The Washington herald., 1907-08-04

When the building debris shall have
been cleared away from the now unfinished
structures, and the new buildings stand
forth in all their white beauty and archt-
tectural grandeur, Fifteenth street north
west, between Pennsylvania avenue and
H street. will have fairly won its name
as the wall street of Washington"
The Treasury, solid in granite and in
destrucuble mortar, the grim shelter Of
the nations gold. will then be hanked
by a cOteTie of financial institutions, equal
IN beauty of structure and substantial
from the financial point of view as any
OF the continent With the buildings. new
and old. guarding millions of the city's
money on the three squares of Fifteenth
street. the banking center of the Capital
Will be fixed for a century. Not that
all the banks viii be included in the six
marble. granite, and brick edifices which
tower amid the elms and naples Of this
thoroughfare, but those that are here
with the Treasury for companion. viii
be the most striking institutions of the
kind IN the Capital City. They Will be
=
come as one Of the great sights Of the
city and they will specially characterize
Fifteenth street as the business center Of
Washington.
Treasury Is the Oldest.
The Oldest Of these structures is the
Treasury itself founded by the national
government as one OF the first depart
ments, and located, so tradition tells US,
by fat Of "Old Hickory" when one morn
ing annoyed at the hesitating policy Of
the building commission appointed by
Congress to find d site for the building.
he called two of its members within the
precincts of the White House grounds,
jammed his heavy cane into the ground,
and said: Put il here, gentlemen"
Across the street stands the old building
of the Metropolitan Bank. which viii be
vacated this year when President Parker
and his subordlnates move into the hand
some new structure now rapidly nearing
completion, making room, it is hoped, for
another banking institution. to be organ
lied. perhaps in the future.
At the northeast corner of Fifteenth
street and New York avenue is the
handsome brick structure of the National
Savings and Trust Company, not yet
10 be classed among the old buildings
OF the street On the opposite corner Is
the splendid granite structure Of the
American Security and Trust Company
ana just back of It, fronting on the Ay-
enue. the Riggs National Bank, the two
buildings in material. size. and architec-
ture so blended as to appear to the eye
almost as one structure.
Hibbs Builds Fine Bank.
Adjoining the National Savings and
Trust Company's building, separated from
It by a narrow alley, is the new building
of ". B. Hibhs & Co, one of the tower
ing structures OF the city. the mansard
roof of which. with its glistening white
front, can be seen from almost all parts
of Washington.
Beside it, just rising from the founda-
tions, is the handsome real estate Offices
of the Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey Co. a
building which viii in every way compare
favorably with the larger and higher
banking structures with which it is asso-
ciated.
Finally. on the southwest corner Of Fif-
teenth ard II streets. the builders are
placing the cap stones of white marble
upon the walls of the Union Trust Com
pany's building. which in many respects,
is the most beautiful Of them all. Like
its companion across the street. 1t is a
landmark from all the vantage points in
Washington. From its roof is spread a
complete panorama Of the city in every
direction The plans Of TEnfant are
drawn upon the earth and marked by
growing lines of shade trees. amid the
tops Of which appear the roofs Of the
city's business buildings and thousands
of homes, from far away Red Top" to
the shimmcring waters OF the Potomac.
and beyond 10 the wooded heights Of the
eastern rim Of the District Like a man
the city appears from this lofty height.
and as the eye wanders TO the four points
Of the compass. there lies the visible proof
that the observer is standing in the cen
ter OF the Capital of his country
The Outlook Is Grand.
Yonder the monument pierces the sky
10 the southwark. To the East the swell
ing dome Of the Capitol and the glitter
ing cupola Of the Library stand as senti-
nels. Church spires pierce the empyrean
here and there. marking the spots where
the city worships. Apartment houses. big
hotels, the New Union Station. Garfield
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