The Washington times., 1907-12-07
IMPERIAL CAPITAL PLANNED
By HEPBURN; WOULD BUY
ALONG PENNSYLVANIA AVE,
Introduces Bill to Acquire Land-Department Buildings
to Stand ON Terrace-TempIe of Justice to
Be Architectural Climax

Congress will be strongly urged this
winter to enact a measure that will pro-
vide for the uPbuilding and beautinca-
tion of the city of Washingt n on a
more comprehensive scale than anything
that has been done in generations. 1t is
not overstating the facts to say that il
the plans are carried out they win mean
more 70 Washington taan any improve
ments that have been seriously project
ed since the days of LEnfant. The
plans in question are contained in the
bill introduced in the Senate by Sena,-
tor Hepburn of Idaho. providing for the
purchase of all the ground lying south
Of Pennsylvania avenue. and not al
ready owned by the United States, be
tween the Botanic Gardens and Fif-
teenth street, and Pennsylvania avenue
and the Mall.
The grounds that are TO be purchased,
according to the Hepburn bill, comprise,
roughly twenty-seven squares or blocks
and parts OF blocks. They contain. accu-
rately, 2.322, ,164 square feet The Gov
ernment already owns the HaymarlSet
square and the Central Market square
in this section. and in addition several
blocks, and the streets and parks. II
Congress votes money Cor the purchase
OF g.e'''ld as contemplated by the Hey
burn bill, the Government VIII own a
tract Of ground whereon public build
ings can be. and viii be, located, except
on the Botanic Gardens, extending all
the way from the Executive grounds on
the west TO the Capitol grounds on the
east.
VIII Assemble Departments.
What is proposed is 20 give the Gov
ernment an unbrOken tract Of ground
on the south side OF Pennsylvania ave-
nue. on which a practically unbrOken
array Of Government buildings win
eventually sta7d. fronting on the ave
nue. In one direction and on that exten-
sive and beautiful tract OF ground known
as the Mall in the other direction. It
the friends OF the bill he has introduced
70 depart from the present system OF
having the various departments and
Government Offices scattered about the
city, without regard TO order or con-
ven1ence, and to assemble them, as far
s-s possible, on the ground 70 be. OBJ
tanned south OF Pennsylvania avenue.
Last session the Senate Committee on
Public Buildings and Grounds reported
tho bin favOrably, but Il was impossible
TO get Il enacted 1t appropriated 80
QO0,UoO, or 50 much thereof as may be
necessary. While this IS a considera-
BILE sum, IN view OF the threatened cur
tailment of revenue, IL has been shown
pretty clearly by Senator Hepburn that
II would be actual economy for the
Government 70 buy the land and erect
the Treasury is called on for heavy out
lay OF money for rental Of buildings for
Government use in the District
Government Needs Office Room
Senator Hepburn computes that the
Government is now paying annual rental
IN Washington in a sum equal TO the
interest charge on about S1s.oo0O00. Not
only could the ground be purchased for
this sum. but much progress could DO
made toward the erection OF buildings.
At the same time provision would be
made for the future The business OF
the Government IN Washington Is IN
creasfng rapidly. the demands for build
ing space are increasing In proportion,
and under the circumstances the outlay
for rent Is certain 10 grow rapidly uns
less a great deal OF building is done
There are such clear objections 10 the
construction OF additional Government
buildings here without working on some
fixed plan or system IN locating them
that II is likely Congress Will be slow
to allow money for new buildings which
are to be scattered about the city pro-
miSCuOuSly.
In one way and another. so many
members OF the Senate and House have
expressed themselves in favor OF the
purchase Of the ground as proposed ana
the location OF public buildings thereon
that II IS believed Senator 11eyburn
bill will pass this session
One of the reasons that viii weigh
with Congress in favor OF the passage
OF the bill is that the ground that II IS
proposed the Government SnaN own Is
now largely occupied by old and un-
slightly buildings. In some cases the
blocks are covered with objectionable
resorts and establishments. The Penn
sylvania depot has now been removed
from its old location at Sixth street and
Pennsylvania avenue. resulting in much
traffic being transferred IN the direction
OF the magnificent new Union Station
On this account some Of the property
south Of the Avenue Is quite certain TO
deteriorate unless the Government does
get hold Of II.
The results Of such deterioration
would not be such as to please the