Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-12
The Temporary" Buildings.


When in 1913 the two large concrete
buildings were erected on the north
ern edge Of Potomac Park for war
purposes 1t was expla ined carefully
that despite the character of the ma
terial used they were only semi,
perma nent." They would be removed
when the emergency had passed But
they were 50 much more substantial
than the buildings definitely regarded
as temporary that had been thrown
up in the parks for war purposes in
a great hurry that much doubt was
felt on the part of those who hoped
to see the public reservations kept
frees Of building operations. These
two buildings We're right in line with
the approaches to the Lincoln Me-
mortal. Since the war ended they
have continued in use and have been
occupied by a succession of offices.
They are now virtually the War-Nayy
annex. with the Shipping Board
housed there as well, and with some
other miscellaneous esta blishments.
They are needed because the Govern
ment'S building equipment is Scant
and inadequate. But it is quite Ger
tain that they will be the last of the
temporary wartime structures to go
when the permanent building program
of the Government has been carried
into effect.
1t has just been disclosed, however,
that these buildings, despite their
durable materials, are not far out of
the class Of the frame and plaster
houses that were erected in a great
rush In other parts in the war time.
Most of those have deteriorated to
the point where they are really unsafe
for occupation, what with sinking
floors and fitting walls and high. per-
centage of fire risk. Owing to the
hurry with which these concrete
buildings were erected in Potomac
Park adequate foundations were not
obtained. The ground on which they
stand is alluvial fill from the river. 1t
weight of any heavy structure. Set
Elements have occurred, indeed have
been going on ever since the build
ings were erected, and the floors are
now in progress replacing these
sunken floors with wooden surfaces
laid upon new layers Of concrete.
Officials of the Office of the superin.
lie parks cannot estimate, it is stated,
how long this process of keeping the
floors at their original level will have
to continue.
A lay opinion on this subject would
be of no value, but it is a fair as.
sumption that the sinking will con.
tinue just as long as the buildings
stand, and that repairs will be neces-
sary for the same length of time. The
laying of new concrete merely adds
to the weight. Perhaps the whole
slab of flooring may possibly come
to rest when it is sunk to the earth
level. and there perhaps remain sta
tionary. This would not be SO bad
If the whole thing went down evenly,
which it probably would not do.
The point of this matter is that
these buildings should be definitely
and specifically classed as temporary
structures, to be RACED at the earliest
possible moment when permanent
housing for government offices has
been provided elsewhere, not in the
public parks. The fact that they are
constructed of concrete should not
cause them to be regarded as other
than makeshift emergency temporary
buildings. They are in the way of the
proper development Of the park. They
do not offer adequate accommodation.
They are not conveniently located.
And finally they will deteriorate stead
lily and with increasing rapidity, ow-
ing to the conditions in which they
were erected and the locations on
which they were placed.