Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-18
.PLAN TO PURCHASE
AVENUE PROPERTY
GROWS IN FAVOR
Members of Congress Appre=
Ciate Wisdom of Move.
AWAKENS GREAT INTEREST
Reasons Why Government Should
Acquire Building Sites.
SOUND BUSINESS VENTURE
Beautifca ion of City and Economy
Important Features in PROPOSE
tion-Views of Public Men.
AWAKENS GREAT INTEREST
Reasons Why Government Should
Acquire Building Sites.
SOUND BUSINESS VENTURE

Sentiment is steadily growing in
favor of the acquisition by the gov
ernment OF all the property on the
south side OF Pennsylvania avenue
from the Botanic Garden to 18th
street for sites for public build
ings. Members of both houses of
Congress are deeply interested in
the proposition, which has its ad-
vantages from many points of
view. Public men, through The
Star, have laid stress upon the
desirability of the purchase as a
matter Of economy, and have point
ed out in their arguments for the
plan the immense amount of
money paid annually by the gov
ernment for rent of buildings in
which some departments and bu-
reaus are now housed. 1t has also
been argued that an essential part
OF the Identification of the capital
is the permanent Improvement of
Pennsylvania avenue by the erec-
ton of structures of :, character in
keeping with the dignity Of the
famous thoroughfare. The Star
presents today the opinions of
more members of Congress on this
important subject.
'In the matter of a general or COM
prehensive scheme for the erection OF
government buildings and the beautfica-
ton of the streets and parks of Washing
ton. the Capital city Of the nation, you
can count me in" said Representative
]. Hampton Moore of Pennsylvania today.
Il think every state in the Union should
cheerfulfy encourage the development of
Washington as a model American city,
which would be at once a delight to the
visitor and pride to the native. 1t
should be made the great show city OF
the new world, conforming, of course, to
plans.
Avenue Almost Grotesaue.
LAS an approach to the Capitol and as
the great highway of the nation between
the Capitol and the White House, Penn
sylvania avenue today is almost gro
tesque. The ramshackle buildings and
cheap tenements which now in many
places disfgure it should give way to
great buildings of which the government
stands in need, both for administrative
purposes and for the display in an educa-
tional sense of the output of the nation.
why, instead of special expost.ons and
fairs, to which the government has been
asked to contribute, should We not es-
tabish in Washington national COM
nerciai museum. where might be por-
trayed in some thorough way he progress
of the American people not only in the
arts ard sciences, but in commerce ard in
dustry. If we were to clean out one en-
tire block, Or two three for that matter,
along Pennsylvania avenue, and erect
thereon a building or buildings in which
we could combine the good work of the
worlds fair at Chicago, the Buffalo ex-
position, the exposition at Charleston, the
St. Louis exposition and the exposition at
jamestown, throwing in the proposed
commercial museum already established
in Philadelphia. would We not make a step
in advance of other nations in the i'm .
provement of the friendly relations that
should exist between the great countries
of the World?'
Representative Olcott's Views.
Representative Van Vechten Olcott of
New YORK a member of the House Dis
.rict committee and who has been men,
toned for the Craftsmanship of that body
in succession to Representative Babcock
of Wisconsin, says he is deeply interested
In the subject.
"Of course said Mr.. Olcott to a Star
reporter, Il am in favor of doing anything
that will increase the beauty of the city
of Washington and will study with great
interest any compreh ensive scheme that
Is suggested for the erection of future
government buildings or for the extension
of the park system. | am, however at
present unaware of the details of such
schemes and. therefore, l cannot express
my opinion in regard to them until L
know more about them. But l assure you
l will advocate anything that | think is
proper for the advantage of the city Of
Washington
For Beautifying Washington.
Il am positively in favor OF doing every
thing possible for the beautifyins of our
Capital city" earnestly remarked Repre-
sentative II. Burd Cassel of Pennsylva-
MIA, chairman of the committee ac-
counts of the House, when asked for his
opinion. But these things he contin-
ued. must be done economically and care
fully. l will be glad to cooperate in any
reasonable plan for bringing about this
desired condition..
A Good Proposition.
On the same subject Representative
Charles McGavin of Illinois said:
While 1 have not given the matter of
the beautfying of the National capital
much attention except to observe In a gen-
eral way how some improvements might