The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-08-31
UNCLE SAM PAYS
REGULAR RENTAL
? Far Most of the Buildings
He Occupies
III THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Government Owns No Land In
National District Ex-
cept the Mall.
EsrBER QUEER STATE OF CASE

ESTHlR QUEER STATE OF CASE
THE statement that the United
S1E-es Government pays an annual
rEItal for land and buildings within
ARR District of Columbia of about
e. xfSO.0q0 will probably surprise
TStl persons, who are likely to take
4 fG granted that in Washington, at
1EE, the Government owns all the
mad needed for its use and has con-
Ecructed al the buildings required
10 house the executive departments
The Government owns no land in the
5iKtrict of Columbia on which pub
tx buildings might be erected, with
Size exception of certain parks, nota-
I2y that known as the Mall, and nat
TrTlIy there is opposition to the use
Es fites for buildings of parks, which,
X a steadily growing city like the
TEdonal capital, are more and more
UEeded as breathing places and for
..h8 purposes of recreation.
From time to time Congress au-
5hgrlzes the purchase of building
SHES, always at higher prices than
WIRE asked a few years earlier, and
II is difficult to perceive any wisdom
fa constantly postponing the acqui-
sfrIOn of needed land when such
FFaponement invariably entails
greater expense to the Government,
albeit with greater profit to owners
KID spectators. The Government
JaH borrow money at az per cent.
Esd probably when the postal savings
isTIk is in full operation it will have
~ abundance at it's disposal at
yer cent. Of course, neither land
BW buildings can be rented at any
.nkng like that rate of interest.
Moreover, the rented buildings are
almost Invariably inadequate, and
sonstimes remarkably inconvenient,
go nuctf so that their use entails con-
aEcerable increased expense in doing
c1Esiness.
another evil of the rented build
lmg is the ever-present danger of the
SSeVrnction of valuable Government
zIe0rds. This phase of the situation
n emphasized by the fire which oc-
cnETsd on August l in the building
wrapped by the Geological Survey.
Htzhe from the first floor the entire
BEFding is occupied by the Survey.
RlEh. the first floor is devoted to stores
sVElT which the Survey has no control
Rnd in one of which the latest fire
SsceErred. The chief business of the !
BsRsgical Survey is the making Of
geographical maps of the United
SSKres. The plates of maps already |
asHSe are stored in the building, and |
all the vast array of data, gathered
,xt great expense. for the making of
SHsare maps, is also kept there. It's
library contains more than $4,000 !
'VnlEmes of geological literature, a
o<rIRction probably unique in the
NRrid. There are also some $1,000
gznThIets, $4,000 maps and an in
,zxkuiable amount of incomplete ma
1sraLI And yet five times since 1903
ahis valuable collection has been
mGdced by fire. In each instance
Eisn IRE has been brought under con-
rIr55 Before grave damage was in
1iiced, but the danger still exists and
SnExt continue as long as a rented
and unsuitable building is employed
10 fouse this Survey.
fortunately Congress at its last
IsrIzlon took the preliminary steps
tsFsrd the construction of a suitable
IbHFding, authorizing the prepara-
rtint VI plans, although it will doubt
aesF be some years before the survey
rs yrIpsrly, conveniently and safely
n EussL The War Department occu-
Rus; Besides a part of the State, War
SnF xaYy Building, long outgrown,
sCgaqdated, unsanitary and, in one in
srrRce, condemned buildings. The
Department of Commerce and Labor
81 BVused entirely in rented build
snzE. The Department of Justice oc-
ruJass a number of old dwellings i'll
ziitsd to it's purposes, and the list
mIgkI be continued almost indefinite
".
Certainly no business man in his