The Washington times., 1919-08-30
u. S. TO
BEGIN BUILDING

One Of the biggest effbrts Of the
Government since the war has been
the Build Now campaign. The Gov
ernment has urged with increasing
force that builders and contractors
begin the immediate erection Of the
homes and apartments needed by the
country.
There is little question concerning
the worth of this Governmental effort,
That construction in large volume is
greatly needed by the country and
that numerous BENEFITS are sure to fol-
low the Inauguration of a nationwide
building campaign is universally ad-
mitted, but many builders are asking
the question: "Why does the. Govern.
ment not practice what-it preaches?"
The delay which has marked Gov
ernment construction and the apathy
which seems still 20 surround Federal
building projects are tending to
arouse the suspicion OF contractors
and builders everywhere. They are
asking for the reason. II it is too
costly for the Government to build,
why should private enterprise under
take that which the Federal authori-
ties deem unwise to do at this time?
tivity IL Is remarked that IL is ten
years since the Government has ap-
proved the plans for the new buildings
for the Department OF State, Justice,
Labor, and Commerce, and yet no steps
| have yet been taken toward the erec-
tion OF any Of these buildings. They
were planned to meet an urgent need
IN the National Capital. The need for
them has increased greatly in the In
terval.
Official Washington is hampered for
want Of space. During the war quar-
ters in every building and hotel in
Washington were commandeered for
the use Of Government departments.
The demand for space Is greater than
before
1t was pointed out by several build
ers last week that the failure to build
! these buildings at the outset has
proved costly, especially in the last
two years, and this increasing cost
viii continue until they have been
started and completed.
Many Buildings Planned.
Nearly every WelI-known architect
in the country entered the competi-
ton for these Government structures
Three New York firms were successful
In winning the prizes awarded to the
designers OF the accepted structures.
The Department Of Justice building
design accepted by the Government is
the work OF Dom Barber, the Depart
ment Of State building is that OF
Arnold W. Brunner. and the Depart
ment OF Commerce and Labor building
Is by York & Sawyer. The three
buildings face the Capitol grounds.
Plans Kept In Archives.
The plans for these buildings are in
the archives Of the Treasury Depart
ment Their construction might have
been started several times, because
omnibus appropriations provided for
them, If the heads OF the various de-
partments wanted them put up.
The George Washington Memorial
building was designed by Tracy G.
Swartout. The Government will bear
half the cost OF this structure, the
other half to be paid by the public.
This building will have an auditorium
holding 5000 persons, and the upper
floors are divided into reception
rooms, each room named after a State
in the Union. The structure will be
used for great public gatherings. Con-
tractors and builders are anxious to
know when work will begin on any
or all Of these public structures.