Evening star., 1923-10-24
IN TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL v. COLLINS

and s." and he paid $1.95 a square
foot. It is the block between B and
and between goth and 21st streets
| northwest. This last summer board
or disinterested experienced apprais-
rs valued that block at S2.75 q
square foot, which indicates a profit
'3r the government of $4,000. The
anne purchase included six other
blocks adjoining. with a total "un..
'!ned increment" in fifteen months Of
tbout 100000 or more.
" u X
The movement In Congress to con-
s'der general program for develop
ing official Washington began with
the committee Of the Senate headed
by Senator Mcmillan In lS01--follow-
ing the celebration OF the centennial
Of the city. 1t has taken on new life
in recent years through a housing
commission of Congress. headed by
Senator Reed Smoot and Representa-
tive Langley. President Harding
urged action in building, but nothing
materialized President Coolidge has
recently declared himself in support
or continuing appropriation of at
least $5,000.000 year TO construct
he nn"dad buildings until the well
considered existing plans are COM
pleted and the departments of gov
eminent are housed in their own
buildings.
Technical authorities say that it is
mnracticahle to spend more than one
million dollars year on one project:
more than that is not efficiently spent.
That would mean that a three mil
lton-dollar building should be three
! bui dinRs might be under way at
once. The temporary buildings erect
ed for war use are giving out. and
none will last more than eight years
more, in spite of heavy upkeep. They
are now relieving the pressure for
space.
Not merely the scattered depart
nents need buildings; there are other
reeds no less pressing. In that class
Is the archives building. There Is a
divergence OF opinion as 70 the econ
omy of erecting a new and separate
building in which to preserve the
records OF the government and the
priceless historical documents or to
utilize the court of the Pension build
ing by erecting therein million
flo'ars' worth OF steel shelves.
The argument is advanced that the
Pension building is "fireproof." but 1t
Is generally ~u'ed bv fire underwrft-
ers that nothing is fireproof wherein
are housed many workers with guam
titles of furniture and papers
Another plan proposes granite
building for the archives alone. to be
erected on the corner Of 18th street
northwest and the Mall. west of
the National Museum, where the gov
ernment owns the site.
r. = d y
The Departments Of Justice. Com
merce and Labor are all in rented
property. and II is proposed TO give
each a suitable building on 18th
street between Pennsylvania avenue
and the Mall-a site now owned by
the government. The Supreme Court.
now occupying the old Senate cham
Der in the Capitol. will be given a
classic building near the White House.
: The State, War and Navy building Is
overcrowded. although both the Army
and Navy are overhowtng into stucco
buildings of the war construction.
The plan will locate a new State
building facing Lafayette Park. OPP
posite the present State, War and
Navy building. A tunnel will connect
, IL with the White House.
/ The Treasury Annex will eventually
extend to lake all the square facing
! Lafayette Park where now stand
| the Shubert- Belasco Theater and the
! Cosmos Club.
| These plans have the approval of
! the Fine Arts Commission together
/ with the advisers among the finest
archit erts of the country. The gen
| eral arraneemen is in strict accord
with the famous LEnfant plan of
| 1892, on which Washington was laid
| out.
Copyright. 1923, by Paul y. Collins.)