Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-21
BUILDING Is COMPLETED
NEW Army WAR COLLEGE
~srRucr6RE IS A MODEL.
Grounds to Be Beautified-Green
Lawns and Blooming Plants
View of River.

Army officers who have been detailed IN
take an advanced course in the modern
lhethods OF handling big bodies of troops
ana IN other matters pertaining to the pro-
lesslon OF arms will soon make their college
headquarters i'll the big new Army War
College building, which mas been erected
In the lower end of the Washington bar
racks park, and which forms one of the
principal features of the landscape when
viewed from the river The new building
is complete in every detail, and is perhars
the finest structure devoted 10 the advanced
education of officers possessed by any nation
1t is Il two-story structure of red brick with
stone trimmings of gray, and stands di-
rectly in front of what was formerly the
officers quarters at the barracks when il
was an artillery station and before the park
was SO greatly changed to fit il for the use
Of the Engineer Corps of the army
The building faces the north, and is ap-
proacned over a wide stone and brick ter
race. To one side of the main approach TO
the college is the statue of Frederick the
Great of Prussia, which was presented 20
the United States by Kaiser Wilhelm, and
which, by direction of President Roosevelt.
was erected in front of the new War Col
lege. An attempt made about two
years ago to blow up the statue, but it was
frustrated
Sites are arranged along the approach to
the new building for several other figures
prominent in the worlds history but that
of Frederick is the only one in place 1t is
understood that no decision has been
reached as to whose statues are to be
placed on the vacant spots.
Work in Progress Four Years.
The War College has been in process Of
construction for about four years, ground
having been broken for the new building in
May, 1903 There have been but few de-
lays in the work, and the finishing touches
were put on the building less than a month
ago. 1t is yet in the hands Of the chief
engineer of the army, but will be turned
over to the War College officials, IT is I'M
derstood, within the next few weeks. The
building is completed even to the hanging
of green tinted curtains at the windows and
is ready Tor occupancy.
Considerable work remains to be done to
the grounds outside the building, which are
now in very rough state left by the
piles of material that was stored on them
Landscape gardeners will get to work this
spring and will soon transform the rough
spaces into green lawns and gardens. In
the rear of the college building, between it
and the Eastern branch, stands a number
Of old brick buildings, erected in the Cos,
which were once used as dwellings by the
officers stationed at the post. These build
ings are to be torn down, and when they
had from the south windows of the build
ing that will take In the marine picture to
a point below Alexandria.
Dimensions of Building.
The War College is 300 feet long and
about 100 wide. and, stated, is a hand
some two-story structure, with low cupola
in the center. 1t practically contains but
three big rooms on the ground floor In the
center of the building is the rotunda, a
large room which will be used as a recep-
ton room and for other purposes. On one
side is a library and map room in which
the maps and works of reference used by
the officers attending the college will be
kept These will be in ornamental cases
and the rooms will be fitted with the usual
library furniture. On the other side of the
rotunda is the lecture room, In which the
lectures on war subjects will be delivered.
The three rooms are the height of the
building, and are finished in rough plaster
work The ceilings are of what is known
as Guastavano time construction. There
are numerous rooms on both floors Of the
new building that will be used as execu-
tive offices by the officers in charge of the
college The offices are all bright and are
finished in oak. The plans were prepared
by McKim & Co. of New York, and the
building was constructed by army engi-