The Washington times., 1915-12-27
BU|LD|NGBOOM
HERE SETTING
NEW RECORDS
Improvements in Capital Call for
More Liberal Expenditures
Than at Any Other Time.

washington's industrial outlook /,
roseate. Labor Is assured OF plenty
Of work, Indications presaging the en-.
lloyment of more men than are en-
Government has more big projects un.
der way now than at any other one
time in the history OF the District
Municipal Improvements call for the
continued employment of large forces
OF men and the outlay of great sums.
while private corporations. building con-
Germs, and other Industries all give
prospect Of increased business over the
past two years.
Observance OF the two best indicators
relevant to local improvement-the list
in the office OF Col. w. W. Harts, Su-
rerintendent OF Public Buildings and
Grounds, and the chart in the office
of the District Inspectors OF Buildings -
substantiates the foregoing conclusions
Six Times More Money.
Approximately six times as much
ing operations in the District during
September as was expended for the
same period in 1914; four times as much
during October as compared with the
same period of the previous year. And
the knowing ones UNANIMOUSLY agree
that the indications favor an even
greater increase for the coming winter
and spring months.
Colonel Harts' summary Of the prof.
ects which the Government has under
wav is probably the most interesting
observation In Investigations made OF
the Districts economic conditions. pres
ent and future.
There Is the Arlington Amphitheater
project. for which s75o.O0o has been ap-
propriated, the superintendent of pub
lie buildings and grounds will tell you in
beginning his review. This monument
10 those who fought and died in the
cause of their country will employ a
great many men throughout the next
year and maybe longer. Then there Is
the Red Cross building. a project for
which appropriations amounting to $780,
On have been made. and the Lincoln
Memorial. In Potomac Park. for which
an outlay Of $2.5Oo.OO0 is anticipated.
not including q great deal more which
will be expended In improving the
grounds In the vicinity of the structure
Thi. project will take between two
and three years to complete. employing
probably during all that time between
fifty and 100 workmen. not including
The labor necessitated for the uuarrying
Of the stone used In the structure or in
Transporting the material to Potomac
Park. CONGRESS has already appro-
rrtated $4,000 on three different occa-
sions to improve the park in the VI
Cinity OF the memorial. and, according
20 Colonel Harts, will in all proba billty
authorize the expenditure OF that much
more for the same purpose.
Rock Creek Parking.
The Rock Greek valley parkway prof.
ect IA progressing Is well as may be ex-
rected according to those In a position
10 know. The work for which Congress
appropriated 5000 to begin the project
will soon be completed. This work in
wolves the location of boundary lines
tomac Parks Congress has already
authorized the expenditure Of 81 800 900
for this project, but has not appropria-
ted any money to this date other than
that for the marking OF the boundary
lines.
Those Interested in this particular
project anticipate an early appropria- :
iinn to continue the work.
An appropriation Of 100000 IL
reeded shortly to continue the worl;
on the Meridian Hill park project.
$4,000 being expended on the work
or constructing retaining walls for
the park, which is now in progress.
East Potomac Plant.
The East Potomac Park project. a
development of what is often referred
10 as the lower end" Of the park. is
another work which will employ a
great many more men and necessitate
the expenditure OF much money with
In the reNt few days. Colonel Harts
IS Of the opinion that Congress with
in the next ten years will appropriate o
between 81 .00o.0 900 and 81 500 900 more
Tor the improvement of this territory.
Tho area Is as vet practically un-
known to the people OF the ritN. those
who own automobiles, horses OF.
boats being about the only persons
familiar with the possibilities OF this
section as great playground There
are 327 acres in the East Potomac
Fark section and worlimen viii be
employed for the next few wears
clearing away underbrush and grad
ing and landscsping this territory.
Then there is the AnqCostia flats
reclamation projects, only 70 per cent
81 which has been completed. An
rroXimately 100000 will he spent in
this work during the coming wear.
arcording to the office "f the United
states engineers.
The new Department Of Interior build
ing. at Eighteenth and F streets north
vest. is another large project which
viii keep between 200 and 300 men en-
r'oyed for the next fifteen or eighteen
months. Congress has fixed So 500. 900 a .
the limit of cost for this structure. An
idea OF the immense size OF the building
can be obtained by review Of the
plans, which call for structure 400
feet on each of four fronts. The build
ing will have more than 1000 windows.
New Heating Plant.
Mechanics In large numbers will be
used on the new Government heating,
lighting. and power plant. to he erected
on Water street between Thrteen-and-
a-half and Fourteenth streets southwest
a. an initial cost OF 81 500. 900. This nlant
Will furnish light. heat and power to
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A. Yo,,r Sary;ca