, bespeak-
ing as 1T does the birth of a higher ideal
of art and desire for the beautiful. This
spirit should be encouraged and deserves
emulation in other sections of the Dis
trict. Bad painting bad designing and bad
construction are all to be abhorred and
their condemnation on every occasion is to
be taken as a wholesome sign
Object of the Petition
The spirit of our latest petition was to
show the Commissioners and the contractor
that the citizens took the keenest interest
in this building, and the Commissioners
fidelity to the public was never doubted
These specifications were made during your
absence, and therefore no blame attaches to
you in the matter and rests alone with the
building department, which prepared the
specifications
In speaking of the matter today Col Bid
die said he feels sure the residents of Con-
gress Heights will Re more than pleased
with the engine house when it is completed
He stated further that the brick being used
was especially selected with a view to the
artistic effect in the treatment of the build
ing. 1t is a hand-pressed brick, with a
soft, pleasing tone. 1t has not the CLASSY
appearance of the machine-made brick
Mr.. Ashford, the inspector of buildings,
said the brick being used at Congress
Heights Is the same as has been employed
in some of the finest dwelling houses of the
city. The new government printing office
is built of the same style of brick. The
brick was selected after much care and Is
more expensive, it is stated, than the ma
chine-made.