Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-28
State Buildings in Washington
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

The project to have all the States
! in the Union erect buildings in Wash
| ington will receive new impetus next
| month. The governors of the AZ
| commemorative will be in this city
/ March 1925 at the invitation of Pres
! ident Coolidge. and advantage will be
| taken of their presence here to fur
Their the State buildings movement.
| First Of all. it is expected that
Congress will take the necessary
| action to bring about q conference
| between the governors and a con-
| gressional committee, and, second. n
dinner will be given in honor of the
/ state executives by the various civic
orga nizations of Washington. At
these affairs the governors will be
informed concerning all the phases
Of the project and will be AFFORDED
! opportunity to express their views
| Of the movement, which Is regarded
as the most thoroughly national en-
terprise Of it's kind that has ever
| been proposed.
The First Suggestion.
Col. Robert y. Harper first sug-
eested the state buildings idea l8
| Years apo when he was president OF
! Inc local Chamber of Commerce. lie
/ renewed the suggestion subsequehtiF
! in his annual reports, but Wheh the
! World War came on 1t was oecloeo
/ to hold it in allegiance until times
and conditions were more propi'lous'
Recently a committee was created,
ritb col Harper as chairman, TO
undertake a revival of national IN
terest in the project and to further
! it in every possible way.
! This committee includes the heaoS
of all the civic organizations or the
! CITY. former members or congress
now resident in Washington and otner
nublic.spirted citizens who nave peeh
ronsnicI,ous in all activities tending 10
Tho development of Washington as
the most truly national of all the
worlds capitals.
| "Covernors of several States have
already indicated their active interest
; in the proposal said Col. Harper re-
Gently. I'VE are hopeful that wnen
we get all the governors together
here next month we shall De aoie 10
present united gubernatorlal rom
. "a Congress and to the country. we
Relieve that they will see that this IL
not merely a proposal for the de-
! veIonment and betterment or wash
| inpton. although that is something In
| which they are all interested. F'unda-
| mentally this is an undertaking 10
clarity each and every state, to al
/ vance their commercial and lnoustflal
| nroeresS along permanent hhes' 10
| teu the world the story or thelr nat
llral resources and to perpetuate 'ne
record OF accomplishments OF their
citiZenry."
Bill Being Prepared.
| bill Is now being drafted lot 'ne
| onaideration of Congress tha''
adopted, will be the first step toWaiu
| tho conS1mmation Of the big project.
Philip c. Campbell, former Repre-
sentative from Kansas and now resi-
dent of Washington, is preparing the
measure and expects to have 1t COM
p,eted by the time the governors are
| in the city next month.
| While it's exact provisions are not
known. it is understood that In a
| general way It contemplates complete
| cooperation between the Federa GOV
eminent and the several States. me
Federal Government Is expected to
provide the ground upon which the
| buildings are to he erected, while
! state appropriations will cover the
| cost of the buildings and the exhlplts'
/ the properties to remain non-laXape'
both as to local and Federal taxes
| II is estimated that at least 300 acres
will he required to insure ample
SPACE for each building and It's sur
| roundings and TO provide for streets'
avenues, parking. etc.
1t is suggested that to avoid CONNECT
of local ideas and tastes and to guaran'
tee appropriate results, commission
be created that must approve the ar
Ichitecture of the various buildings ana
| the development OF the tract allotteu
| to each State, and that Will nave super
| vision of the maintenance or the Whole
project. The cost Of maintenance, IL
seems generally agreed, should be pro-
rated between the Federal Govern
ment and the States.
Distinctive Buildings.
| Each building, it is assumed, while
i conforming to uniform requirements,
will be distinctive architecturally and
| in its materials will he essentially rep
Iresentative of the State. For example,
as pointed out by Col. Harper. Yer
mont will probably erect its building
of Vermont granite, with its interior
trimmed with Vermont marble, while
Indiana would use Indiana limestone.
presented in it's most attractive guise.
Tennessee. doubtless. would have its
building bea utif1ed by its varied prod
ucts OF marble, and similarly with
Georgia, Alabama, Colorado and other
States.
1t is not generally known. but none
the less fact, that Virginia has mar