The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-11
ARCHITECTS WOULD
BEAUTIFy CAPITAL
Keynote Of Speeches at the
Meeting Today.
BIDDLEWELcoMES MEMBERS
Address of President Eames Occupies
Most of the Morning Session.
The Topics Treated,
BlDDLEWELc0MES MEMBERS
Copyright. 1905. by Richard Barry

Beautiful Washington was the key
note of the opening meeting ar the Ar
Engton this morning of the thirty
eighth annual convention of the Amer
lean Institute of Architects. This
theme predominated in the preliminary
addresses, and gives promise of oceu-
pying the attention of the delegates
while the institute is in session.
About sixty of the eighty delegates
to the convention were present when
the convention was called to order by
missioner John Biddle delivered the ad-
dress of welcome.
Speech of Colonel Biddle.
Colonel Biddle said:
This is the second time I have had
the honor OF welcoming to Washington
the American Institute of Architects
1T would, therefore. seem natural 70
mention what progress has been made
since two years ago toward the good
TO which we are cenjointly striving-the
Identification of this Capital City
The relation OF the architectural pro-
| fession to the Government is question
| that claims this year much OF your at
tention as appears from the apers for
discussion at this convention
Il do not. While this must be OF in
| terest to Washington, attempt TO touch
upon that important subject, but only
/ to consider what has been done in the
/ District of Columbia as TO buildings and
development
=! New Union Station.
| s.The new monumental railroad sta
tion. TO be built of white Bethel gran
/ tie. and facing 2 magnificent plaza
with wide, raGi&ting avenues has been
well started and at your next meeting
/ III Washington will be, / hope. in use
| The plaza itself will take longer 10
/ complete, rs the great fill must settle
before il can be paved and the trees VIII
'@:9F aThe ct two Office buildings for. Con
! gress located on Capitol Hill, the
/ Museum, and the new agricultural
| building on the Mall, have been begun
| tain to be models of public buildings.
New District Building.
Tine new District of Columbia Build
ing on Pennsylvania Avenue has the
! foundations about finished, and if the
i appropriation asked for is given should
be about completed when you return
again. All this makes, l think, very
satisfactory showing for large public
! buildings under construction
The minor District buildings such
ScnOOl-HOuStSr pOt-1S sti4N SD
tions, are showing increased architec-
tural excellence. without greatly IN
creased cost The new Business High
/ School and the new police station are
from designs adopted in competition
! among Was Shington architects.
.'-The private architecture in Wash
incron is varia BILE. Many fine houses
| and impressive edifices and churches
| have been rected. but the blOck-builG.
/ ing type of house. each with a little
] c,IoIa. and covering acres of ground In
! ceftaln sections, is, unfortunately. toc
! prevalent This is due. probably, 10 the
! high price Of land which forOids detach-
| ed houses near the city. There is,
| think. a gradual Improvement along tht
line of small. inexpensive houses o:
| pleasing appearance
Development Of City.
/ Besides these physical improvements
| there has been. / believe, 4 decided ad-
vance of sentiment in all this com,
rrunity as to theNecessity of doing al
possible for the development OF rht
! Capita. Tie Idea of the preservation
of Pennsylvania Avenue between the
Capitol and the White House by tho
(Continu5d on Second Page.)