Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-18
BENEFITS GREATER
THAN THE OUTLAY
What the Government Would
Save by Avenue Purchase.
PAYS 1886, 1926 IN RENT
Sum Represents Annual Interest on
Big Investment.
HEPBURN PLAN ADVANTAGES
Quick Action Means Economy on
Account of Advance in Values OF
Centrally Located Property.

The project for the purchase OF
all the land, privately owned, be-
tween the Botanic Garden, 18th
street, Pennsylvania avenue and
the Mall does not appear to be a
large one to many leaders in Con-
gress when considered in cOnnec-
ton with the enormous advantage
secured by the government. Dur
ing the last session of Congress,
both in committees of the Senate
and the House, the fact that the
government was then paying
$3.50. 382. 70 for the rent of build
ings and quarters for public Of
fees in this city was pointed to
as a most urgent argument for
prompt action by Congress in
providing sites for more Office
buildings. That annual payment
represents interest at per cent
on more than $I8,ooO,Ooo, and 2
per cent is about what the govern
ment is paying on loans made in
recent years. 1t will be seen that
for that amount OF money Con-
gress could purchase all the land
between the avenue and the Mall
and put up two or three handsome
structures that would 60 a long
way toward accommodating all of
the government bureaus that are
now tucked about in more than a
score OF different office buildings.
The land on Pennsylvania avenue it
was proposed to purchase under the Hey
burn bill for government use amounts to
,052,164 square feet. That is regarded
as a small area considering the great
frontage that would be secured on the
avenue.
Between LIST and Sd streets the pro-
posed purchase is but one square in
depth, forming a mere fringe of inferior
improvements to obstruct the view of
the beautiful Mall that lies to the south.
The area proposed included more than the
south side of the avenue as the plan of
ociIdtol I1eS IoohS " the dCQuiSl-
ton of the narrow squares north of the
avenue between the Capitol and Sd street,
which contain some of the Oldest and
least attractive buildings on the entire
each of these squares CIV
ing a beautiful site for an additional pub
lie building to beautify the approach to
the Capitol.
Senator Heyburn's Report.
Senator Hepburn, in his report on the
bill for the purchase of this land, which
was una nimously approved by the Senate
committee on public buildings and
grounds, pointed out the fact that in
buying 1852, 1874 square feet of land the
government would secure in streets and
alleys 1,243 1SS additional square feet
The report then continues:
The assessed valuation of all the land
Included within the proposed purchase is
So. 753 .9O6. The assessed valuation Of all
of the buildings upon said land is 81 203,-
800. These assessments are based on
two thirds valuation of the actual cash
value of the property. This would make
the land proposed to be taken Of the ac-
tual value of $500, $50 and the buildings
thereon s., 305, 100, making total of S.
936, $50 the actual cash value of the
lands and buildings proposed to be in
cluded within this purchase.
1T is very important that In the future
all government buildings located at the
National capital shall be located upon
this proposed purchase, and shall be of
such harmonious architecture and ar
rangement as will make the government
buildings a combination of all that is
beautiful and adequate to the wants of
the service. The buildings could be con-
structed along varying architectural lines
and yet be entirely harmonious, thus at
fordng great possibilities for architect
ural accomplishment as well as for the
development of a plan that will greatly
enhance the beauty and usefulness of the
nations home.
I'm the interval between the purchase
and the actual use of the grounds for
public buildings they could be used and
maintained as an attractive pleasure
ground in come ction with the MALL
Might Save Money.
While the committee on public build
ings and grounds proposed that the
squares south of the avenue should be
CEMSE ARMN Ut EMMTN