Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-02
MOVE FOR DELAY
ON POWER PLANT
Civic Bodies Join in Urging Re-
tention of Senate
Amendment.
UNSIGHTLY SMOKESTACKS
MAIN OBJECTS OF ATTACK
Executive Committee of Committee
of 100 Leads Opposition to
Bill as It Stands.

Various activities came into play to-
day in an effort to prevent, if possible.
the erection on the south side OF the
Mall of four great smokestacks on top
of the proposed central heating, hght-
ing and power plant of the federal gov
eminent. Civic bodies showed great
interest in the subject, and as the re-
suit of the work of the executive COM
mittee of the Committee of one Hun
bred on the Future Development of
Washington, members of the House and
Senate conference committees on the
urgent deficiency bill will be urged
late this afternoon and tomorrow to
take action to prevent the erection of
the smokestacks by retaining in the
bill the amendment recently inserted
in the Senate.
II was pointed out today by men,
Der of this committee that there is no
objection to the erection of the plant
il is only the tall smokes:a cks that
are objected to, on the grounds of I'M
sightliness.
A meeting was held by a number of
members of this committee this morn
ing al the office of Glenn Brown. chair
man. The American Federation of Arts
took part in the public discussion of the
question, by giving out statement
today. deprecating the possibility of
the erection of the smokestacks. ST.
nultaneously. it was disclosed that the
directors of the Chamber Of Commerce
are to take up the subject tonight. in
connection with resolutions which
have been drawn to discourage the
building Of the smokestacks.
Objection to Smokestacks.
Following the meeting of some mem
bers of the executive committee of the
committee of one hundred on the fu-
ture development of Washington to-
day. il was said that the proposed
smonestacks would obstruct the view
of the White House, the Capitol, etc,
from incoming Virginia trains and au-
tomobiles; that they would cut off the
vision of the Virginia hills from Wash
ton, and would cut off the view of per-
sons in the White House down the Po-
tomac river.
Resolutions urging Congress not to
permit work on the proposed central
heating and power plant to be con-
tinued until the design and location OF
the proposed structure have been
changed as to meet the approval
of the commission of fine arts and the
President of the United States are to
be introduced at the monthly meeting
by Glenn Brown, n director of the
chamber and also chairman of the
committee of one hundred on the flu
ture development of Washington.
Should the directors so decide, the res
olutionS may be forwarded to the full
membership of the organization. which
is scheduled to meet Tuesday night.
Mr.. Browns Resolution.
The resolutions to be offered by Mr..
Brown state:
The government of the United States
has expended. and will continue to ex-
pend, large sums of money in the
Washington Monument, the Lincoln
memorial and departmental buildings
on the Mall, and in planting and de-
veloping the new Riverside Park from
Rock Creek Park to a point opposite
the War College for the future dignity
and attractiveness Of the nationals
capital
"A contract has been let for a new
government heating. lighting and
power plant at 14th and Water streets.
which contemplates the erection of u
building eighty to ninety feet in height
with four smokestacks sixteen feet in
diameter and 1s5 feet above the water
level which will be obtrusively visible
from the Capitol-which will destroy
the charming view from the White
House down the river, the vital reason
Tor placing the w mite House on Its
present location-which will obtrude
itself objectionably upon patriotic Wis
itors to the Washington Monume mt, the
Lincoln Memorial and Arlington ma
tional cemetery, and which will there
fore. conflict with and detract from
the grandeur and dignity of the Wash
ington Monument and the Lincoln Me-
mortal when viewed from the river.
the Capitol and the hills of Virginia
and Maryland.
Might Destroy the Trees.
"As the prevailing winds in the
spring and summer are from the south
and southeast, the gases from this
plant will tend to affect or destroy the
foliage OF the trees in the beautiful
new parks being laid out by Congress
NO city like New York, Cleveland.
st. Louis. Chicago or Detroit would toll
crate the erection of d structure that
would mar the effectiveness of one OF
their civic centers or one of their
park areas.
The national commission of fine arts
oas condemned the character of the
structure as detrimental TO the future
development and effectiveness of the
city
We. the Washington Chamber OF
Commerce, believe that nothing should
be allowed that will detract from the
dignity and grandeur of the matthias
capital. and urge upon Congress not
to permit this work to proceed unit!
come method can be adopted that will
mitigate the evil by changing the de
sign or the location OF the said struc-
lure which will meet with the ap-
prevail of the national commission 81
the fine arts and the President of the