The Washington times., 1925-10-06

Projects Under Way to Cost
More Than 500, oO0, 900
d Year

The value Of public and private
building in the National Capital
estimated in excess Of 100000, 900
for the coming year. is expected
to mount steadily during the next
five years, in the opinion Of Off
Gals and private builders directly
interested in the development Of
Washington.
Since the 100000, 900 estimate
was reached, last spring, several
additional projects have been
launched which may bring the
totai several millions of dollars
above this figure, II j. stated.
Work Under Way Here
There are now under actual con-
struction within the District Of
Columbia, public and semi public
building projects, including building
programs which may extend over
period of years, totaling in value
$50, 348, 1888, Of which $4, 113,7 $50
worth have been undertaken since
July i all or these being strictly
public in character.
The present ESTIMATED total Of
public, semi piIblic and private
building during the present fiacal
year. I S108s 34S, 1888.
The value OF construction Of a
memorial character which may be
undertaken here during the next
few years is expected to be higher
than during any decade in the
history of the city.
Plans are now being made. for
CONSTRUCTION in the National Capital
OF memorials to Woodrow Wilson,
Theodore Roosevelt, William Jen-
nings Bryan and General Nelson
NJ. Miles, none Of which were taken
into account at the time previous
estimates were made.
Buildings Bill to be Passed. :
There is a strong probability, in
the opinion Of members OF Congress
and Government officials connected
with the proposed legislation, that
Congress during the coming session
will pass without substantial change
the public buildings bill which the
House passed last session.
This bill carries $150,0O0,00O APP
preparation, of which approximately
one-third is to be utilized for con-
Columbia. The pressure for pas
sage of such a. bill is growing
steadily stronger and members OF
the Senate and House Public Build
ings Committees have planned to
reintroduce the bill early during
the coming session. The project
was endorsed last session by Secrs-
tary of the Treasury Mellon, who
sent to Congress q letter pointing
out the Importance and economic
advisability of the passage Of such
a bill.
In case passage Of this bill is de-
1ayed, it is stated, Senator Reed
Smoot OF Utah will reintroduce as
a separate measure, his bill of last
session providing more than $6.000..
900 for the immediate construction
of a ffreproof modern office build
ing for the Internal Revenue Blu
reau, in which priceless income tax
records, now imperiled by fire haz-
ards in temporary wooden build
ings, may be stored. Loss Of these
records, according to Treasury Off
cia1s. would cost the Government
more than the entire proposed
building program for Washington.
Statues Being Erected
If the public buildings bill should
pass this year, it is regarded as
certain Congress will also pass the
Underhill bill of last session pro-
viding SIS, 100000 for the purchase
of land south of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. as sites for public buildings
Many smaller memorial statues
and monuments are now under
in the District and the
is expected to be further
during the coming year.
The Meade Memorial, in the
Garden, is nearing COM
pletlon, as is the Ericsson Memorial
I'M Potomac Park. While work on
the Titanic Memorial has been
suspended, following
of the foundation, but
Il is expected that this memorial
will be completed during the COM
ing year.
The memorial to General San
Martin, hero of the Argentine, is
now being erected in Judiciary
SQUARE. Serenity in Meridian
Hill Park, has recently been COM
pleted. -.
The great Arlington Memoriaf
Bridge project, largest Of all single
works in recent history of Wash.
ngton, involving a. total OF $14,-
$50 900, Is now going forward as
.apidly as possible. Bids for
S4.5O0,O00 worth of pier and abut-
nent foundations will be asked
within the next few weeks. Re-
of Columbia island u well
lnder weE-