The Washington times., 1916-02-01
EXPLAINS STAND ON
HEATING PLANT SITE
Member of Fine Arts Commits.
sion Outlines Reasons for
Boards Opposition.

| Outlining the reasons that actuated
the Fine Arts Commission TO protest
against the erection OF the Central
Heat. Light and Power plant for the
department buildings in Washington, a
member Of the commission declared to-
| day that the art body viewed with con-
| Germ the proposed erection OF the
| structure on the site selected.
Such plant. 1t is pointed out would
| be a detriment to the city. and would
| seriously affect the simple dignity OF
| the Monument and other Government
| structures
Views Of Com mission.
A member of the commission made the
| following statement as outlining IN de-
| tail the commissions views:
The plans for the powerhouse con-
| template a structure l7S feet inches
! long by l25 feet inches wide. having
| a height of from 50 to 30 feet above
ti1e isvel OF the river. and upon which
are superposed four large chimney
stacks. each about 10 feet in diameter
and about lHS feet in height above the
ground, or about 195 feet above the
river. A structure OF this size and
chara Cter obviously would be conspicu-
Gus wherever located in the city, but
more unfavorably conspicuous site could
hardly have been selected, because the
proposed plant will be a disagreeable
| object in the view from The most proml-
| nent points in the National aCpital, par
| ticularlN from the Capitol, the White
House. the Lincoln Memorial, and East
| Potomac Park, and from Arlington.
Its proximity TO the Washington Mon
ument will affect seriously the simple
dignity of that structure. and its great
| bulk and huge stacks viii cause a de-
plorablc aspect in that section Of the
! city. = such plant should be pro-
n
Park. in the city OF New York. or In
| or near the Boston Common. in Boston,
| or or The river in or near Fairmount
| rark. IN phila delpha. or in or near
! lake front or in Lincoln Park, in Chi
Csgo. or Lake Shore drive, in Cleveland.
| or in or near the park system Of San
FarncisCo, there would be immediate
objection and dension from one end OF
the country to the other.
Railroad Recognized Point.
Some years ago the Pennsylvania
| railroad recognized that the location or
IT'S depot and tracks across the Mall
were detrimental to the aspects OF the
city of Washington. and, notwithstand-
| ing that they gave them a much more
central location. they were willing TO
remove to their present site and sur
| render valuable franchise right be-
| cause they became convinced 1t was
|
| development OF the Capital City. Ar
guments nave been made for the cen
trality Of this large plant at this point
| but these ought not to have any weight
| when it's location contravenes the gen
eral development OF the city or Is detri-
| mental to the dignity and beauty of the
| city.
The four large stacks are. OF course.
| objectionable. but even IL erected with
| out stacks using forced draft II would
not dispose of the gases. Even the en-
| gineers who designed the plant do not
pretend to say what gases might be
! develOrod from such a plant. II will
! probably he detrimental to the practical
work ~ the Bureau OF Engraving and
| Prntins. and to many valuable and deli
| cate oH."ctS in the National Museum
! and rhc Smithsonian Institution. In
| the aSe of private plants, for instance.
an absolute requirement was made by
| MIR. Hartman on his private estate In
| Arden, y. Y. that there shall be no
| chimn"vs or stacks.
! "There seem TO be no practical engi-
neerin2 Ieasons why this plant should
| be located on the river front or on the
! harbor-the Capitol power plant Ia not
| located there. The only. purpose OF be-
| ing close TO the river is apparently %
] that river water NAV be secured for
| CondensnG purposes in connection with
| the turbines. and this could be secured
elsewhere. 1t would probably he found
| upon inquiry that the Capitol power
| pie'l' 'fHi'ptC ~ SNbDlN an NIc
rent for the buildings to be supplied hy
the new plant. and the heating plant
| could be located elsewhere.
| 1T is admitted that the engine fea-
| turc is very small portion OF the
| plant 9nd vet there is provision for an
engine room covering the width OF the
| building or over fftN-three in height
| from the floor to the ceiling Why should
not the entire engine plant he put over
| TO the Capitol plant.
| "Anothcr objection is that II one Of
| the great floods should come all the
| tunnels would he flooded and the heat
| ing plant rendered totally ineffective.
| since they cannot run steam through
| Mood water he tunnels would be flooded
| and lhn HnalLnr snEl mn If the MA nj he