Evening star., 1926-12-03
ARCH|TECTSSTUDy
!. NEEDS Of CAPITAL
Handbook Planned to Outline
Requirements for Making
City More Beautiful.

The story of what Washington still
needs to make it the foremost capital
in the world will he circulated
throughout the nation by the Ameri-
can Institute of Architects.
The directors of the institute, who
today are closing a two-day session
at the Octagon House, authorized
the committee on the plan of WASH
ington and environs to prepare a
series OF articles or a handbook,
painting a picture, not of the Ma
tional Capital as it is, but of it's
present requirements and future pos
SibilitieS.
The committee headed by Horace
w. Peaslee of this city, may arrange
10 have some well known writer pre-
pare the series, and efforts will be
made to have the handbook placed
in public schools throughout the
country. Members of the committee
emphasized that they do not con-
template making it mere gulde
book, but a publication dealing with
the further improvement Of the ma
tons capital.
Will Keep Congress Advised.
The directors also authorized the
committee on Washington to do the
following other things.
responsibilities to Washington.
TO keen Congress informed as to the
sentiment of the professional con
Stituency at large on the National
Capital.
construction in Washington along
prorer architectural lines was
brought to the notice, of the directors
of the institute and they adopted a
resolution commencing the action or
the local architects several years ago
in forming an advisory councll, Whlch
seeks to accomplish this result by vol
untary cooperation with those VINO
erect private structures.
The resolution follows:
Resolved. That the board of di-
rectors of the American Institute or
Architects expresses it's appreciation
Of the public service of the Washing
ton architects in the institution and
maintenance of the Architects Ad-
Visory Council, organized for the bet
terment of private buildings in the
National Capital. 1t recognizes the
possibilities in the work, the opportu
nitv to contribute largely to the de-
velopment of the Capital and to sup
plement the work of the Fine Arts
and Planning Commissions, and it
urges upon the individual architect a
full realization of the opportunity ana
of the responsibility.
Opinions Are Advisory.
The advisory council has no
authority to make mandatory rulings,
but merely expresses it's opinion as to
the possibility for Improvement in
the plans that are submitted volun-
tarily to- it. The council meets at
frequent intervals in the office of
capt. Whitehurst, executive officer OF
the Zoning Commission.
In discussing the probable nature
of the proposed handbook on future
Washington. one member of the COM
mittee pointed out, for illustration,
that the architects at this time are
anxious to see a proper development
of the areas surrounding the Capitol
and the White House. The Capitol's
surroundings they feel, viii be
greatly embellished by the proposed
United States Supreme Court build
ing and a new House office building.
They are in sympathy. this member
said, with the contemplated develop
meut of the Pennsylvania avenue
triangle for other public buildings,
and they believe that the squares
surrounding Lafayette Park also
should be properly developed
The directors of the American In
Stitute at the sessions yesterday and
today heard reports from a score of
other committees dealing with ma
tiOnal problems in which architects
are interested. but Milton B. Medary,
1r.. president of the institute, ex-
planned that action on these reports
will not he taken until the directors
meet in ttlanta- Ga, December Z
The conferences here We're merely to
inform the directors of the work of
the various committees, in prepara-
ton for the discussions to be held in
Atlanta.