The Washington times., 1917-12-14
us. TO BUILD
BARRACKS IN
POTOMACPARK
FOR CLERKS
ny BILL PRICE

ny BILL PRICE.
Great barracks in Potomac Park to
accommodate the thousands of new
clerks to come to Washington are to be
built 50 soon as official action can be
taken A
The District Council Of Defense and
the District Commissioners. both work
ing upon the housing proposition, have
practically reached the conclusion that
barracks construction Is the only i'm
mediate solution Of the problem causing
the national and local governments and
numerous civic and religious organiza-
tons OF Washington much labor and
study.
The investigation so far conducted by
the District Council OF Defense reveals
that Washington will reach the limit Of
ability to care for incoming Government
employees In a few months, though there
is no present danger Of anybody going
homeless. BY the time barracks can be
finished they will be needed.
Houses For FanIIIes.
II the new clerks came to Wash
iDgton with families 1t would be
easier to handle them as there are
still houses to be had and more are
to be put in shape by owners and
agents as quickly as possible. But
the majority OF the new employees are
single men and women who want
rooms, boarding houses, or small
apartments. They will sooner or
later send for their mothers and
fathers and take up houses and this
will leave rooms for new ones, but the
outlook 10 that in three or four
months rooms in this city will be
scarce except as homes are opened.
The District Commissioners have
made an appeal TO Washington people
TO open their homes for newcomers
and this appeal will be renewed and
emphasized as necessity arises. OF
hcials feel that there will be generous
response whenever the pinch actually
arrives.
1t is expected that official recon-
mendation for the speedy construction
OF large barracks will soon be made
10 the National Council of Defense
and in turn by that body to Congress,
with the request for prompt action In
the way OF appropriation. so that an
other winter will not come without
thorough preparation.
Delay Considered Unwise.
at is not considered wise to delay,
In view of conditions, and plans for
permanent construction by the Gov
ernnent are out OF question owing
to difficulties OF getting material and
labor to handle big Jobs requiring
time to prepare for and complete.
The details OF the proposed bar
racks construction will have to be
worked out by the Council OF Ma
tional. Defense altar cpnsultation
with governmental depGrtments and
the civil service TO ascertain how
-. ka hN~
the executive departments in the
next year.
Millions OF dollars will be required
for the work. The material for tenn
porary buildings can be had with
out great trouble and the barracks
can be quickly put up when the
money Is available. It is possible
that there are funds at the disposal
of the council or OF the President
that may be available without having
to go to Congress-
Potomac Park Is decided upon as
the best spot for the barracks for
the principal reason that 1t is within
easy walking distance of the war
and navy and other departments in
most need of clerks. To place the
barracks away from the center of
the city would add to the strain on
the street railway lines, already un-
Sble 10 serve the public as II should
be served. The buildings would be
temporary. to be torn down at the
close Of the war, thus removing SER
ious objections by the Fine Arts Com
mission and others whose aim is the
protection and development OF the
beauty Of Washington. No other Gov
ernment reservation near the depart
ments would be large enough, it was
} said today.
Barracks Mostly for Males.
The barracks will presumably be
almost wholly for male employees of
the Government women's orgsniza-
tions of Washington will continue
their endeavors to place young women
coming here in good homes. They be-
lieve the home influence is best for
these girls, and they believe that or
ganized coordination OF all present
agencies at work for housing women
will be brought about, so as to leave
no doubt as to caring for many thou
sands more OF women.
The barracks idea would appeal to
young men, and would bring them to-
gether for training along lines OF
beneft to the Government.
All local organizations working on
the housing OF newcomers are con.
tinuinE their efforts. the District
Council OF Defense not yet being
ready to take over the entire work.
Many OF the organizations will perma-
nently continue, at the request and
desire OF the District Council, their
. services being Indispensable under
) present circumstances and Tie certain
demands OF the future.