The Washington times., 1907-12-07

thousands or Americans IuAL NlSlL lne
city of washington every month. and
who read OF Washington IS one Of the
most beautiful and attractive of cities
A remarkable and striking plan for
the erection Of Government buildings
on the land south OF Pennsyi ania
avenue Is proposed by Senator Hepburn.
lie believes thai some day there VIII
stand to the south OF Pennsylvania
avenue and fronting on II, reaching
practically from the Capitol grounds 70
the Treasury and she Executive
grounds, a continuous array CT public
buildings About the center ~ Ibis
stretch OF buildings would arise Tenn
pie of Justice. higher than the oChers,
and capped by a magnificent dome or
som9 proper architectural climax.
F1anking the temple Of justice, yeach-
Ing away TO the right and left, IN the
direction Of the White House and Capt.
tol. would be a large number OF ether
Government buildings, housing various
departments and independent bureaus.
Plans for Next Generation.
It is the idea Of Senator Heyb- m
that Congress. IN taking the step pro-
posed, should have an eye AOt merely
to the present, but to the future. and
not merely to the Immediate. but the
remote future He thinks now is the
time for Congress 20 make begin
ings that viii meet the Government
neeuB for forty or fifty years 20 come
Tie author Of the pending bill holds
that Congress should acquire the land
ln question as soon as possible. Then
his plan is TO have it entirely cleared
OF buildings and for the time being con-
verted into an orderly and well-kept
parik-tO be an extension Of the Mall.
Concurrent with the clearing OF the
grounds. he would have proper plans
and specifications for Government build
ings prepared, sufficient not alOnS TO
meet present necessities, but adequate
for the anticipated growth OF the Gov
ernment's 8 buFiness for two score ytars
or more.
The architecture. as Senator Hepburn
believes, should be as harmonious IN
design as possible. It does not follow
that all the buildings should Ee alike,
brt in a general way he would have
them OF the classic type OF the Corinth-
ian period, with such notifications as
were made 10 the early classic styles
In the Roman period.
Buildings on Marble Terrace.
One Of the striking features OF Sena-
tor Heyburn's plan is that the build
! inEs should bs on marble terrace. ex-
tending the length Of Pennsylvania ave-
rue. this terrace 10 be provided with
steps to conform TO the grade OF the
Avenue. He would also have tn ter
race high enough to permit open pas
| sageways under 4. these passagey-ays
/ conforming to the necessary Fcreet
! crossings and open TO allow free fgccess
/ 10 the lower stories OF the buildings
/ This arrangement would leave a way
| FOR travel passing between Pennsyl-
vania avenue on the north and that
! part OF the city on the south side Of
/ the Mall.
III senator Reyburn's ideas are fol-
I lowed, the proposed buildings will be
! set back on the terrace sufficient dis
! tance TO produce TIE best architec sura1
mentation on the terrace between the
front of the buildings and the 'front.' OF
1 the terrace. The terrace would grad
ually rise toward the center, where tie
! temple OF justice IS 70 stand. AZ 10
/ thought Shis would give an excellent
! architectural effect 70 the entire line
/ Of buildings, which would be eight
/ times the length Of the Capitol.
Connect All Buildings.
II IS planned % have the fronts OF
/ the ouildirgs looking on the Avenue
conform in style. and TO have the build
ings connected on The terrace level with
/ peristyles. This would give the effect
OF a structure that was continuous
from the Capitol 10 the White House.
The front Of the Postoffice Department
building would have TO be changed
| accordingly.
| The central idea Of the proposed plan
| is based on the idea contained In the
| Constitution, that this Is q government
/ OF three coordinate branches. Under
the ARRANGEMENT Contemplated the
| Capitol, housing the legislative branch,
would stand at the east and the Exc
| cutive mansion. the center OF the
| Executive branch. on the west. Be
/ tween them would arise The Ter-ple
Of Justice. from which would ST, tch
! away on either side the administrative
| buildings.
| IL Is admitted this is something of
a departure from the original plan Of
ILfEnfant. but II Is said m answer TO
this that L'Enfant's plan has been
forestalled by Innovations since the day
of the great French engineer that
| would make the complete carrying out
OF his ideas impracticable, probably inn
possible.