Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-04
How Public Buildings Suffer.

Green the other day he said: mo class OF
public undertaking. including federal state
and municipal governments, suffers more
from inexper:ence and wrongly directed ef-
forts than public buildings. Government
buildings should all be designed by the
most eminent architects; first, because they
naturally do the best work in the most ex-
perienced way, and second, because the
services of a competent man cost no more
than those of an incompetent one and are,
naturally, much more valuable. The con-
struction of public buildings should be I'M
der thoroughly skilled engineer of long
and wide experience, familiar with the gov
eminent needs and methods of business
contracting, accounting, ETC. In short, the
government should be it's own contractor,
and under such management work would go
on regularly and quietly with all the
promptitude and economy of thorough ex-
perience. All bidders and contractors, as
well architects, would have confidence in
the management, methods and proceedings
on all buildings would be uniform, and sew
eral works could be made to cooperate
with each other. with great saving of
money and better physical results"
Mr. Green also recommends that Congress
appoint a commission or consulting board,
to advise upon the architecture and loca-
ton of all future public buildings and
monuments.
such board, composed of the most
eminent inen in this field" he said, would
have national significance and command SUI
perior respect and attention by both Con-
gress and the people. and would be con-
suited by private architects and builders
for the best principles upon which citizens,
in their building operations. could mutually
promote the finest improvements and the
artistic growth of the city.
washington is growing very rapidly"
continued Mr.. Green. '"The government is
engaged in the construction of several cost
ly new buildings, and as the years go by
many millions of dollars will be expended
In meeting the constantly increasing need
for accomm odations and facilities for its
business. Such board, at a very small ex-
pense, can insure, by it's guidance and adj
vice. the best results from the expenditures
Of the public money. 1t Is not proposed
that the commission shall devise plans and
ways to spend money, but whenever Con-
gress In its wisdom may see fit to erect new
buildings and monuments. or lay ont new
streets and parks. this board could be de-
pended upon to furnish wise and prudent
advice, which will insure symmetry and
harmony and the artistic results we de-
sire"
Central Heat and Power Plant
The most necessary step in the immediate
future however Mr.. Green thinks, is the
construction of a central station to supply
present and projected public buildings with
heat, light and power before the new mu-
scum agricultural and municipal, the new
hall of records and other proposed build
ings go much farther toward completion.
The present buildings of the executive
group contain seventy-three boilers. which
burn annually about $4,000 tons Of coal,
employ las attendants ard have engines
using about $500 horsepower When the
buildings now in progress are completed
they will have eighty-five boilers $500
horsepower In engines burn $4,000 tons OF
coal and employ 1S9 attendants, while 6o0,-
600 cubic feet of space will be occupied by
the machinery and for storage purposes.
without considering the economy of space,
Mr.. Green has ascertained that the money
saving alone, for the present and the three
new buildings for the District, the Depart
ment of Agricul Aire and the National Mu-
scum, will be not less than s118,o00 year.
AS other buildings are added in the same
field. as they Inevitably will be. the economy
of the central system will be materially In
creased Instead of operating eighty-five
hf,ilers located at twenty-five or thirty diff
ferent points, there will be ten boilers in one
room, and all the dust. noise. vibrations,
gases and smoke, which annoy the occr-
pants of the present buildings. will be done
away with. There would be great saving