Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-11
DEAL ON BUILDING
SITE UNDER WAY
U. S. Enters Negotiations for
Purchase of Square for
Agriculture Edifice.

First steps have heen taken iowa I'd
the new $3.50 600 construction prof
ect Tor the Department OF Agriculture.
with neootiat atoms well started for p,r-
cha So Of square No. 254. between v
and G streets. Linwood place n nd Thir-
teenth street southwest. it became
known today.
This new construction program for
housing In in addition TO the pllrcha SO
the corner Of Tinwood place and e
street southwest. at q cost Of 5000
900. for the department.
Already several offers have bee n
made to the Urea surv from owners
Of land in square 264. in response to-
a request. and officials today seemed
pleased with the prospect that perha pc
the Government may be able TO pur-
chase some Of this property without
having to resort to the delay Ut CON
domination proceedings.
Plans are being developed ny the
supervising architect for the building
to he constructed for the Department
Of Agriculture. with one Of The most
unusual features under considers ton
being the possibility Of constructing
either a tunnel under r street or a
connecting arch of the building over
1t, In order to tie together both parts
of the new administra ton building.
Wings 10 Re Joined.
The two white wings Of the AcrI-
culture Department erected manv
years ago will he Joined by central
building. extending to r street. Some
connection will then he provided for
YNn q c a 90 tn he IL
building across the street. and -
tunnel or overhead passageway are
both under consideration now
Another prospect Of great impor-
lance to the future development Of
the Department of Agriculture
grounds will come up AT the forth
coming meeting Of the Public Build
ines Commission this week. il was
learned today. In addition to pur-
chasing the single square on r street
opposite the site for the central ad-
ministratiOn building. the commission
will consider. II is understood. the
feasibility Of purchasing at this time
the two blocks lying along p street
on either side of the block nov under
negotiation.
Should the commission decide to
purchase these three blocks, looking
"eXtenSible" building authorized nv
Congress. the Government would
shortly come into possession Of that
entire tract Of ground lying between
r and e streets. and exterfrline from
Twelfth to Fourteenth. and including
Linwood place.
"Details to BE Decided,
Plans for the great building Tor the
Department OF Agriculture. which is
10 be one Of the huge monumental
structures to be constructed under the
Federal building progra m. are pro-
crossing steadily. but there still re-
main some tea lures TO he decided. For
insta nee. the original plans developed
several years ago provided for a
dome oyer the central building. There
has been much objection to this on
the part Of several
1t Is pointed out a dome on the
top OF the four-story building would
necessitate large rotunda beneath.
cutting through the entire four Aoors
and taking up valuable space needed
for Offices.
1t Ia not the idea to sacrifice. how.
ever all artistic effect for utility in
the building and architects and ad.
visers still are working on this pha se
Of the project.
ture OF 81 500. 900 during this fiscal
year on the project. the total for
which Ia $3.50. 900. This makes the
total authorization for the Depart.
nent Of Agriculture under the build.
ing bin more than 81. 900 900, incl,,d.
ing purchase Of the Economics Build.
ing, recently effected