Evening star., 1926-09-23
President and Cabinet Off,
ficers Counted On to Back
Plan Before Congress.
PURCHASE NOW WOULD
RUSH BUILDING PROGRAM
Architects Studying Proposal to
Erect Commerce Offices Facing
18th Street, Near Treasury.
BY WILL u. KENNEDY.

Congress will he asked soon after 1t
meets. two months hence, to author
ize the immediate purchase, under the
$50 100000 public building program.
of all the privately owned land In the
triangle south of Pennsylvania
avenue between Sixth street and F'lf-
teenth, the Avenue and r street. All
this land was included in the McMil-
Ian Park Commissions plan in 1901.
TO be used as sites for imposing Gov
ernment buildings TO line Pennsyl-
vania avenue.
This recommendation to Congress
probably will have the support of
President Coolidge, Secretaries Mellon.
Hoover and fardine, the Public
Building Commission, the National
Capital Parks and City Planning Com
mission and the Commission of Fine
Arts.
If this is done, then with the acqui-
sition of six other parcels OF land on
the north and south side of the Ave
nue., in connection with the widening
and strengthening of street, as
already authorized In the Arlington
Bridge act, and on which faVorabie
consideration already has been given
Nv Tile Sctldlt anu IIVOoO
or public buildings and grounds, all
privately owned land between the
Capitol and the Treasury, Pennsyl-
vania avenue and the Mall viii come
into possession of the Government.
Discussed by Cabinet Officers.
ACQUISITION of all the land in this
triangle, so as to expedite the long
cherished plan for cleaning up an
unsightly area in the heart OF the city,
to provide for an orderly and CO.
ordinated placement of public build
| ings. to avoid piecemeal deals through
condemnation proceedings on indi-
| vidual sites. to make promptly possible
! the removal of the entire market area,
| wits more advantageous relocation
nearer the center of population, and
/ to provide a more fitting frontage for
| the Mall with the development of B
| street. was discussed this week at the
| meeting of cabinet members with the
/ Public Buildings, Capital Planning and
| Fine Arts commissions. Secretaries
| Mellon and Hoover supported the plan
/ and showed a desire to he helpful in
| the development of the Capital.
| Secretary Mellon expressed ideal
| istic views for the building up and
/ establishment of the Capital, and to-
| day confirmed that he would support
| the plan of immediate purchase III
/ special study of this area. now being
made by direction of that conference.
warrants such action. This study is
/ to show the total amount of property
and the probable cost under straight
| purchase or condemnation proceed
| ings, and plan of closing certain
| streets in the triangle and possibly
| opening up others, so as to provide
| the most advantageous sites for the
contemplated public buildings.
AS basis for this recommendation
to Congress, II was explained at the
conference, that the erection of the
new public buildings probably will
not be possible for about two years,
due to the fact that the working force
in the office of the supervising archi-
tect has not been sufficient to get the
plans prepared. and due also to the
fact that condemnation proceedings
to acquire sites determined upon have
been slow.