Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-04
BUILDING LINE
QUESTION CONSIDERED IN CON
NEcTIoN WITH iMPRovEMENTs.
Views of War Department: Officials
Col. Symons' Communication and
Secretary Taft's Endorsement.

The views of certain officers Of the War
Department in regard to the location of
public buildings in the mall are partially
disclosed in correspondence just made pub
lie. In the early part of last month, Gen.
Mackenzie, chief of engineers. forwarded to
the Secretary of War, for submission to the
President, a communication on the subject
from Col Synions, the engineer officer in
charge of public buildings and grounds.
This communication of Col. Symons,"
said Gen. Mackenzie, relates to the treat
ment Of the mall, it appearing to him that
certain questions as to building lines should
be now determined in view of the fact that
tho construction of new public buildings
provided for by Congress is now under con-
sideFation. Col. Symons recommendations
are based on the understanding that the
general arrangement of the mall is to pro-
vide for a panel to be used for road and
park purposes, connecting the Capitol and
thu Washington monument grounds and
that new public buildings are to be located
on the mall north and south Of such park
panel.
..Sueh plan is based ON the recommended
ton of a park commission as given in Senate
report No 1866, ,51th Congress, first session.
Col Symons' recommendations. however.
are that the panel shall be 900 feet wide,
rather than 800 feet as proposed by the
commission and a slightly different direc-
ton is given. His definite recommendations
are that building lines be established 800
feet north and $40 feet south of the east
and west axis Of the Capitol extending
from ~ street. and that the areas to the
north and south of the inclosed panel be
considered as available for building pur-
poses with the principal fronts Of the build
inss toward the same That the entire
length of the mall from Sd to 14th streets
should be laid, out In accordance with
definite consecutive and comprehensive plan
and be. under the control OF a single govern,
afch nat
properly be the Office Of public buildings
and grounds and that the Office of public
buildings and grounds "be charged with the
duty Of SEEING that IN the location Of II public n
Sd and 14th fstreats the prescribed building
lines be resRectef1d
New National Museum.
.eThere istnowlpnder consideration the
location ogoas new National Museum,
which under 1awds to be erected on the
north, side OF the mall between 9th and
10th streetsenorthwest,' and a new build
ing for the Department of Agriculture,
which under theta is to be erected on
such portion of the grounds of the De-
partment of Agriculture belonging to the
United States aae he ethe Secretary Of
Agriculture0 may deem expedient. i'm
mediately In the vicinity of the present
'sIt is understood that in the location of
the new agricultural building the fixing
of the width of The panel at 900 feet has
been virtually considered settled, al
though it Is not known that any authori-
tative decision as to such width has been
made 1t Is also understood that the To-
cation of such building is being made to
conform to the direction of the panel
considered by the architectural commits
sion; that is, centering on the United
States Capitol and the monument. 1t
would appear desirable that In the loca-
ton of buildings now and hereafter to
be authorised on the mall compre-
hensive plan should be followed and the
recommendations of Col. Symons are be-
lieved to be worthy Of careful considera-
ton"
Secretary Taft's Opinion.
Secretary Taft differed with Col Sy-
mons as to the proper width OF the panel,
as Is shown in his Endorsement on Gen.