Evening star., 1923-03-25

trict go"-
New Home Proposed for ernment
District Government. na~n nUa.o hla,. n"'
compelled for sosd many years To
occupy naakeshift g. arters, in rented
premises, until in tfrs fullness OF time
1t was enabled to nlave into its pres
eat handsome permanent home. The
situation Is thus described in The
Star Of March 81, 1873:
I'm the deficiency bill whichsbe-
came a law March is the following
appropriation:
For the purchase by the United
states OF the interest of the District
OF Columbia in the present City Hall
building in Washington, now used
solely for government purposes. such
sum as may be determined by three
impartial appraisers 10 be selected hy
the Secretary Of the Interior. not ex.
ceeding $4,000. the same to be applied
by said District only Tor the cree
ton Of suitable building for the
district Offices; and the governor and
BOARD or public works are author
ized, If they deem it advisable for
that purpose, to make arrangements
70 secure sufficient land fronting OF
Pennsylvania and Louisiana avenues
between 'th and 9Th streets
Under this act the Secretary OF
the Interior has appointed Hon
Montgomery D. Leggett, commissioner
OF patents, George S. Gideon and A. A.
Homer, appraisers, to report to him
whether or not the Districts interest
In the present City Hall building 81
worth $4,000. If they report favor
ably that sum will be Immediately
paid TO the District authorities. The
present City Hall building has been
constructed mainly by the City OF
Washington. with one appropriation
made by the United States, and ac-
cordtng to the memorial of the gov
ernor and the board of public works
to Congress, by reason Of which the,
trict had expended upon the property
s14s.45129
The appraisers cannot we'll value
the Districts interest in the buildings
! States at less than 100000 and
$4,000. or about the amount of the
Districts expenditure thereon, but
LAS by the act OF Congress the
$4,000 is only to be applied for the
: erection OF a new District govern
board Of p1b 6hss 5as Saye and
engagements with the Washington
Market Company, by which the com7'
pany has surrendered front the land on
F; Pennsylvania and Louisiana avenues
| between 7th and eth streets. and the
| rental which is due from the market
| company to the District for the sup
! port of the poor has been eQuItably
! apportioned between the District and
the company, according 10 the valu-
alton of the land as heretofore fixed
! BY the District appraisers for pur-,
! poses OF taxation. The arranRemenl
J has been fully consummated. the Dis
! trict taking possession of the prop
/ erty, the work Of excavatinE for lay
| ing the foundation has commenced.
! and before next winter our citizens
| may expect to see. we'll advanced. 4
| District government building in ev
cry way worthy OF the capital. II IS
the intention OF the District author
ities TO provide for all the District
! offices IN this building, and also 10
J construct a large hall. such as is
/ indispensably necessary in this city
! 1.-THE liberal action of Congress II
: making the appropriation for the pu&-
chase Of the City Hall building. and
+: the prompt action OF the governor
| and the board of public works in
securing the benefits of the appro-
! priation, and taking steps to erect a
! public Distract building upon the
most available and eligible open space
, in the city, are to be highly COM
! apd0Ap