Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-24
Mr.. BAKER FAVORS
RAz|NG Of STACKS
|NPOTOMAC PARK
Secretary Will Remove Build
ings When No Long,
er Required.

Secretary Baker of the War Depart
ment intimated today he lis in SYM
pathy with the movement to raze the
group of unsightly wooden shacks
|along the Speedway in East Potomac
Park Many of the buildings are now
being used as storehouses for surplus
government office furniture. and as
reclamation shops for the ''reha billta-
ton" of such furniture and ONCE
equipment.
Mr. Baker said he would have the
barracks in East Potomac Park re-
moved in quick order when they are
no longer required for the storage OF
public property.
g'neer officer in charge of public
buildings and grounds. said that he
had no Jurisdiction over the shacks.
while I appreciate the practical
difficulties Of the situation" Maj.
Ridley said. Il would be plea sed to
have the buildings removed as quick
iy, as other accommodations can be
obtained for the storage of the mate
rial elsewhere than in the park.
1t was pointed out by government
officials that the buildings are insult
able for the storage of valuable gov
eminent property. There is not enough
room. in the first place. they said.
One official said today that approx
mately 500 truck loads of unused fur
niture are occupying floor space in
the various departments because there
is no room in the barracks to store 1t.
Central storehouse Needed.
What is needed urgently, 1T was
said, is a central storehouse. suitable
for the governments storage and rec
lamation needs No appropriation has
been made for such warehouse, and
the government departments are com
PEELED to make the best Of the facili-
ties afforded by the barracks.
1t was said that there are 140.2S3
square feet of floor space in the bar
racks. every inch of which is used in
storing furniture and office appur-
tenances.
1t was suggested that in at least
two buildings occupied by govern
ment departments there is floor space
sufficient to house all the furniture
not in use
While the government is trying to
find suitable storage space elsewhere
there seems to be little indication
that the unslightly shacks will be
torn down in the near future and
that section of East Potomac Park
beautified according to the plans out
lined some time ago by the superin-
tendent of buildings and grounds.
Seek Typewriter Repairmen.
1t was pointed out today that Uncle
Sam has thousands of typewriters
left over from wartime use, but can
not get enough typewriter repairmen
to put the machines in condition for
reissue to the various government
departments and offices.
An act of Congress requires that
all of these excess partially used ma
chimes shall be turned. over to the
general supply committee at the
Treasury Department and thoroughly
overhauled for reissue to the depart
ments.
pairmen is $1.400 year, in addition
TO the increase Of $50 a month grant
ed by Congress-. Full Information and
application blanks may be obtained
from the Civil Service Commissio
In statement issued by the COM
mission today it is said that thou
sands of typewriting machines were
purchased by the War Department
and other war branches of the gov
eminent. and were left on the hands
of the government when the war
! ended.
Auction Sale Tomorrow.
The general supply committee will
hold public auction sale tomorrow at
noon at the East Potomac Park bar
racks. Office furniture, automobile
trucks and tires. scrap leather and
metal will be knocked down to the
highest bidder.
Immediately after this sale a num-
Der of unserviceable motor trucks will
be sold at the Treasury garages, 18th
and E streets, following which
quantity Of scrap metal and other ma
terials will be sold, at the old land
Office building.