The Washington times., 1915-12-10

DtllS are ellDlOACu llclDS. VI ububitl
merit are pulled through by those of
undoubted merit. and there is no means
of eliminating the former. The Dill
must be approved or rejected as
whole. ........
Accumulation Taken Care OF.
when the last omnibus public-build-
ing bill became a law on March q, 1913,
there still remained in the Supervising
Architects Office, awaiting the atten-
ton of the technical force, an accpmu-
lation of work under previous authori-
cations. with the exception of less than
a score of buildings which can not be
disposed Of until further legislation is
enacted, this accumulation has been
properly taken care Of and on July l
of this year preparation was begun OF
the plans and specifications of buildings
authorized in the 1913 public-building
act.
Attention is being given first to the
extension Of buildings which are no
longer of adequate size TO meet the
needs of the public service and to build
ings authorized to be erected on sites
acquired under previous legislation. The
next class TO be given attention VIII be
the buildings authorized by the 1913
ublic-buildlng act to be erected on
sites the acquisition of which was also
authorized in said act.
turning POlnt Reached.
Judging from results obtained during
the last quarter of the fiscal year end
ing June 90. 1915, it is believed that by
putting into full effect the policy OF
utilizing, whenever practicable, the plans
of buildings previously constructed, and
with few additional technical em-
ployes to equal.Ze the capacity or the
several divisions the output of the Su-
nnryiSinp Arphitnrt's Office be ma
terially increased.
1T is possible that the turning point
has been reached in Government archl-
lecture In large cities. The policy
hitherto followed of purchasing sites OF
sufficient size to permit of placing the
Postal Service on the lower floors only
has, been extremely expensive. Con,
fronted with the fact that the u. .150'0oo
office in Chicago (west s'del Is made
quate to pay for land Of sufhcient area
TO accommodate a building OF the GUS
tomary type and proper dimensions, a
joint committee, representing the Treas
uary and Postoffice Departments, has
recently given the subject careful study.
and has reported that the working OF
the mails in a ten-story building Is
feasible In that city. provided suitable
mechanical matchmaking apparatus is
Installed. The same problem. but with
varying intricacies. may be solved
along similar lines in other large cities,
with corresponding economies in the
cost of sites.
Civic Improvement IInaided.
AT recent public hearing, attended
by representative citizens of Chicago 1t
developed that there was very strong
sentiment in favor of the Chicago i'm
provemcnt plan of civic center. This
plan contemplates q postofiice building
occupying two blocks. No voice was
raised in support of the department s
plan of a tall building on single block
Under existing legislation the de-
partment is unable to make the post
office project At into the civic-center
plan as outlined. first. because the
81. $50, 900 appropriated for site is bare
ly sufficient to acquire a single block
suitably located: and. secondly, because
It is not known whether the proposed
civic center plan for the contemplated
postotfice building meets with the ap-
provai OF the postofrtce Department
and. thirdly. because the department
has no means of knowing whether Con
Cress would he willing to authorize
the construction of the type and char
| acter or building which would he re-
quired architecturallE to fit into the
! Chicago Improvement plan.
Made Personal Investigation.
II have recently made personal In
vestigation of several important stu
I atoms IN the pubic -DullOnES WORK
| typical OF similar conditions in variou!
parts of the country. and which mus
| be submitted to Congress for further
and corrective legislation. In kansa!
| City Mo- $780, was authorized in thu
public c-buldings act of 1913 for the eX
tension and remodelins of the Fedora
| building in that city. After persona
examination of all conditions there.
am OF the opinion that the present ant
| future interests of the Governmen
sci vice and the city will be best serveC
by acquiring e new site nearer the nev
| union station. where a building of mod
crate cost. may be erected, and whicl
would he better adapted to the require
ments of the postal service.
"rhr Postoffice Department has r"c
commended this course, and I cnrd''
| concur. 1t will be necessary to CAVJ
new legislation giving the departn2l,