The Washington herald., 1906-11-26
Criticism of Treasury Build
ing Is Endorsed.
ONE CHANCE TO REDEEM IT
Mrs. Martha L. Schneider, Organizer
of Columbia Heights Art Club,
Monaghan - Would ReIegate the
Factories TO the Suburbs.

aid reporter yesterday Jhat she conceded
in the views expressed by Prof ]. c.
Monaghan of the Bureau Of Manufac-
lures, Department Of Commerce and La
Dor, in his talk before the Missouri So
ciety Saturday evening.
Mrs Schneider believes that the placing
Of the Treasury in its present position
was great mistake. She criticises its
location and surroundings freely. and
recommends sweeping reforms, not only
here. but in several other sections Of the
| city.
| She also regrctfully agrees that Amer
| lean women haven't the artistic taste Of
their foreign sisters, but says they are
/ progressing and viii soon assume the
1 lead in this particular, as in all others.
| Il agree with Mr.. Monaghan In refer
ence TO the location OF the Treasury
| Building 1t not only spoils the beauty
OF the White House, but it loses in dig
nifty and impressiveness through its
sunken position below the street level
The beauty Of the east front is almost
entirely ruined BY the narrowness of the
street it faces on, and there IS no point
| from which q good view Of this magnif-
/ cent colonnade can be obtained. When
/ seen In picture, it's beauty and symme-
| try are thoroughly enjoyed; viewed from
| the street, its simplicity and majesty are
/ lost This is clearly shown through an
/ impression OF the location OF the Capitol
| Good View from Only One Side.
a good view is obtainable from the
/ south, because it IS open; but on every
other side it is destroyed. The beauty Of
| the north front is utterly spoilt through
| its being below the level Of the street. al
though the sunLen fountain and gardens
tend 10 make the best OF a bad situation
/ Another comparison-the Capitol not only
/ has the elevation that tends to set it of,
but the approaches by winding pathways
/ through beautiful parking give It the nee
/ essary distinction.
/ 4 am heartily in accord with those
/ who are working toward the appointing
/ OF commission 10 draft the future plans
/ Of the city and 70 lay il on The only rem
/ edy for an Improvement IN the Treasury
I Building is the tearing down OF the three
blocks Immediately to the east across
Fifteenth street. bounded by New York
avenue Fourteenth street. Pennsylvania
avenue and Fifteenth street The block
/ Immediately to the north should also be
cleared TO II street The government al
ready has goOd-sized corner lot in this
| block and the scheme is not new. 1t
| viii be recalled that it was suggested be-
I fore the American Security and Trust
Company, the Riggs National Bank. Be
| !asco Theater, and others put Up hand
some structures that have greatly en-
hanced the value OF the land.
Il am also heartily 81 favor OF the GOV
ernment's purchasing all the ground from
Pennsylvania avenue south To the Mall
/ between the Capitol and the Treasury
| Department and hope to live to see this
/ accomplished. This should be lad out
/ in parking and reserved for future public
/ buildings"
Mrs. Schneider would not discuss the
I feasibility or practicabi.ity Of this plan,
stating that she was discussing the sub
/ jet from an artistic standpoint, and not
from a financial one
Refers TO River Front.
Il would like to add word here" said
Mrs. Schneider. "in regard to the locat-
/ ing Of factories on the river front Much
has already been done to beautifv the
shore line Of the city, through the rec
lamation Of the flats, the building of the
Speedway. and the laying of Of Potomac
Park, This park should commence at
sic Arsenal wall. below which much has
already been done and is being done TO
make this a beautiful vista from the
river. The well arranged rows Of officers
quarters and the Army War College al
ways attract attention from all persons
going In or out of Washington harbor.
The whole stretch from the Arsenal
wall to the point whore the driveway ends
f ne in
scheme, and the wharves and ware
houses now on the site should be elimi-
mated. This would make one continuous
beauty spot along the entire river front.
having as its background the public
buildings on the Mall. This would be a
great boon TO those who are forced to
remain in the city during the sweltering
summer months as they could In large
part enjoy most Of the benefits derived
by the more wcll-to-dO who travel hun
dreds Of miles for the pleasures Of the
seashore.
The citizens of Washington depend on
the south breeze to relieve them from the
oppressive heat. and if laden with smoke
and fumes from factories Washington
would be almost unbearable during the
summer months. II We must have fac
/ tories. let them locate in Anacostia
where. ! believe, they are wanted, and ex-
tend down the river toward Alexandria
The channel Of the Eastern Branch
should be so deepened and wldened as
to allow the wharf facilities OF the city
and consequent warehouses to be located
over there
Factories Belong in Suburbs.
There IS no part of the city so poor
and mean but what it should be improved
and made beautiful. and not spoiled by
factory sites. Let them go to the sub
urban towns but keep the city beautiful
In regard tC the statement that Amer
lean women are lacking in taste, It is
well to recall that the American people /
are made OF a commingling of repre-
sentatives from every country on the
globe and each nation has brought its
quota of art culture. Under such eondi- /
tions we cannot expect that the taste of /
the individual will be perfect until the !
heterogeneous mixture is simol6ed and /
refined The art sense having been high
" cultivated for centuries in most of the /
old countries. the aim Of the manUfac-
turer was for beauty as well as for utility !
and the individual workman was allowed |
more freedom in the use Of original de- /
signs
when the art treasures Cf the old |
world are more freely scattered among
the manufacturers in America it will be /
found that the work of their designers !
Will advance in beauty of form through |
familiarity with the best Of the old mas
ters. And when women find in the |
stores only artistic and beautiful objects !
for the home, Mr. Monaghan will no long |
er have to complain of the inartistic pur-
cbo r,,oIa foz. the household