The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-26
SENATE COMMITTEE
AGREES TO INVEST
Report on Heyburn's Bill 10
Purchase OF Building
Sites.
PROVIDES FOR s1o,ooo,ooo
Wetmorc's Measure for Enlarge.
mcnt OF Capitol Grounds
Endorsed.

Washington, D. c.. February 25.---
Agreeing with the general sentiment
that the Federal buildings in the ma
ttional capital should stretch along the
south side of Pennsylvania Avenue,
the Senate Committee ON Public Build
ngs and Grounds to-day ordered ia
bill .appropriating s10,000,000 for the
purchase of the property between
Penhsylvanla Avenue and the Mall
Senator Wetmore's bill, for the en-
also ordered to be faNorably reported.
This contemplates the purchase of the
land bordering. on the Union station
plaza and Of the squares between the
Capitol grounds and the plaza, and the
building of an avenue running straight
from the Peace Monument to the en-
trance of the Union Station.
No Opposition Develops.
| No opposition to the purchase of the
land south of Pennsylvania Avenue to
afford sites for future homes of Fed
eral departments developed in the COM
/, mittee meeting this morning.
senator Heyburn's bill was the first
| measure introduced in the present
Congress, and the first on the calendar
quickly al to-days meeting. the first
the committee has ,:cld this session.
II was explained 1hat the Senate had
expressed its approval of the plan at a
previous Congress and that conditions
nave not changed.
Thc bill provides. first. for the pur-
chase by the government of all the
ground not at present owned by 1t ly-
ing south OF Pennsylvania Avenue and
north Of Maryland Avenue up to Sixth
street where 1t intersects SIXTH all
the ground between Pennsylvania Ave-
nue. and the Mall from Sixth Street to
Fourteenth; the small square at the
junction M1rrluNl
street. Southwest, and the two small
squares directly in front of the Cap
itol grounds, between Pennsylvania
Avenue and L Street. Northwest.
Congress Takes FIRST Step.
Congress as whole practically in
dorscd the general project and began
Its execution couple of years ago,
when 1t appropriated s2,5O0,0O0 for the
purchase OF the five squares between
fennsylvania Avenue. the Mall, Four
teenth to Sixteenth Streets. The Sen
ate committee now tavors the pur-
lump.
The views OF the members OF tho
Senate Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds. expressed formerly and
practically reiterated to-day. are
at is very important that in the
future all government buildings located
at the national capital shall be located
upon this proposed purchase. and shall
ne OF Sucn ACRIMONIOUS dTCHlleCtuIe
and arrangement as will make the gov
eminent buildings combination of all
that is beautiful and adequate to the
wants of the service. The buildings
could be constructed along varying
architectural lines and yet be entirely
harmonious. thus affordinG great pos
sib.,ities for architectural a."
mcnt. as we'll as for the development
of plan that will greatly enhance
the beauty and usefulness of the ma
TONS home.
I'm the interval between the pur-
chase and the ACTUAL use Of the grounds
for public buildings, they could be
used and maintained as an attractive
pleasure ground in connection With the
MALI
EnInrginG Capitol Grounds.
Senator We;more's bill for the en-.
largement of the Capitol grounds,
which has also received the ndorse-
ment of the committee, contemplate s
the purchase of the land in squares
fronting on the north side Of the Capt
toll grounds from First Street, North
west, running east to the Senate Office
Building, the squares fronting on Del
aware Avenue from the Capitol to the
Union Station plaza, all the squares
fronting on the Union Station plaza
and the square bounded by New Jer-
sey Avenue, North Capitol, d and G
Streets.
This land Is to be purchased. accord
ing to the bill, ito provide a dignilied
and adequate approach to the Capito!
and to construct a. direct avenue of
about $50 feet in width from the juno
ture of Pennsylvania Avenue and First
Street, Northwest, to the Union Sta
ton plaza, the centre line OF said ave-
nue. 10 be located on the axis of the
Peace Monument and the site of the
westerly fountain in said plaza.