Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-02
SUBJECT TO APPROVAL
PLANS FOR NEW UNION STATION
AND MATERIAL USED.
Citizens File Protest Against White
Granite-Matter to Be Care
fully Considered.

Within the past few days the Commission
ers have received numerous communications
from individuals and citizens associations
of the District relative to the proposed use
of white granite instead of white marble In
the construction of the new union station in
Washington. In nearly all Of the commune
cations is a protest against the construction
Of the terminal building out of white gran
lite.
Commissioner Mcfarland stated today
that the District authorities will be given
an opportunity to pass upon the plans and
specifications for the new building, and that
when the plans are submitted they will be
given most careful consideration. The Com
missioners are Of the opinion that under the
provisions Of the act Of Congress authoriz-
they have discretionary powers as to the
kind of material to be employed In the
building. The act specifies that the plans
shall be Subject to the approval of the
district Commissioners, and under this pro-
vision the District authorities consider that
they have the power to designate what ma
terial shall be used.
A paragraph in section 2 OF the act pro-
viding for union railroad station In Wash
ington states that 1.-The terminal station
contemplated In this act shall cost not less
than four million dollars. and shall be mon
umental in character, and the plans thereof
shall be subject to the approval of the
Commissioners Of the District Of Columbia"
Right to Reject
From this provision 1t is inferred that in
case the material designated by the rail-
road company is not satisfactory to the
Commissioners they have authority to re-
ject the plans. although the subject Of ma
terial is not specifically mentioned in the
act Of Congress.
The announcement that the railroad COM
pany intends to use white granite instead of
white marble In the new building has
aroused considerable interest among ciu-
zenssof Washington generally. and the
question Of material may prove difficult Of
solving. The Commissioners do not wish to
state at this time their preference for ma
terial, but they do say that the plans will
be given most careful consideration.
Captain Newcomer, acting engineer COM
missioner, late Saturday afternoon received
from Chief Engineer Brown Of the PENN
ton in response to his letter of October 20.
which was printed at the time in The Star.
Mr.. Browns letter Is as follows:
Answering your letter Of October 20.
Washington union station has not yet been
placed under contract, and before the con-
tracts are awarded we will see that the
Commissioners are furnished with set of
plans by the architect and give them an
opportunity to criticise them. We are very
much obliged to you for calling our atten-
ton to this matter, as 1T might have been
overlooked. We have asked Mr.. Durham,
the architect to take a full set of draw
ings to your Office in Washington early
next week"
Evan H. Tucker, president of the North
east Washington Citizens Association. has
written to the Commissioners relative to
the proposed use Of white granite.
White Marble Proposed.
Among other things. Mr.. Tucker says: