Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-04-17

Of the Bureau of Agricultural
Economics, NJ. c. Belts Of the Bureau
OF Public Roads, Harry Cooling of the
Bureau OF Animal Industry, and r.
M. Reese of the Office of Personnel
and Administration. Mr.. Reese is to
act as secretary Of the committee.
The committee is expected to meet at
an early date to begin the considera-
ton of the various plans submitted by
the Treasury Department.
In announcing the appointment of
the committee. Secretary Jardine said:
AN important matter which should
receive attention Is the question of
proper housing of the various bureaus
and offices of the department I am
fully aware of the present unsatis-
factory situation in this respect, and
expect to do everything in my power
to bring about an improvement. The
Treasury Department, having in mind
the possibility of definite action with
respect to building program at the
next session of Congress. has called
upon this department to consider
various detailed plans which have
been suggested to relieve the housing
situation in the Department Of Agri-
culture"
Expect Enactment of Bill.
Both Secretary Jardine and Secre-
tary Mellon have in mind the need
of being ready for the immediate
prosecution Of the building program
for the Department of Agriculture
when Congress shall put through the
proposed appropriations for Govern
ment buildings in the District of Co
lumbia-the proposed $50 900 900 build
ings bill for the District, which was
n TFsfa ~ nnI
which had the hearty support of
President Coolidge. 1t is expected
that this measure. or a similar one,
Will be revived at the next session
OF Congress. Senator Smoot of Utah,
chairman of the Public Buildings
Commission. is confident that a build
1ngs bill will pass. If it does the
Department of Agriculture is one of
the first for which provision will be
made. Senator Smoot, reporting TO
Congress as chairman of the Public
buildings Commission, some time ago,
said
The Department of Agriculture is
the worst housed institution in the
city. 1t Is now occupying % buildings
scattered over the city and many of
them are poorly adapted for Office pur-
poses"
Buildings Widely Scattered.
The actual number of buildings now
occupied by the department, how
ever. is 46, and, as was pointed out
at the department today, they are
not in many instances fireproof.
There are some of them miles away
from the office of the Secretary, and
much valuable time is lost by heads
or bureaus who must go to the ad-
ministration building for conference
with the head of the department or
with other bureau chiefs. For ex-
ample, the fixed nitrogen research
laboratory is located on Massachu-
sets avenue, approximately miles
from the administration building: the
new bureau of home economics is To-
Gated in the Government Hotels, on
the Union Station plaza, a mile and
a quarter from the administration
building; the Forest Service is at gao
+ street, three-quarters of a mile
away, and the Weather Bureau is at
Twenty-fourth and NJ streets, miles
distant.
No building has been done by the
Government for the Department of
Agriculture here since 1903, when the
two wings of the proposed new buiId.
ing in the Mall were finished. The
present administration building was
erected in 1868. 1t is not fireproof.
yet many of the departments most
valuable records are stored there. Fur
thermore. it is badly overcrowded to-
day.
Opposes First Scheme.
In his letter to Secretary Jardine
now made public, Secretary Mellon
said that three schemes were con
sidered by the Treasury officials for
the Department of Agriculture build
lngs. The first scheme already re-
1erred to, he said, was included be.
cause 1t Is in accordance with the
program of the former Public Build
lnss Commission, submitted in 1918.
Mr. Mellon said, however, that while
IL might be carried out in the future.
1t is eliminated from consideration
at this time on account of cost, time
required In carrying it out and in
adequate space when COMPLETED y
This is the scheme which wouId com.
plete the building for which the wings
nave been constructed and make a
rectangle of it. 1t would REQUIRE the
purchase of several blocks and the
relocation of B street 200 feet farther
south.
secretary Mellon in his letter speaks
more favorably of the second scheme
presented, which calls for the cree.
tion or center pavilion connecting
the present two wings, and of a mod
ern office building on the south side
OF b street Immediately in the rear
or the main building. The proposed
once building would be entirely
screened, he said, by the main build.
ing. He states also that this second
scheme would make ample provision
for the housing needs of the depart
ment. The cost of the commercial
type building proposed would be
$3,500,OO0; the construction of the
center pavilion for the main build.
ing S2,000,000, and the cost of the
block on which the commercial build.
ing would stand is estimated at
$500
Discusses Third Scheme.
With regard to the third scheme.
which looks to the removal of MANY
of the research bureaus of the de.
partment to a tract of land on the
outskirts of the city, while the main
administration building in the Mall is
to be completed as now planned. Sec.
rotary Mellon said:
considering the present downtown
traffic congestion and an increase in
this congestion by the proposed build.
lngs Tor the Departments Of Justice
OF Commerce and of Labor, the ques.
ton of locating some of the activities
Of the Department of Agriculture on
tract of land some distance from
the center of the city deserves con.
sideration. OF course, the admfnistra.
ton building of the Department of
Agriculture should be maintained in
it's present location, but it may be
found that many of the bureaus com.
prising that department might func.
ton equally as well some distance