Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-17
CREDIT TO THE CITY
Government Buildings to Be
Raised in Next Decade.
TO ENLARGE CAPITOL
PROPOSED EXTENSION ACCORD
ING TO THE WALTER PLANS.
New Offices for Senators and Represen-
&. tatives, National Museum and
Agricultural Buildings.
BY VIM. e. CURTIS.

Written for The Evening Star and the Chicago
Record Herald
Within the next ten years Washington
will have nobler group Of public buildings
than can be found In any other city in the
world, and they will be of an order of archi-
lecture which will do credit to the culture
and the artistic taste of the country. While
1t is impossible>to tear down the pension Of
fice the new Post Office Department build
ing and some other prominent structures,
the offenses against public taste which were
committed in their erection will not be re-
peated.
Within the last ten or fifteen years there
has been a decided advance in architectural
excellence throughout the entire country, in
public buildings of all kinds and particu-
Iarly In those erected by the federal gov
eminent But nowhere is that Improvement
so conspicuous as in the city of Washing
ton The Capitol, in many respects, is the
most majestic official building in the world.
People who have travelled far and wide Will
tell you that it is unexcelled, and when the
contemplated improvements are competed
it will be even more beautiful, more shape
ly and more appropriate than it is now
A Joint committee of Congress consisting
and Representatives Cannon, Hepburn and
Richardson has supervision of the work
the plans, which are being made in the
office of Elliott Wood. superintendent of the
Capitol are nearly finished, and a model
showing the building as 1t will appear when
completed will soon be placed In the ro-
tunda for public inspection. The facade
will be- almost without alteration, that
sketched by Thomas L. Walter, who built
the north and south wings from 1851 to
1859. and prepared plans for an extension
of the central part of the building eastward
which would harmonic with the wings and
give additional beauty to the splendid dome
says In his report: 'It would seem sacri-
lege to offer any other plan than that Of
fered by Mr.. Walter" and that 1--WE may
safely be guided by the thought, the effort
and the production of this great man 9
genius"
about So, 800 900.
An Imposing Quadrangle.
When the building plans of Congress are
carried out the Capitol will occupy one side
Of the most imposing quadrangle in the
world. Directly opposite, on the other side
of the park. the Congressional Library
already stands. and a twin structure for
the use of the Supreme Court the Court
of Claims and other purposes is proposed
for the corresponding block on the other
side of East Capitol street. The south side
of the quadrangle will be occupied by an
Office building for the House of Representa-
tiyes. which will cost So. $4,000 and will
cover the entire square. The cellar is al
ready dug and the foundations are being
laid The building was designed by Carerre
& Hastings of New York, who are the con-
sulting architects of the superintendent of
the Capitol and the exterior will correspond
closely with the completed Capitol. 1t will
be as nearly flreproof as a human structure
can be made the exterior walls being of
white marble and the interior of steel and
brick. It will contain about 400 Office rooms
for the use of members of the House OF
Representatives. At present every avail
able room in the Capitol Is utilized by a
committee, and members who are not chair
men of committees have the choice of rent
ing an office outside at their own expense
or sharing committee rooms with their as
sociates. The new building viii be connect
Cd with the Capitol by tunnel and pro-