The Washington times., 1916-02-14
Qneatinn Of Validity.
Capital Architectural
Club Declares Proposed
Plant Won't Mar City

The Washington Architectural Club
with 100 local members, architects and
craftsmen, IL In favor Of building the
central heating. lighting. and power
plant for the Government on the pres
ent site. as planned by the Treasury
Department.
A letter putting the club on record to
this effect was placed before tho
House and Senate Appropriations Com
mittees today, as unanimous express
sion from the board OF governors.
The Washington architects believe
that from the standpoint OF prncti>sbil-
ity and architectural treatment the
present slto IL satisfactory. They say
that construction OF the plant would be
an aid rather than dotriment to the
Identification OF tho section involved
and would look Ear letter than fish
wharves or otlIer structures.
The letter from the Washington Arch
itectural Club follows:
THE Washington Architectural Club
has followed with deep interest the
public discussion concerning the loca-
lion OF the proposed power plant for the
Government buildings.
THE BOARD Of governors have unani-
mously concluded, after q careful in
vcstigation into the facts OF the case.
that. from tho standpoint OF practical
bility and architectural treatment. the
present site IL In a satisfactory locality
for the following reasons;
That even though the building VIII
be In close proximity to a feature Of
the development plan OF the city. II VIII
be on ground which IL part OF the
reservation for commercial buildings In
being on the river front. n OF low ele-
walton. and tends TO reduce the appar-
ent height Of the building and stacks,
and. therefore. when future buildings OF
the development scheme are complete
the entire plant. II seems. will be great
ly obscured.
Would Be Aid To Beauty. s.
Furthermore. considering the pro-
posed Identification OF the commercial
reservs ton. II appears that powerhouse
well treated intellectually. would be
an ale to the desired result rather than
a detriment. And. again. Il seems pre-
ferable to have a building which can
be enhanced by a certain amount of
landscape architecture and which would
be a point Of interest TO the public In
the forefront OF this reservation rather
than a fish wharf or similar waterfront
building which exhibits its commercial
use undisguiscd. Certainly n WELL
vcloped machinery generating enormous
power II always an attraction to the
public as well as an educational feature.
Furthermore. the alternate sug-
Restion In the Capitol power plant.
but this 10 subject to the following
objections; II II only two blocks from
tho beautiful House office building
while the proposed plant In about
three blocks from the new Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing and about
four blocks from the proposed mem-
orial to the founders OF the nation.
These are the features Of tho de-
velopment scheme which are nearest
to the new site. Also the ground level
OF the Capitol power plant is about
thirty or forty feet hirher than that
OF the new building, which would
cause tho stacks to project into the
skyline In a more conapicuous man
ner than the proposed scheme.
Problem Not Insurmountable.
Concerning tn question OF the archi-
tectural appearance OF the stacks. II
does not appear that this Ii an insur-
mountable problem. The general ethical.
as well as public. conception OF a power
plant includes. as a matter OF course.
suitable stacks or chimneys. This Is a
problem which In being studied by en-
glneers and architects all over the coun-
try nearly every day and with q high
degree OF success. and II is beloved that
in this case II can be successfully
solved.
"in view of the general miSunder-