Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-10
The Mall-Avenue Triangle.

For some time past The Star has been
seeking the views of legislators on the
subject of the best means of providing
for the future building needs of the gov
eminent In this city and the practicability
of utilizing the space lying between the
Mall and Pennsylvania avenue for this
purpose. There is a striking unanimity
of sentiment on this point Members
of both House and Senate express them
selves in favor of the wholesale taking
of this land. now rather than later as
the needs arise. and treating 1t as a
whole plat and not as a piecemeal series
of individual sites. The economy of this
method appeals at once to all who study
the case 1t Is apparent that If the
government Is to continue to erect large
structures to house its departments and
bureaus 1t should adopt some consistent
scheme of emplacement. and it is also
apparent that there should be relation
between the meeting Of the governments
necessities and the development of the
capital in its artistic aspects.
Pennsylvania avenue is the citys prin-
cipal thoroughfare and it will always
remain such. IT should be the aim of
the government to emplace It's buildings
with reference to this axis not only for
the sake of convenience, but as a meas
ure of city betterment. For this is the
governments city, Its official home, its
business center and it should at every
stage of its activities keep strictly in
mind it's duty to its own. This Is the
view taken by those whom The Star has
interviewed Senator Gallinger, chairman
of the District committee of the upper
house, looks upon the matter in the
broad spirit of the capital builder. He
takes a business view of the PROPOSE
ton also. and suggests that Congress
should know now what the wholesale
taking of the land in question would
cost. The simplest way to determine
this point is for Congress to appoint a
commission representing both houses. to
secure information and devise general
plans for the provision Of building sites
for the government for all time to come
The marvel Of the matter is that with
such a predominant sentiment In favor
OF a movement of some kind to this end
nothing practical has been accomplished
Last session the Hepburn bill was adopted
by the Senate as an amendment to one or
the general appropriation bills but was
eliminated in conference. II aimed at pre-
cisely the object which Senator Gallinger
has in mind and which is primarily in the
view of every business like legislator. 1t
recognized the general principle that the
Mall-avenue triangle is the logical posi-
ton for future public buildings. and it
provided ways and means of taking this
property upon the most favorable terms.
1t should be promptly reintroduced and
pressed to passage.
The economists of Congress cannot sat
isfactorily meet the argument that post
ponement In this business is calculated
to cost the government heavily. Es-
pectally expensive will be the process Of
piecemeaI site selection in the great tri-
angle, with every addition to the gov
ernments holding adding to the market
price of the remainder. A wholesale pur-
chase. by direct dealings or by con-
demnation. would be one of the most
economical deals in real estate the United
States ever negotiated.