Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-17
A Central Power Station.

IA SSltIa1 O"OA SSeNsASA>|
In one of the appropriation bills passed
by the last Congress Bernard r. Green, su-
perintendent of the library and the new
museum, was instructed to submit plans
for a central power station, to be located
downtown, in the neighborhood of the
treasury, for the purpose Of supplying
heat light and power to the White House
and the department buildings. Mr.. Green s
report Is nearly finished and VIII be ready
for the consideration of Congress early IN
the new year. 1t contemplates a plant
which will cost about million and quar-
ter dollars and will include an exclusive
telephone service for the use OF officials OF
the government. At present this service is
supplied by a private corporation, and all
of the wires run through central station,
so that the President cannot tax with
the Secretary of State nor with the Speak
err of the House without being overheard
by others 1t is proposed to concentrate
ell Of the government telephone wires in
the proposed power plant, with connec-
lions between its central station and the
regular public exchanges.
According to the calculations of Mr..
Green, more than 100000 a year may be
saved in heating and lighting the executive
depar tmenrs down town, and this economy
will be doubled when the new museum. the
new Agricultural Department, the hall OF
records, the municipal building and the
new Departments of State and Justice
buildings are completed. power plant
capable of supplying heat light. power and
telephone service for all of these buildings
can be erected for 81, $50 600, Including ma
chinery. and will thus pay for itself on
present expenditures in ten years. while
the economy will still go on increasing as
new buildings are erected. The economy
in the cost Of furnishing light heat and
power plants for the new buildings alone
will pay for the central station, and thus
not only will a large sum of money be
saved but the space occupied by machin-
cry in the existing buildings and proposed
buildings can be devoted to other purposes.
The union railway station which is now
being erected for the Pennsylvania and
Baltimore and Ohio roads, at a cost of
several millions of dollars has been already
described In these letters. Work is pro-
crossing rapidly. The foundations are be-
ing laid and within two years it is hoped
that travellers will be able to carry home
stories of its grandeur. AS example of
monumental architecture 1t will surpass all
other buildings now In use for railways or
any other business purpose, and the entire
cost of the Improvements, including the
approaches and surroundings, Will be about
S12, 900, 600. Some of the people interested
think that the cost will exceed $15,O00.0 900
before the plans are completed.
New National Museum.
A new building for the National Museum
is now under construction on B street, at
the edge of the Smithsonian grounds, be-
tween the Smithsonian Institution and Cen
ter Market It will be one Of the largest
double the floor space of the present mu-
museums in the world. having more than
scum building. The outside walls measure
$50 by 800 feet The architects. Messrs.
Hornblower & Marshall of this city. have
furnished a simple. dignified classic de-
sign, harmonizing with the Capitol and the
White House. with a central dome about
200 feet in height. The material will be
granite three different kinds being used.
and three different shades of color. be-
cause no one quarry could furnish all the
hot
be required. The design of the building Is
intended to express its purpose. The window
space is unusually large in order to furnish
plenty of light. and the entrances VIII be
of appropriate proportions. The main en-
trance will face south on the mall toward
the present museum. There will be another
entrance on B street leading directly to
hall seating four or five hundred people,
which may be used for lectures, concerts
and temporary exhibitions. The cost of the
building is limited by Congress to 100000.
New Agricultural Building.
Contracts have been signed and ground
has been broken for new Agricultural De-
partment building. which will stand facing
the mall about one hundred feet in the
rear of the present building. The plan con-
templates a group of seven buildings con-
nected by colonnades and arches. arranged
in the form of quadrangle open to the
south. The center and the chief feature
will be an administration building with a
dome ana a SpieHulu pculiiitilt, iesSsuphu5
the administration building at the Chicago
exposition. The entire cost of carrying out
their plan is estimated at s4,50o,00o, but the
present appropriation. which is 81, 800 600
will be expended in the construction of twin
buildings. 256 by 60 feet in size, with ex-
tensions In the rear one hundred feet on
either side. An open space will be left be-
tween them to be filled by the administra-
ton building whenever ii Is needed. The
architects are Rankin Kellogg & Crane of
Philadelphia; the design is pure classic.
harmonizing with those of the new mu-
scum and the new Office buildings for Con-
gress; the exterior viii be of white marble