Evening star., 1927-05-02

feeders, this congestion will increase
unless adequate attention be given to
the distribution of traffic at this point.
I'm connection with this develop.
ment the Commission of Fine Arts
suggests that the street cars be
removed altogether from Fifteenth
street and that the route shall be
from Pennsylvania avenue by Four
teenth street to New York avenue.
Ample Open Courts.
"5. In regard to the treatment of
the triangle itself, east and west
streets may be disregarded as open
streets. Provision for the necessary
passage Of vehicles and pedestrians
may be secured, as in the case of the
Louvre and other buildings in Paris,
by carrying passages through the
buildings themselves. This will en-
able buildings to be created of size
commensurate with the dignity of the
Government and it's functions, These
buildings should have ample open
courts treated so as to give two fronts
to the buildingS-an interior front and
an exterior front. The courts should
not be used for the parking of automo-
bileS as is now customary in public
building courts, or for the erection of
subordinate structures, which disturb
the serenity of the courts themselves.
On the contrary, the landscape treat
ment should be developed in high de-
gree.
Certain north and south streets
must be carried from Pennsylvania
avenue through the Mall; for ex
ample, Fourteenth street, Twelfth
street and Ninth street. Within the
large areas so created opportunities
are given for the development of
courts such as those of the Palais
Royal in Paris, the Louvre and other
monumental structures of that city.
&c. The plans for the new public
buildings have as yet not been submit
ted to the Commission of Fine Arts,
with the exception of the central por-
ton of the building for the Depart
ment of Agriculture, the plans for
which provide for the completion of
a building approved by the temporary
commission which preceded the crea-
ton of the Commission of Fine Arts.
This commission therefore suggests
that pending the passage of the De-
ficiency bill the best interests of all
concerned will be subserved by the
consideration of a general plan for the
treatment of the entire area from
will include the establishment of tho
fundamental principles above outlined
"7. The Commission of Fine Arts
respectfully suggests that the area
between B street Pennsylvania avenue,
Fourteenth street and Fifteenth street,
be treated as a unit; and that there
be no separation along ID street of
the building intended for the Depart
ment of Justice and the building in
tended for the Department of Com
merce, but that necessary passage
ways shall be provided through the
single building to occupy that entire
area.
Economy of Space Seen.
"8. The Commission of Fine Arts
calls your attention to the fact that
under the plan herein outlined not
only will the dignity Of the buildings
be promoted, but also great economy
Of space will result by reason of the
fact that the upper floors will be con-
tinuous and the various Government
activities can have adequate ex-
pansion without being confined within
the narrow limits imposed by separate
buildings of comparatively small size.
In this way unequal expansion of the
various activities of the Government
can be provided for. Such expansion
will not be possible if the buildings
are in small units. Moreover, there
will be economy in reducing the num-
Der of facades, which should have spe-
cial treatment of high class. In
creating greater frontage it will be
possible to attain simplicity, which Is.
after all, the fundamental essential of
n Identified StrIctIIrP
80. The Commission of Fine Arts
has prepared sketch plans for such a
treatment as Is herein suggested, and
the commission will be pleased to dis
cuss these plans with the representa-
tives of the Treasury Department"
Many of the essential features of
the plan were recently discussed by
the Fine Arts Commission with the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. The former body now
has before it plans for the Internal
Revenue Building at Tenth and C
streets, which are not yet approved
Plans for other Government structures
in the triangle have not been laid be-
fore the Fine Arts Commission.
Some months ago Secretary Hoover
made it known that the new Com
merce Department building is to have
parking space within its walls for all