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, q
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 a 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 Commission.
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 l2s feet inches wide, having
q height Of from so to 30 feet above
the level OF the river. and upon which
are superposed four large chimney
stacks. each about 10 feet in diameter
and about 1SS feet in height above the
ground, or about 1875 feet above the
river. structure of this size ana
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 promi-
nent points in the National aCpital, par
ticularly 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 will cause q de-
plorable aspect in that section Of the
city. = such a plant should be pro-
posed for erection in or near Central
Park. in the city of New York. or In
or near the Boston Common, in Boston,
or on the river in or near Paramount
Park, in philadelphia. or In or near
Forest Park, in st. Louis. or on the
lake front or in Lincoln Park, in Chi
caEo. or Lake shore drive, in Cleveland.
or In or near the park system OF San
Francisco, there would be immediate
objection and deFision from one end OF
the country 10 the other.
Railroad Recognized Point.
Some years ago the Pennsylvania
railroad recognized that the location or
its 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 a valuable franchise right be-
cause they became convinced II was
against the dignified and harmonious
development OF the Capital City. Ar
guments oave been made for the cen
trality Of this large plant at this point,
but these ought not to have any weight
when its 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 II 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
developed from such a plant. It will
probably be detrimental to the practical
work Of the. Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, and to many valuable and deli
cate objects i'm the National Museum
and the Smithsonian Institution. In
the case OF private plants, for Instance,
an absolute requirement was made by
Mr.. Hartman on his private estate In
Arden. y. Y. that there shall be no
chimneys or stacks.
There seem TO be no practical enEl-
neerinC reasons why this plant should
be located on the river front or on the
harbor-the Capitol power plant IL not
located there. The only purpose OF be-
ing close TO the river is apparently %
that river water NAV be secured for
condensinG purposes in connection with
the turbines, and this could be secured
elsewhere. 1t would probably he found
upon inquiry that the Capitol power
plant Is equipped to supply all the cur
rent for the buildings to be supplied by
the new plant, and the heating plant
could be located elsewhere,
1T is admitted that the engine feR-
ture Is a very small portion OF the
plant, snd yet there Is provision for an
engine room covering the width OF the
building or over ffty-three in height
from the floor to the ceiling, Why should
not the entire engine plant be put over
to the Capitol plant.
Another objection is that " onS OF
the great floods should come all the
tunnels would be flooded and the heat
ing plant rendered totally ineffective,
since they cannot run steam through
mood water ;he tunnels would be Hooded
and the heating section of the plant be
put out OF business"