Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-20
BEGINS IN FEW WEEKS
Construction of the New Ag-
ricultural Buildings.
FOUNDATION WORK
PRACTICALLY COMPLETED AND
IN SHAPE FOR STRUCTURE.
Magnificent Home for Secretary and
His Assistants-Growth of That
Government Branch.
FOUNDATION WORK

The actual construction work of the hand
some and stately buildings for the De-
partment of Agriculture will begin In
few weeks. the foundation work being
nearly completed. Much interest Is being
manifested in a section of khe proposed
structure, full size. and in imitation or the
snowy white marble of which the eolnce
will be constructed which has been erected
in the immediate rear of the present build
ing.
DR.. g. T. Galloway chief of the bureau
of plant industry and chairman or the
building committee today made an inter-
esting statement 10 a Star reporter con-
corning the structure He said:
The preparation for the general plans
for the new buildings of the Department
of Agriculture have been under way TOT
two years The block plan was completed
during the summer of 1904. and general
questions connected with the location Oh
the buildings were then taken up Tor con-
sideration The grounds of the Depart
mpnt of Agriculture comprise about forty
acres and the question of the location OF
the buildings was considered with refer
enCe 10 the north side of the grounds near
Il street northwest and the south side or
the grounds near the present department
buildings. AS the work OF the architects
progressed il became eviden: that the Ioca-
ton on the north side OF the grounds was
eating the buildings on the south side OF
the grounds was then taken up and con.
sidered in connection with the general
plans llr the Improvement of the mall ad-
vOCatei by the park commission. After
considering the various propositions 1t was
decided TO locate the buildings on the south
side of the mall tract and when this de-
C.sion was finally reached it was found
necessary to alter somewhat the general
plans of the buildings. The plans as finally
approved by the Secretary of Agriculture
located the buildings on a line i4o feet
south of the axis of the proposed parkway,
conforming to the report of the park COM
mission. The new plans provide for two
L-shaped laboratory buildings. each ap-
proximately 256 feet long by 60 feet wide.
each having a rear wing 100 feet long by
ca feet wide, extending to street south
west and symmetricaly arranged one on
each side of the proposed administration
building -centered on 18th street 1t as
planned 20 have the administration build
ing connected with the laboratories by
curtain wings, making a frontage when
completed of about $50 feet facing the mall.
Bids in November.
Early last November proposals for the
general construction of the two laboratory
buildings were received and opened, and
the lowest bid that of Mr.. Ambrose e.
Stannard of New York. was accepted The
cost of the two structures, exclusive of
mechanical equipment. will be sl2O6,O0O.
The superstructure of the buildings is to
be of selected Vermont marble. and the
basement will be of Milford granite. This
combination will make very effective one,
the Milford granite being a warm pink.
above which the marble will show in good
relief
For the purpose of making a critical
study of the architectural features of the
buildings a working model has been re-
Gently erected on the grounds. This model
represents a section through a portion of
one of the laboratory wings and is full size.