The Washington herald., 1907-01-31

The Senate Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds yesterday voted TO re-
port favorably the bill introduced by
Senator Hepburn. authorizing the pur-
/ chase Of all that part of the business
district Of Washington lying between the
Botanic Gardens and Fourteenth street
and Pennsylvania avenue and the Mall
not already owned by the government,
and in addition, the two squares or the
north side of Pennsylvania avenue, be-
tween First and Third streets. and blocks
90 and $40 lying on the south side of
the Mali, between Four-and-a-half street
and First street.
This is a scheme that has for many
years been under agitation. the idea being
advocated by many expert landscape
artists and architects as needed 20 make
Washington a capital worthy of the
/ country. The blocks are specified in the
bill by number, but the region affected
/ by the measure may easily be found
within the boundaries named above. Pro-
vision is made that all streets and alleys
within the territory may be vacated as
required by the plans for Improvement
and thrown into the tract TO be used for
development AS sites for public buildings.
/ The task Of acquiring this land is placed
on the Secretary OF the Treasury. with
authority to acquire by agreement. and.
/ where necessary, TO institute condemna-
ton proceedings. IN condemnation suits
the value Of land and buildings is 10 be
appraised separately. The bin carries
an appropriation of 100000. to be used
/ in payment of land to be taken
Proposed Park improvements.
The report to accompany the bill is
being prepared by Senator Hepburn. It
is understood that he viii outline the
various features of Improvement intended
to Doe secured by the acquisition of the
large territory included in the bill Park
( b0ulevards along b street north Of the
Mall. and also along 3 street south and
extending to Rock Creek. with the idea
Of ultimately running on up to the 100
and t. Rock Creek Park, are among the
/ improvements proposed.
one Of the changes contemplated In the
plan is the removal OF Center Market
from its present site 10 block near the
new Pennsylvania freight station, where
a larger tract may be had and suitable
ground provided for the outside or
/ wholesale. and farmers market
In the triangle from Fifteenth street 70
Sixth street, and Pennsylvania avenue
and r street, there are 2S57272 square
/ feet OF ground. of which 1.64l,QS square
/ feet are in the lots. OF this the govern
ment now owns 41.g51 square feet, and
/ there are 1Z421SS square feet in the
street and packages. Therefore there are
only 1.172,l23 square feet 10 be purchased
/ by the government I'm order to own the
I whole area IN one body
I The committee had before il a complete
statement of all the VARIOUS properties to
+ be taken the number and character of
/ improvements. the assessed valuation
/ and estimated value on appraisement. A
plan has been under consideration to pro-
1 pose a gradual payment at the rate of 70
per cent per annum. interest 10 be paid
on deferred payments. or present owners
TO 5e allowed TO remain in possession
( and use in lieu Of interest Of parcels TO
I be taken gradually as required. i'm the
/ progress of improvements II is not like
/ ly however, that the committee will
. adopt this way of paying for the prop
I erty proposed to be taken
viii Not Be Passed This Session.
There is little prospect that the bill
can be passed this session, but among
those who desire that the region south
/ Of Pennsylvania avenue may be redeemed
from conditions which detract from the
I beauty and good name of the city. the
fact that the Senate Committee decided
to report the bill favorably has aroused
/ pronounced hope Of the ultimate success
/ of the project
The gigantic proportions of a scheme
which calls FOR the purchase or condem-
nation OF twenty-five city blocks. many
of which have large and costly buildings
on them. and many Of which yield even
with shabby and dirty buildings fabulous
4 incomes in rentals, may as a matter Of
course, be expected TO meet with strong
opposition. Some of the property is occu-
pied by some Of the best known and
/ largest institutions OF the city. such as the
Southern Railway office building. the Cen
ter Market Sixth street station. Chase's
/ TheateT. HaTveys. the Regent Hotel the
/ Potomac Electric Power plant Emergency
Hospital, and numerous large manufactur-
ing establishments.
The idea Of the committee has in part
seemed to be that the acquisition of the
territory might be so graduated in time
that the ordinary changes incident to
human life might be taken into partner
ship in meeting the cost OF buying so
much land and so many buildings. some
buildings il is claimed, would burn. and
some would be abandoned because of their
/ dilapidated condition Many business men
would move to other parts of the city. and
] so the value Of present holdings would de-
cline. Indeed, it is taken to be q proba-
hiIity that the passage CT the biz would
operate to remove the business interests
now located south OF the avenue elsewhere
! in the course Of a few years. The acquisi-
/ ton of many Of the blocks Of buildings by