The Washington times., 1916-02-06
SEE DEADLOCK OVER
HEAT PLANT DISPUTE
Some House Members Believe
NeWands Urgent Deficiency
Amendment viii Fail.
CONTINUED from First PaseD

CONTINUED from t1rSt rage
lions for the sundry civil expenses Of
he Government for the fiscal wear
ending June so, 1914. and for other
purposes. approved June p. 1913
tthirty-elghth statutes, page twenty
nVe) as authorizes the construction
"r central heating. lighting. ana
power plant in the city of Washing
ton, District of Columbia be, and the
Yame is hereby. amended 80 as to add
% the buildings already enumerated
in said act to be furnished with heat,
light, and power the Johnson Walker
The Interior Department office Build
ing, the Lincoln Memorial, and the
Womens Memorial Building 'Red
cross BuildinE), and the limit of cost
from sI,lsi.i0 to sl,6Gs,1o4 and the
limit Of $4,000 therein fixed for the
employment of technical services in
connection with the plans and speci,,
ications and construction OF said
plant is hereby increased to not eT-
ccedng $4,000 and made, available
for the employment of technical and
clerical services for said purposes;
Provided. That no work upon the
construction of said plant shall be
commenced until the plans therefor
hall have been submitted to the Ma
tional Fine Arts Commission for their
approval, and approved by the Presi-
dent Of the United states.
Originated in 1904.
A statement issued today with the
approval Of those interested in placing
The heating plant at Fourteenth and
Water streets was as follows:
In the discussion of the construction
ur the central heating. lighting and
bower plant at the foot of Fourteenth
.treet, great deal has been said
about the haste with which the plan
has been carried out ard the undesir-
ability Of the location adopted by Con-
;;ress. Consideration of the his tory or
he project shows it originated back in
1904. and that Congress by the sundry
civil act of June &C. 1913. directed the
obstruction of the building at the pres
mt location.
Modern practice in the engineering
'iue wherever one concern has large
NUMBER of buildings is to furnish heat
light and power from a central plant.
This practice is carried to such an ex-
tent that in New York city great
many downtown office buildings are
supplied by two central concerns. the
New York Heating Company and the
New York Edison Company
The first application of this prin-
ciple to Government buildings In the
city of Washington was in the con-
>truction of the Capitol power plant
which was built under the act of April
IS. 1904. In that same act Congress
directed the late Bernard r. Green. then
~uperlnten0ent the Library DululiiS
nnd grounds, to submit at the next ses-
SION preliminary plans and estimates
Of cost for the location. construction
aud equipment OF power house FOR
furnishing heat and electric power to
tho existing and projected Government
buildings on the Mall and in the Vlcln-
itv of the White House.
Two Plants Intended.
'Mr. Green was a noted engineer and
adviser to the members of both houses
~ Congress on all matters with re-
Spcct to the Identification of Washing
tOn.
MIR. Green employed Prof s. Homer
Woodbridge. Of the Massa chusetts IN
stitute of Technology. an expert in the
designing and construction of ventilat-
ing plants. In January 1900. Mr.. Green
iled his report to Congress enthusias-
'icalv recommending the construction
"f a central plant to supply the gov
'rnmental buildings west of the Post
"ffce Department. known as the EX-
"cutive, group. 1t was apparently recog-
mized bv Congress at this early date
nat one plant should be established
%" supplying the Capitol and its ada
""nt buildings. while another was neces'
sary for supplying the Executive grouI
tt the west end Of the Mall.
MIR. Green suggested three sites. The
lirst and most central site was at Four.
reenth and B streets on the Mall. in the
heart OF the Government group and one
block south of PENNSYLVANIA avenue
The second site was opposite the old
iIureau Of Engraving and Printing. Hi
third site is the site selected and desiC.
mated by Congress upon which the
budding Is being erected.
In his report he Incorporated a front
elevation of a mower plant. and II con.
aimed a stack 80 feet high for any one
of the sites.
As to Undue Haste.
with respect to the criticism OF un.
iue haste. it is on record that Secretary
Of th' Treasury MacVeaeh appointed
committee May |. 1911. consisting OF
Nelson S. Thompson. chief mechanical
engineer OF the supervising architects
"f1ce: Capt. c. A. McAllister chief en-.
rineer OF the Coast Guard. and r. II
,haDDell. superintendent of machinery
bureau Of Engraving and Printing (and
graduate of AnnapOliS). to consider
nd report on plans for a central heat
ing. lighting. and power plant This
"0mmittee renortcd to the Secretary un,
der date OF June l. 1911. recommendine
me construction Of plant at the pres,
T." Congress in December. 1911. giving
he recommendations Of the committee
In the early part OF 1872 hearings were
Id by the House Approximations Com
n'ttoc on the project. The Appropria
'"Iv fully with Secretary MacVeagh'!
Hmnltttee. and further study with E
view to enlarging the project to take il
h'idiuonal buildings was directed
second report was submitted TO
tie Secretary Of the Trea sury In the
summer of 1872. and hearings on this
'"port were held before the House Com
mittee on Appropriations Reports OF
inese hearings were published a public
documents. As result of the hearings
hcfore the committee. Congress. on June
g. 1913. authorized and directed the
construction of a central heating, light
ing: and power plant at the present site
after having the matter under con-
'lderation for more than eight years.
Worked on Plans a Year.
The act authorized the employment
OF expert services outside of the Treas.
Try Department, and in order to give
The most careful consideration to the
who'll" project the firm of l.. b. Still
we'll a Co. OF New York city. was en-
'oy"d by the Treasury Department
This firm worked on the project for ap.
NrONimatelY a wear and prepared the
Ilans and specifications which were
. 0sed as the basis upon which bids were
asked for the construction work. The
uIans. as prepared by Mr.. Stillwell. pro-
Nided tor the smokestaCks to which OBJ
lection has later been made,
1t is remarkable that Mr.. Stiilwell
after his careful study for approximate,