Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-30
MILLIONS TO Be SPENT
Large Building Enterprises Will
Go Forward.
PLANS OF THE GOVERNMENT
About Six Millions of Dollars the
Coming Year.
PROVISION FOR CITY's GROWTH
Indications Of Development Along I'M
portant Lines of Civic Expan-
sion and Progress.
PLANS OF THE GOVERNMENT
RovISI0N FOR CTTYS GROWTH

About 5000 900 are to be eynopde,
within the District during the coming Ms
cal year in the erection OF public buildings
and the continuance OF the work on such
structures now under way Such ia tho
amount of money provided for those pur-
poses by the appropriation bill which will
become effective the LIST of July next
1t Is striking illustration OF the de
velopment of the city, that this immense
sum OF money to be spent I'm brick and
Stone In order to provide additional hous-
ing for the various activities of the gov
eminent Is in large part to be used I'm
continuing the construction of buildings
already begun. 1t might be supposed with
such great sum of money certainly th.
main proportion would be used ia adding
to the number of the structures of the
larger type already I'm the city for the use
OF the executive departments OF the gen
era, government.
Large Amount of Work
The fact is no new buildings Of the first
class. to use that term merely TO dstIn-
guIsh size was authorized to be erected
here by the Congress which has just ad-
Journed. That is a striking statement when
1t is considered in connection with the sum
of money to be spent here for public
the work now in progress.
1t Is difficult to realize in a concrete way
the meaning OF million dollars to say
nothing of several millions. and that Is one
of the reasons why the Importance OF tho
present stage in the history of the city IL
not appreciated to its full extent. 1t is not
easy to look forward and foresee the effects
OF these additions to the facilities OF the
general government but what Is being done
furnishes a fresh Illustration OF the truth
that the growth of the country Is followed
by the expansion of the machinery Of tho
government and additions to the population
OF this city.
Some Great Structures
In the list of the appropriations for the
coming year for buildings in this city there
are three instances of amounts aggregatlns
about o million dollars each which are
merely intended to complete three struc-
lures which are now in progress. This is u
good deal of money for such purpose, and
1t enables one to form some conception OF
the size and importance OF the buildings
referred to. the national museum, the
Senate office building and the House office
building.
Another extensive structure. the cost OF
which is represented not by six figures
preceded by the mineral one. but numerals
two and three Is the that is being
built for the Department OF Agriculture.
Such progress has been made in the cree
ton of that building as to require at this
time only comparatively small amount
of money. The additions to the group OF
buildings about the Capitol which are now
being made by the erection of the Senate
and the House office buildings has led
Congress to provide a heating plant which
could supply all the buildings with the
necessary heat and light and power.
A Big Heating Plant.
1t is located south of the Capitol and
as a million and quarter have been APP
propriated for the enterprise 1t may be
concluded that an establishment Is to DO
erected large in proportions and well adapt
ed for It's purposes. 1t Is also an important
consideration to keep In mind In this con-
nection that even such generous provision
of new buildings above outlined Will not
be enough. The need will still exist and
of no trivial character for additional public
buildings
For that reason. as well as to continue the
execution of the plan for the Identification
of the city, a bill was introduced at the
last session of Congress for the purchase by
the government OF all the land between the
Mall and Pennsylvania avenue and Sd and
18th streets. When such plan is carried
out 1t will give to the government the con-
troll of large area of building sites, which
can be utilized from time to time Con
gress may authorize the erection of build
ings for the of the executive depart
ments. Such a provision for the future Is
by no means long in anticipation of the
actual needs.
Has Only Fairly Started.
1t will be, Of course many years before a
line of public buildings will adorn the south
side of the avenue from the Botanic Gar
dens to 18th street. but there Is no question
In the mind of any person who has given
intelligent consideration to the future OF
this city that such time will come and
the improvements will be made to meet
actual needs in the government service.
In the meantime the development of tho
government OF this city furnishes subject
toI~t IN hn
Such is brought out in the appropriations
made for new buildings for what might DO
called the civic use of the people of the
national capital. For the next fiscal year
more than 5000, 900 is to be expended in
adding to the number of school houses in
the District. Included In that amount.
however, Is $4,000 for a couple of fire en-
CINE houses and $4,000 for an administra-
ton building at the workhouse.
Markers of City's Progress.
The balance, which is more than half a
million of dollars, is to be used in providing
additional school facilities, and the neces-
SIty which exists for that sort of thing fur
nishes a measure of the growth OF the city.
There are other ways of noting the increase
in the citys population. and it is not by
merely counting noses. The building or
houses furnishes a good index OF the state
Of affairs. and the selling of them another.
The adding to the number of apartment
houses and the knowledge that such build
ings are not standing empty also provide
an effective marker of the citys progress
There are. in fact. a good many pointers,
and they are all directed one way, and
that is toward the material expansion OF