The Washington times., 1925-02-21


the final approval Of the Arlington
Memorial bridge bill, which has
passed both Senate and House and
is now in conference, and the $780,
O00, 900 public buildings bill, which
has passed the House and is pend.
ing in the Senate. Both measures
have been approved by the Presi'
dent.
Bill IL Most Important.
In case the public buildings blll
should fail to pass before March a.
it Is almost certain that 1t will be
one of the first large bills to be
called up during the next session,
according to friends of the measure.
There is pressing need for public
buildings in all parts of the coun'
try, and the passage Of such a bill
cannot be put off much longer.
The last public buildings bill was
enacted in 1913, since when not a
single public building has been
erected. The building program
called for at that time was not
completed, because Of rising prices
which rendered the authorized ap.
The work authorized in both the
bridge and public buildings bill will
extend over a period Of many years
the buildings bill six years and
the bridge bill ten.
Completion Of the work on both
bills will bring the establishment Ct
the Mall plan" for the development
Of Washington to its final form.
Boulevard Laid Out.
A mighty boulevard, exceeding
even Pennsylvania avenue in beauty
and dignity, will lead directly from
the Capitol to the Lee Mansion in
Arlington, crossing. the most beauti-
ful bridge in the world. On both
sides Of this boulevard, which will
lie along the present site Of B
street northwest, will stand massive
"manumental buildings, Of which
the New National Museum and
the National Academy Of Sciences.
north of the Lincoln Memorial, are
examples. Both these buildings
were located in conformation to the
Mall plan, as was the George Wash
tngton Memorial, now Under con-
struction at Sixth and b streets
northwest.
Extension and widening of b
street northwest, from the Capitol
to the Lincoln Memorial to a width
Of 100 feet, is an integral part of
the memorial bridge plan and is
authorized in the same bill. The
great boulevard will be cut through
the block south of Pennsylvania
avenue, between John Marshall
place and Sixth street northwest,
where the St. James Hotel now
stands, and, crossing Pennsylvania
avenue at John Marshall place,
will cut directly through the block
between Second street and John
Marshall place, just east Of the
Ford building.
The memorial bridge will start
from a magnificent plaza vest of
the Lincoln Memorial and cross the
river, over the end Of Columbia
Island to the Virginia shore. From
the Virginia end of he bridge,
splendid wide park boulevard, also
provided for in the bridge bill, will
lead directly, through a great n1onu-
mental arch, into the Arlington
Cemetery.
South of the B street boulevard,
running it's entire length, will be
parks-the Mall, the Lincoln Me.
mortal grounds and Potomac Park.
Along the north side, between r
street and Pennsylvania avenue,
will be great public buildings, Of
which the Postoffice Department
and the District Building are the
only ones erected.
The bridge bill provides for the
development of Columbia island,
and the approaches on the Virginia
shore as public parks with dig
nifty and beauty in keeping with
the project. Columbia island is to
he surrounded by a seawall, which
will be filled by dredging from the
river.
VIII Consume Ten Years.
The work on the bridge program,
including b street, the Arlington
Park boulevard, Columbia island,
and widening of Twenty-third street
from Washington circle to the Lin
coin Memorial, is to cover a period
Of ten years. Only $500, 900 is to
be made available the first year,
so that work of preparing for an
actual start on the great task may
be completed.
appropriated for the beginning of
work on the foundations for the
piers Of the bridge. The third year
an additional $2,50O.OOO will be made
available to complete the piers and
start the arches. A third. appro-
priaticn of $2,500.O0O the fourth
year will permit the completion of
the bridge proper. The fifth year
81. 400,0 900 is to be appropriated for
the r street boulevard. Each year
thereafter for five years 81 100000
will be appropriated for the work
of completing the approaches. the
surrounding parks, widening Of
TWenty-third street, development
of Columbia island, and the pur
chase and DEVELOPMENT of the
boulevard and a wide park from
the Potomac river to Arlington.
The public buildings bill author
ICES expenditure Of $4,000, 900 in
six annual installments Of $25s'