The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-26
SENATORS APPROVE
Big BUILDING PLAN
Hepburn and WetmOre Prof.
ects Recommended.
NEW AVENUE TO CAPITOL
Other Measure Is for the Purchase
Of Land In Pennsylvania Avenue
from Fourteenth Street TO Peace
MOnument-The District Committee
would Pay Up to sla,6OO,OOO.

The bills, apprOpriating slS.600Ooe, pro-
viding for the purchase Of ground for
public uses, were favorably reported yes
terday by the Senate Committee on Pub
lie Buildings and Grounds.
One measure. carrying 100000. is Sem
ator Heyburn's proposed plan TO pur-
chase for the use of Federal buildings IN
the National Capital the ground betweec
Pennsylvania avenue and the Mall. and
the other is Senator Wetmore's measure
10 purchase for the enlargement OF the
Capitol grounds and the construction Of
an approach to the Capitol Of certain
plots from the junction Of Pennsylvania
avenue and First street northwest to the
Union Station plaza.
The latter measure carries an appro-
priation Of so much of 100000 as may be
necessary,
Hepburn Plan Well known.
Senator Heybwn's bill is well known TO
Washingtonians, it having passed the
Senate in December. 1907. When 1t came
up in the Senate Committee on Buildings
and Grounds yesterday no opposition was
developed. the explanation having been
made that it had passed the Senate once
before. and that conditions making it ad-
visable to obtain the ground it specifies
for public buildings have not changed.
The bill did not pass the House when
il was. before the members, but il is hoped
that it will have better luck at this ses-
sion.
The land desired to be purchased by
the bill is that lying south OF Pennsyl-
vania avenue and north of Maryland ave-
nue. TO Sixth street. where It intersects
Sixth street; all the ground between
Pennsylvania avenue and the Mall from
Sixth street TO Fourteenth street. the
small space at the junction Of Maryland
avenue and First street southwest. and
the two small squares directly in front
Of the Capitol grounds. between Pennsyl-
vania avenue and B street northwest.
The ground lying between Pennsylvania
avenue. Fourteenth street. Fifteenth
street, and the Mall has already been
purchased by the government for $780,
o00 and II is upon this plot that Senator
Scott recently introduced a bin to erect
several buildings for executive depart
ments.
DignIfied Approach to Capitol.
The bill offered by Senator Wetmore
which was approved yesterday, is, In the
language of the measure. ito provide a
dignihed and adequate approach to the
Capitol. and to construct q direct ave
nue. of about 80 feet in width from The
junction Of Pennsylvania avenue and First
street northwest to the Union Station
plaza, the center line Of said avenue to be
located on the axis Of the Peace Monu-
ment and the site OF the westerly foun-
tain in said plaza"
This bill contemplates the purchase OF
the land in squares fronting on the north
side OF the Capitol grounds from First
street northwest, running east TO the Sen
ate Office Building, the square fronting
on Delaware avenue from the Capitol 10
the Union Station plaza, all the squares
fronting on the Union Station plaza, and
The square bounded by New Jersey ave-
nue, North Capitol, D, and c streets.
Once the land is purchased for the new
avenue TO the Capitol plan. II Is proposed
20 carry out an extensive scheme Of i'm
prOvement in the line Of parkings and
squares with trees and shrubbery IN con
sonance with the grounds OF the Capitol.
A commission, consisting Of the PresI-
dent, the Speaker OF the House. and the
Superintendent Of the Capitol. is provid-
ed for in the biIl TO acquire the land by
purchase or condemnation