Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
building of its kind to be intrusted ex-
clusively to a local architect

building of its kind to be intrusted ex-
cluslVely to local architect.
Jefferson's Foresight.
ITO no one. perhaps. more than to
Thomas Jefferson" said Mr. Wood. lis
the capital city. indebted for the classic
type. the imposing grandeur of its earliest
public buildings. Jefferson. one of the
most cultivated men of his day. especially
In the art of architecture, was the strong
guiding hand I'm shaping the type of the
federal structures Of his time. and his In
fiuence was strongly felt by the architects
of those early days of our national life.
While they had always a due regard and
generation for that which was old Vet
nevertheless they had creative genius and
originality which made their impress upon
the structures of the time.
1T was T. F. Schneider" said Mr..
Wood. who broke away from the beyond
the Rhine type which obtained here for a
while. with new idea OF archi-
lecture. a type of the Romanesque. illus
trated in the Clover residence. for long
time the home of the Chinese legation.
His lead was quickly followed in the local
architectural world. and today Washing
ton presents structures-public and pri-
vate-that are surpassed nowhere in tie
world in architectural strength. purity
and beauty.
Experience demonstrated that strictly
classical lines were not adapted to this
climate but in the variations which time
and conditions have made necessary they
have been retained as basis. and devel-
opment has been directed along lines that
are conducive to beauty and artistic worth
as we'll as adaptabIlity to modern require
mentS.
The Several Types Represented.
The ne& National Museum" said Mr..
Wood. II regard as the handsomest build
ing in the city. The best type in archi-
lecture he added. lis the Italian. II is
to architecture what grammar is TO the
English language. The new building for
the bureau of American republics will be
type of the Spanish renaissance, which
is deemed essentially appropriate as
delicate compliment TO the Latin people.
who are so strongly represented I'm the
countries interested in the bureau. The
new Masonic Temple is type q
the Roman Doric. and when completed
will be one of the handsome CLASSIC
structures of which the city may boast.
The new Department Of Agriculture 10
another illustration of the classic order
Influenced by the French renaissance. As
only the wings are under construction IL
is difficult to give an adequate idea as TO
what the general appearance OF the build
ing will be until the erection OF the cen.
trail structure. The wings are designed
upon simple dignified lines OF the Ionic
order"
mus Il is that a sense OF the eternal
fitness of things mas dictated the policy
Of the national legislature in not only
providing structures for the conduct OF
the federal government. but in having
them fully i'm keeping with the high Ideals
Of the founders that. realized, VIII uui-
mately puts the ineffaceable stamp or
grandeur and artistic beauty upon the
National capital. Higher and higher. as =
the years 60 by rise the ideals OF the 81
people for the chief city of their great
republic: and their own self-effacement,
so to speak in the effort TO make II
what il should be.
Trend Of Sentiment.
The trend Of national sentiment in this
respect cannot be better illustrated than
by the peroration of the speech deliv-
cred the past week in the Senate by SEN
ator Scott of West Virginia. when he
said:
IL do not believe that the expenditure
Of a single dollar for the city of Wash
lngton in order to beautify the capital Of
the nation and erect its workshops has
ever been criticised by an American tax
payer American voter. I do not
believe that If today the Congress of the
United States were to pass a bill appro-
priating even thirty-two millions OF dol
airs for the purchase OF sites and the
erection of buildings to complete the
plans I have detailed there would be a
dissenting voice raised in the United
,ne criticism from any paper I'm the
Unified States. On the other hand I
hink il would be one Of the most popular
measures ever passed by Congress and
me that would be met with the heartieot
approval everywhere