The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-27
EXPANSION OF THE PUBLIC
BUILDING NOW IN DEMAND

To the Editor Of The Washington Times;
The subject Of the expansion Of the
public buildings IN Washington Is get
ting ripe not only in the executive de-
partments. but in the halls of Con-
gress. The subject is getting more and
more interesting. II we look back upon
what has been done already some ripe
thoughts may recur TO Us.
In 1TsS an office building was erected
west and a little bit to the southwark
of the Presidents house. It was soil
tary brick building. At that time the
War Department controlled the army
and navy. and in that building was the
War Department. the State Department.
Treasury Department and the Navy De-
partment. They were small but they
grew so that In 1918 a building WIS
erected Just north OF the old office build
ing. which became the War Department..
and the Navy Department. which was
created that year. kept the old building,
and il was ever afterward known as tue
Navy Department Southeast Of the
Presidents house was erected a depart
ment for the Treasury. and northeast
was another one which was for many
years used as the Department Of State.
II was evidently the intention of our
legislators at that day that these execu-
tive departments should be near the
White House
In the course Of time the Treasury
expanded so that It was enlarged by
what is now the east wing OF the Treas
ury. which Mr. MuHett used to refer
to as "a stack OF cigars. =" and finally the
ear
away the old State Department for its
north wing. and finally a west wing
was added.
The old War Department and the old
Navy Department buildings were torn
down, and the three departments. State,
War. and Navy, were again brought to-
gether in the one big granite building.
This was sufficient until the Spanish
war came on, and the country became
agitated with expansion" when these
three departments Overfowed and were
again obliged 10 rent outside buildings.
Congress. in its wisdom. thought that
the erection Of : general hall of rec
Ords would relieve the congestion hall
to receive the records of al the execu-
tive departmcnts-leaving the old build
ings for clerical purposes. This. however.
can never be successfully done. because
each and every bureau IN every one of
the executive departments considers il
imperative that il have its own records
within its immediate reach. so that II
halls of records are ever made satisfac-
tory 10 the bureaus of the Government
there must be d hall for at least each
and every executive department.
Much .has been said about purchasing
buildings along the south side of Penn
sylvania Avenue. between the Capitol
and the Treasury Department This
ground is low, and the cellars frequently
overflow with water. When the Post
Office Building was erected. IL was found
necessary to pile for the foundation. IT
made te building worry expensive. OF
course. some newspapers. possessing
great landed estates on the north side
of Pennsylvania Avenue. have become
more and more convinced of tho import
ancc of their own property. which is
only natural.
other propositions have been made in
Congress, and by real estate men in
Washington, as well as those in the
executive departments. to purchase
ground in the immediate vicinity OF the
executive departments for thcir over
flow Recently. in the halls of Con-
gress. the propriety Of locating the pub
lie buildings on the high ground in the
vicinity of the Capitol. which is an ex-
cellent idea. was discussed.
The erection of the public buildings
along the south side Of the Avenue
would, we think. rather detract from
the value Of the property on the north
side than enhance it. Take for ex-
ample the public buildings in any part
OF the world. 1t viii be found that there
Is very little business in their immedi-
ate vicinity; in fact there is very little
travel along their outer walls. During
the hours of opening and closing the
Offices the streets are fun Of employees
going in and coming out. but after they
have all gotten out of the buildings the
streets will be again found nearly de-
serted. This experience would simply
be repeated on Pennsylvania Avenue,