Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-03
BUSINESS EXPANSION
COMPETITION IN PROGRESS FOR
NEW MASONIC TEMPLE PLANS.
Consideration Being Given to the
Necessity for Suitable As
sembly Room.

Changes are to be made in the first floor
of the large building OF the Washington
Loan and Trust Company, which will ex-
tend the banking office and give much
needed room. 1t is the purpose to close en-
tirely the 9th street entrance, so that the
passage leading into the main hallway, the
latter having a door opening on F street,
can be done away with and the space
thrown into office rooms. In addition it Is
the purpose to extend around into the L,
SO that the entire first floor of the building
will be occupied by the banking offices in
addition to the space which is now used on
the floor above.
The counter in the banking room will be
moved back to add to the space used by
the depositors. When the changes are fin
ished the accommodations will be much i'm
proved and there will be more room for all
the departments Of the business.
New Masonic Temple.
At the request Of the architects who have
gone into the competition for the plans for
the proposed new Masonic Temple, the
time for closing the competition has been
extended one month, so that the plans are
to be In the hands of the committee by the
Both Of the present month. There is a good
deal of interest in this competition, for the
reason that the building promises to be
one OF the notable structures in the city.
Its location will contribute to that end for
1t will front on the broad plaza at 18th and
New York avenue, occupying the opposite
point of land from that Of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church.
There are broad frontageS on the plaza
on H street and New York avenue and it
Is proposed that the new building shall
cover the entire ground. 1t Is intended to
spend about $3.50 Goo in the building, which,
o1I Id Is mn
will make the entire enterprise represent a
considerable investment of money. The
whole building is to be fitted for use Of the
Masonic bodies, with the exception Of the
first floor. The space of that section of the
building will either be given up to store
rooms or else to a large assembly hall
The architects who are taking part in the
competition are w. M. PoindeXter Horn
blower & Marshall. Paul j. Pelz. Appleton
P. Clark, jr., Wood & Dom and Robert
Stead.
As to a Public Hall.
A consideration which is having great
weight in the determination Of the ques-
ton as to whether stores or a hall shall
occupy the space Of the first floor Is the
need which is generally recognized for
suitable place for public meetings. In near
ly every instance of a building projected at
all adapted for such purpose the problem
of endeavoring to supply this public need
if the location Is suitable and a hall of
proper size can be provided there Is no
question about the venture being profitable
from a financial point of view. The great
difficulty is in the size of the hall to be pro-
vided, owing to the difference of opinion as
to the number of people which a hall that
would be generally available should accom-
modate.
In most cases 1t is impossible to provide
a large space for such a purpose and even
if that could be done 1t is doubtful whether
such place would meet the requirements.
1t seems to be conceded that the need for
a big hall is only occasional, while there is
a constant demand from societies for a
meeting place capable of seating 200 or 300
people. 1t should be proportional that in
the event that large number is not pres
ent that the comparatively few who do
come will not be lost in the echoing space
of a great assembly room.
At present the supply of meeting places
is less than usual so that the demand for
something to be done to supply this need is
becoming imperative. 1t is probable that
some provision of the sort will be made in