Evening star., 1916-02-04
Opponents of Proposed Plans
Tell Senate Committee
Their Objections.
POINT TO THE DANGER
FROM THE SMOKESTACKS
Favorable Report Asked on New
lands Amendment, Providing for
Delay in Beginning Work.

Arguments for and against the
proposed new central heating
plant for the government, to be
located opposite the bureau of
engraving and printing, was
heard by the Senate library COM
mittee today. The committee
has before it a resolution offered
by Senator Newlands of Nevada,
providing that the work OF con-
struction OF this plant shall not
be begun until the plans have
been approved by the fine arts
commission and by the President.
An amendment embodying this
prohibition has been inserted in
the urgent deficiency appropria-
ton bill by the Senate, and that
bill is now in conference between
the two houses.
State Their Objections.
Should the Senate library committee
determine that the Newlands resolution
should be adopted, however. it will go
to the Senate with favorable report
on it.
The opponents of the new central
plant, who urge that the huge smoke
stacks. belching forth smoke, will dis
figure the appearance of the capital,
appearing before tire committee, in
cluded Cass Gilbert of New York.
member of the fine arts commission;
Glenn Brown and Hennen Jennings
Edward c. kemper. secretary of the
American Institute of Architects, also
will appear before the committee in
opposition to the plans for the central
plant.
Assistant Secretary Byron r. Newton
of the Treasury Department and James
A. Wetmore. acting supervising architect
of the Treasury. appeared in support
on the central plant be pot held up. 1t
was planning to go ahead with the
construction work almost Immediately,
and already excavation work has been
begun. -4 $50
TO Have But Two smokestacks.
That the new central power plant is
to have two smokestacks and not four
was brought out at a hearing before
the Senate library committee today.
Strong protests had been made to the
committee because Of the stacks, which
are to be 1876 feet high, on the ground that
they would disfgure the appearance of
the National Capital
A letter from Elliott Woods. superin-
tendent of the Capitol buildings and
grounds, was referred to by Chairman
Williams Of the committee in which
Mr.. Woods suggested that the present
Capitol power plant, located near Gar
field Park. could be enlarged and made
to perform the same service as the pro-
posed central plant. Senator Williams
said that the committee had asked for
Mr.. Woods opinion on the subject.
Mr.. Wetmore described to the COM
mittee the plans for the central plant.
showing that 1t was designed to pro-
vide. heat. light and power for all the
cluding the Post Office Department. He
told the committee that the present site
had been chosen because it was scien-
tifically and mechanically ideal for the
locat tiOn-ef such a plant.
He said that it was near the water
which had 70 be used for condensatio
purposes: that it was near railroad
tracks which could be used for remov-
ing dSESS, ana tnaI was very near
the bureau Of engraving and printing,
which would use about 25 per cent OF
the power generated by the new plant.
Would Effect Great Saving.
He said that it would effect a very
great saving annually in the amount
expended for heat, light and power for
the government buildings.
Senator Williams interrupted to say
that the committee had to consider the
beauty of Washington as we'll as the
question Of saving money.
Mr.. Gilbert of the fine arts commits
sion brought out the fact that the plans
as now provided called for only two
smokestacks. though at first they had
made provision for four such stacks
Senator cummins of Iowa. who, with
Senator Newlands and Senator Will
liams, attended the meeting, asked Mr..
Wetmore why the plans for the CEN
tral plant had not been submitted to
the fine arts commission for it's ap-
proval in time for the commission to
pass on them before all plans for going
ahead with the work were so Ear un-
derway.
Mr.. Wetmore replied that the failure
to submit the plans to the commission
had been an oversight and not inten..
thought the former supervising archi-
tect had submitted the plans before he
went out of office. When his attention
was called to the matter the plans were
sent to the commission.
Urges Further Investigation.
Lewis B. Stillwell, a New York en-
gineer, discussed before the committee
the question of central power plants
and told what had been done along this
line in other cities. He said that he
thought the office of the supervising
architect should go into this matter
more fully before continuing. with the
present plans for the central power
plant.
Senator Williams suggested to the Of
ficials of the Treasury Department that
the committee would like to have sub
mitted to it for consideration perspec-
tive drawing of the proposed building
Senator Cummins asked Mr.. Gilbert II
III would be possible to construct the
central power plant without the objec-
tionable stacks. Mr.. Gilbert replied that
it would be possible.
He said, however, that such a plan
had been adopted in connection with
the building of a Dlant near the state