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

washington's industrial outlook il
roseate. Labor Is assured OF plenty
Of work, Indications presaging the en-
ployment of more men than are en-.
gagged at the present time. The Federal
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-
perintendent 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
money was expended for private build
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.
a. Nae. ~. nv,N E.,a 10
way IL 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 X50000 has been ap-
propriated. the superintendent of pub
lie buildings and grounds will tell you in
beginning his review. This monument
to 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,
00 have been made. and the Lincoln
Memorial. In Potomac Park. for which
an outlay Of R.500,OO0 is anticipated,
not including a great deal more which
will be expended In improving the
grounds IN the vicinity Of the structure
This project will take between two
and three years to complete, employing
fifty and 100 workmen. not including
the labor necessitated for the quarrying
Of the stone used in the structure or in
transporting the material to Potomac
Park. CONGRESS has already appro-
prtated $4,000 on three different occa-
sions to improve the park In the vi
cinity Of the memorial, and, according
30 Colonel Harts, will in all probability
authorize the expenditure Of that much
more for the same purpose.
Rock Creek Parking.
The Rock creek valley parkway prof.
ect IL progressing as we'll as may be ex-
pected, 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
for linking Rock Creek and Po-
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 II
feeded shortly to continue the worl;
! on the Meridian Hill park project.
$4,000 being expended on the work
Cf 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
to 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 ext few days. Colonel Harts
IS Of the opinion that Congress with
in the next ten years will appropriate
between 100000 and 81 100000 more
Tor the improvement of this territory.
The area Is as vet practically un-
known to the people of the city. those
who own automobiles, horses, or
ho4ts being about the only persons
familiar with the possibilities OF this
section as a great playground. There
are 327 acres in the East Potomac
Park section and worllmen will be
employed for the next few wears
clearing away underbrush and grad
ing and lRndscaping this territory.
Then there Is the AnqCostta flats
reclamation projects, only 10 per cent
Of which has been completed. An
nroximately 100000 will be spent in
this work during the coming year.
according to the office Of the United
states engineers.
The new Department Of Interior build
SnE. at Eighteenth and F streets north
west, is another large project which
VIII Keep between 200 and 300 men en-
rloyed for the next fifteen or eighteen
months. Congress has fixed 81 5S6. 900 5
The limit of cost for this structure. An
idea Of the immense size OF the building
can be obtained by a review OF the
plans, which call for a 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 be erected
on Water street between Thirteen-and-
R-half and Fourteenth streets southwest
will furnish light. heat and power to
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