The Washington times., 1919-04-03
WOULD BUILD
HUGE UNION
CIVIC CENTER
Col. R. n. Harper Proposes
Building to House Great Con-
Ventions and Organizations.
ny BILL PRICE.

ny BILL PRICE.
A real big project is proposed for
Washington in the construction Of q
great Union Civic building. to be the
center Of the cOmmunity's activities.
II petty jealousies do not eHguIf It
before Il gets q start, this town may
acquire what leading local men have
known for many years to be its pFin-
cipal need-an immense structure
having an auditorium with q seating
capacity OF not less than 5000. capa-
bic OF accommodating huge conven-
uons and other gatherings Of the
eountry's captains Of industry, sci
ence, finance, business, and profess
siona
And any man acquainted with the
Washington Of today knows that the
tendency % for the location here of
the headquarters Of the representa-
tive associations OF the country's
chief industries and business. Scat
tered about IN cramped little office
rooms. these representatives OF bill
lions OF dollars Of investment are
housed.
See Capital WOrId1s Center.
More and more, too, the leaders Of
the nations huge activities are look
ing to Washington as the center Of
the world In the future, the city
from which will be dictated man
kinds course in nearly all lines Of
endesvor.
Belongs to No Organization.
The proposition belongs to no one
Organization or no one man. il was
broaohed At the meeting Of the Cham
bGF Of Commerce last night Col.
r N. Harper. president Of that or
Eanisation. will outline his views OF
the project In the chambers publica-
tiCn. "The Booster" printed tomorrow. !
P. 7. Moran, former president Of the |
chamber, starts the ball rolling by |
agreeing to subscribe $4,000 to a |
fund.
Both men tell you today that the |
project Is not one OF the chamber /
alone, or that OF any organisation. |
Sincerely they want TO see such q
building. % badly needed in Wash !
ihgton, constructed through united ef-
forts Of the leading civic organiEa-
lions Of this city and Of such national
organizations as are permanently 10
Gated here.
The United States Chamber OF
Commerce, the Board Of Trade, the
Chamber OF Commerce, the CONNER
eta1 Club, Merchants and Manufac-
eufers' Association, National Press
Tanners Council Of America, the
American Bankers Association, all
civic organizations willing to join
are proposed as promoters and faith
era OF the proposition. The idea 10
to ask them to get together in a de-
tarmined effort to erect this build
tnG, which local bankers believe can
bO financed without great difficulty.
BankerI wOuId Locate Here.
II q not generally known that the
American Bankers Association has
been making inquiries with the view
Of locating here, and that other great
national Organizations have been do
ing the same thing. All OF them have
been deferred because space has not
been obtainable.
In the proposed building each or
FanIzation could map out the accom-
modations IL would need and could
financially maintain The National
Press Club proposes to build its own
quarters In the near future. The
Commercial Club is now thinking Of
identically the same thing.
The great building would contain,
ia addition TO fine offices and gigsn-
tic hall, a gymnasium, theater, mod
ern dining rooms, roof garden, baths
and swimming pools. stores on the
street floor for revenue. etc.
Live cities Of the country have SICK
buildings. They are, in many in
stances, municipality owned and are
profitable investments. Atlanta, for
example, considers her great building
the best investment she ever made.
To that city many notable Southern
conventions go because seating ca
pacity 10 TO be had.
Conversational help would probably ]
not be possible for this city, although d
there is no good reason why Congress ,
could not authorize the District gov
sFnment to guarantee such bonds as
Vould have to be issued. That how
ever, 70 not to be depended on. I
TIVE Sftas in view.
CoIaneI Harper was recently In
hormed that 10 is possible to obtain a /
oalection from two splendidly situated
Hftss in the heart Of the city, acceSsi- 8
Die from all directions. Real estate :
men tell him that each of the sites
could be bought Gt reasonable fig Z
ureG =
what So needed is q real big wash :
lngton man 70 head the project and /
stick TO Il until success is had. He :
should not be exclusively attached /
70 any organization He should have I
time and means
With the confidence OF the commu- {
afty and . properly arranged plan he
would give TO Washington an insti-
tuition Of the greatest benefit from
every possible standpoint Is IL not
possible for Washington organizations
70 get together, pick this man and
stand by him to the limit?