Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-15

guson Of Boston. Eight months time was
given for preparation, and on May 30. 1908.
the jury, consisting of Lieutenant General
John NJ. Schofield. General Mills. superin-
tendent of the academy; Walter Cook,
George B. Post and Cass Gilbert, architects,
recommended the adoption of scheme
which was afterward discovered to be the
work of Cram. Goodhue & Ferguson Of
Boston. involving an expenditure of about
100000. The basis of approval was that
their plans provided fully for present re-
quirements and permitted extension in the
future II necessary; that they retain the
most important of the old buildings; that
they harmonize with the topography and
physical features. and that they were the
most economical of all in the competition.
Under date of August IL, 1903, contract
was entered into with the firm, and they
have since submitted detailed plans and
specifications for the following buildings:
Cavalry barracks and stables.
Artillery barracks and stables.
Artillery gun shed.
Chapel.
Riding hall.
Gymnasium.
Cadet headquarters and store.
Cadet barracks.
Post headquarters.
New academic building.
Two double sets of captains quarters.
Five triple sets of lieutenants' quarters.
Bachelor officers quarters
Quartermaster and commissary store
houses.
Post exchange.
Guardhouse.
Fire engine house.
There will also be a stately hotel for the
accommodation of friends of the cadets Wis
heating and lighting plant, a power house
and other needed accommodations
The Sites Proposed
Those who are familiar with the present
arrangement at West Point will be inter-
ested In knowing that the new cadet bar
racks will occupy the site of the present Of
GERS quarters; that the present post head
quarters and chapel will be torn away to
make room for the new academic building;
the new riding hall will stand on the site
now occupied by the cavalry barracks, sta
bles and riding hall, and the new cadet
headquarters and store will replace the
present gymnasium 1t is absolutely neces-
sary that buildings to replace most of those
that are to, be torn down must be provided
at once. Several of the large buildings will
require from three to four years to build.
and the smaller buildings will require about
year. But II work Is commenced at once
the entire Improvement contemplated can
not possibly be completed before 1912.
Hence 1t Is important that the limit of cost
should be decided definitely upon before the
close of the present session of Congress.
The building most urgently needed is the
cadet barracks, and General Mills hopes
that it may be begun at cnce, but If Con-
greSS insists upon a limit Of a million and a
half less than the estimates the entire plan
will have to be revised to meet the reauire-
mentS
1t should be taken into consideration,
however, that the proposed buildings are
intended not for the present alone but for
centuries. Congress too often makes the
mistake of providing for existing demands
without looking into the future In many
instances public buildings, like the new
post Office at Chicago are outgrown be-
fore they are even occupied, and that is
poor economy. In other countries-in Eng
land and the continent--those who have
charge of such public Improvements show
greater wisdom and foresight IN providing
for the future, and the United States as a
nation may profit by their example