Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-25
BUILDING PROGRAM
ADVANCES FAST.
Additional Appropriations Al
ready Approved by Con-
gresS for Work.

The great Federal building program
in Washington now is making rapid
progress in its three principal phases
--IeciSla ton, architectural plans and
actual operations.
Additional appropriations already
have been approved by the Seventeen
Congress and President Coolidge. New
legislation Is pending and Slated for
early enactment. New plans and
sketches have been submitted by the
Board of Architectural Consutants
and the Treasury Department. Yes
terday the third steam shovel to
swing into action in the building pro-
gram here took its first mouthful Of
earth out of the Department of Agri-
culture site. The other two. shovels
are in the midst of excavations for
the Department of Commerce and
Internal Revenue Building
Thus with millions of dollars already
authorized and appropriated. the pro-
gram which originally intended for
Washington to spend $4,000 900 over
a period of five years, TO provide for
the housing of the Government bust
ness. here. Is Well under way, with
prospects. according to pending legis-
lation. OF being substantially ampliied
New Sketches Presented.
New sketches and drawings Of
several parts Of the proposed develop
ment were presented officially to the
Treasury Department and to the
Public Buildings Commission. both OF
which last night authorized their pub
location today.
These sketches disclose in clear
perspective and in more detail than
any previous ones the proposed de-
velcpment OF the so-called Triangle
between Pennsylvania avenue and the
Mall. This most comprehensive
sketch also discloses the relationship
OF the entire triangle TO the Mall as
II will look with the Botanic Garden
moved from its present location to the
new site, southwest of the Capitol
grounds.
In this view of the entire triangle
Is shown the huge Department of
Commerce Building In the fore
Sround along Fifteenth street. for
which excavation has started. Di-
recIy TO the east along 3 street are
in order the structures for the De-
partment of Labor and Interstate
Commerce Commission. for which,
as yet. however. no construction ap-
preparation has been made. Beyond
the Interstate Commerce Commission
Building and facing on B street be-
tween Tenth and Twelfth streets is
the Internal Revenue Bureau Build
ing. for which Congress already has
appropriated money and excavation for
which has started.
Tall, Classical Front.
Eastward of Internal Revenue is
the Archives Building. also appro-
priated for by Congress. This site
is bounded by Ninth and Tenth streets.
Pennsylvania avenue and B street.
The Archives structure is shown as
a tall, classical-front building. fac
ing on Tenth street, but hemmed In
on the other three sides by build
ting, the use of which has not as
yet been designated.
Next in order eastward. Is the pro- |
posed Department of Justice, which |
presents it's U-shaped facade to the |
Mall. on what is intended TO be the |
axis of the Mall. Ia this axis can |
be seen the proposed development of |
gardens and pools. Justice is placed |
on the site of the present Center |
Market, which Senator Smoot, in a |
bin introduced in this Congress. pro- |
poses 10 stop within year. in order |
10 clear the way for the building |
program.
The structure indicated for the |
point Of the triangle is not as yet |
designated az to use.
The irregular shaped structure. |
which runs between the circular and |
rectangular plazas and extends with |
a frontage along Pennsylvania ave- |
nue.. is generally designated for "in- |
dependent establishments"
Although no final decision has |
been made concerning the use OF |
the present District Building and |
the Post Office Building. which now
stand in the triangle. the plans as
drawn provide for structures eventu-
ally TO harmonic with the whole tri-
angle plan. Senator Smoot. chair
man OF the Public Building Commits
sion. has predicted that eventually
the Post Office Department viii give
way TO a new building,
Civic Center Plan Gains.
The District Of Columbia local gov.
eminent. according to a plan now
developing beyond the preliminary
stages Of discussion into general
plans, In to have civic center Of IFS
ogn on the north side Of Pennsyi-
vania avenue between Third and
Seventh streets. The present Dis
trict building !s shown in the
pla rs 10 have been remodeled 10 fit
into building on the site Of the
Southern Raslway Building. so that
the two viii farm a unified CON
reption," around she bend of the
Avenue. At that poini. No final
decision has been reachsd as 20 what
disposition win be made ~ these two
buildings. or how they will be handled.
Eut the architects plan presents
what In considered the eyentus! and
idea1 development II the corner.
" harmonic with the whole plan.
The other two drawings reproduced
from the architect drawings dis
cioss the beautiful and impressive
front NJ the Joined buildings for the
Department u Labor. and the Inter
state Commerce Commission, and
& 50 view II the northwest corner
~ the grand plazs, showing the pro
posed landscape architecture, the
Depa rtlneut ~ Commerce and the
sDuth eide ~ the District Building
The deficiency bill. with additional
funds for the Depa rtneut ~ ARri
culture. Liberty Loan Building. and
relocation If the water mains In the
triangle, has been signed by the
prezideut. Two other bills. the
Elliott Bill pfo}idihg purchase ~ MI
lind IN the triangle for S2G 900 900
and the Reed Eii adding another
s!0A 900 900 ~ the Federal building
program fyfpuPtiDut tb" country. have
passed the BDuHe. ana are pending
betDFe 'he f;eHate. with every fnGi-
~ ton they vii! Tec"iye approval Il
fnat b1Gy shortly SITTER The holidays
Jhe President recommended ia his
l. saget submitted ~ Congress for iIi-
slusiDB IN The Treasury Department
s. UkfDpTiatlpu D3!i additional funds fof
ne Bepa Itm~nt - Commerce ia the
6hnogni ~ s. 40 900 81. also recon.
aided that tie tDtai auihOtiZat ION fDf
his building ice lHct-as~d from SO.