Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-14
NOT ENOUGH ROOM
Local Architect CritiCiSes New
Government Buildings.
AS A MATTER OF FORESIGHT
Says Also That Structures Should Be
Commanding.
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION
What About the Senate and House of
Representatives Office Buildingsp
Big Enoughp
OPINION

Big EnougaP
81 note with considerable interest that
the commission appointed by the interior
Department to investigate the question OF
space in the building occupied by tho pen
sion bureau has found therein ample room
for another bureau" rema- ked a local
architect to Star reporter. in discussing
the matter of old and new public buildings
in the capital.
And this brings up the important ques-
ton of the differentiation in the artistic
and utilitarian appearances and uses of our
public structures he continued. and re-
minds me OF a remark of Speaker Cannon
in commenting to a friend the new
municipal building, now happily within
sight of completion
1T Is stated that the Speaker was riding
down Pennsylvania avenue on an open
car, pointing out to visitor the sights and
points of interest on this historic thorough
fare. When the municipal building was
reached the visitors criticism OF the struc-
ture was that, while 1t was an unusually
fine public building, 1t was not OF sufficient
height to give 1t becoming dignity.
g That is true Uncle Joe is reported
to have said, but it Is through no fault
of mine: / wasn't the architect, and when
l suggested a couple more stories they
were not considered necessary by those
who had the question to decide. The build
ing being on low ground should have been
a tall one
Building Height Essential.
1T seems to me that the stated comment
of the Speaker Is very apropos of the pub
lic-building situation in the capital and is
confirmed by the reported statement from
the officials of the Department of Agri-
culture that it is believed that the new
building now In process Of erection for that
department will, in the end, be found not
TO be of sufficient dimensions for the accom-
mediation of all of the various divisions and
bureaus of that rapidly increasing depart
merit of the government.
THE reason for this is apparent; the day
of three-story Office buildings for the use
of the executive departments in Washing
ton passed several decades ago, and 1t Is
essential that added height be given to
structures which are to be used for this
purpose.
1.-The artistic ensemble and the utilitarian
purposes of a building can as easily be
combined with height as with the long.
low, ground covering structures, and no
better illustration Of this fact Is needed
than The Star building at the northwest
corner Of Pennsylvania avenue and 18th
street.
This fine marble structure combines the
artistic and unitarian principles TO per-
lection. and it's artistic properties are pre-
served rather than diminished by Its ee-
walton; in fact, they would have been
greatly reduced had this structure been
single story lower.
1.-The same principles hold true as re-
CARDS the new municipal building. and any
other public structure either in course or
erection or later contemplated in this city.
Two additional stories could have been in
serted in the coonnade section OF the mu-
nicpal building to decided advantage not
only for appearances but for office purposes.
Capitol Hill Buildings.
1.-THE municipal building Is upon low
ground and Is ffanked by two taller struc-
tures-the Southern railway offices and
the New Willard. While artistically pro-
portioned in accordance with Its height, and
of extremely ornate architecture, 1t never
theless lacks the commanding dignity that
would have been presented had 1t lowered
two or even three stories higher.
Unless this question Is taken into con-
sideration In the erection OF public struct-
ures in the future, the same old story OF
inadequate office room must perennially re-
cur. This point was observed in the new
House of Representative office building on
New Jersey avenue, opposite the Capitol,
where an unusually large square of land
was secured and a building of generous
height put up covering the entire super
fetal area of the square
why the same opinion did not obtain
with the new office building for the use
of the Senate cannot be determined ex-
cept that the members of that deliberate
body are fewer in number than In the
House of Representatives NeVerthelesS
the same principle of future lack OF space
will undoubtedly be found In the Senate
building and it will be regretted that the
general scheme of architecture did not en-
compass the Enclosure of the east or the
1st street side. flush with the street instead
of forming a crescent on this side OF the
building.
Where Space Goes.
"One reason of many for the overcrowd-
ing of the government office buildings in
this CITY was undoubtedly discovered by the
Interior Department commission in the
pension office building, and that is an i'm
proper distribution of the room space. 1t
Is a rule rather than the exception to find
a large room capable of accommodating
from ten to twenty clerks occupied by a
chief of a division. with posi- ste
nographer and an assistant, making three
persons In all, as the sole occupants, while
all of the adjoining rooms will be nlied
with clerks packed in like SardlneS with
In some instances is attended with discom-
fort. r
AN Illustration serves in the Post Office
Department building on the fifth, or the
official floor This floor is given over In
its entirety to the Postmaster General ana
his four assistants and their chief clerks;
the auditor the attorney general Tor the
department the chief clerk and one or TWO
other officials with their immediate STAINS
of assistants and clerks, while from 400 10
800 clerks are sandwiched on each OF the
respective floors above and below the story
in question.
Long, Low Structures.
ION the other hand there are many
whose tastes incline toward the long, low
structure, and 1t cannot be doubted that
public buildings of this character appeal to
the artistic senses of some. But these
structures are only possible where there is
an abundance OF open space, such as park
ing and lawns. to the end that a proper
artistic perspective may be obtained, as
with the contemplated structures along the
Mall for instance. Were these or similar
buildings placed in thickly built-up sec
ton of a city the necessary perspective