Evening star., 1928-04-22
CAPITOL BEAUTY
PLANS PROGRESS
New Board Produces Plaza
0utline-Supreme Court
Building Pushed.

Two developments of the past week
E:ve strong indication that leaders in
Congress are ready to SO forward with
plans for beautifying the area sur
rounding the Capitol Building. plans
that have been in the making for sew
eraI years.
One sign Of the readiness was the
rromptneSs with which the newly Gre
ated Commission for Enlargement of
the Capitol Grounds adopted definite
scheme fer the treatment Of Union Sta
tion Plaza within few DAYS after its
creation.
The second sign was the action OF
Senator keyeS OF New Hampshire. chair
man Of the public buildings and grounds
committee. in presenting a bill FOR eTee-
ton Of sn appropriate home for the
United States Supreme Court on the
square adjacent 70 the Library OF Con-
SreSS and bounded by First, Second.
East Capitol and Maryland avenue
northeast; The public buildings act
passed more than year ago had pro-
vided for purchase of the land,
Hope for Action This Term.
Although the session is we'll advanced,
there appears to be bright prospects
that tbs plaza improvement plan VIII
be acted Oh before adjournment, FIVE
or six weeks hence. Senator keyes Is
hopeful that ratification Of the general
plan may come in time to have included
in the last deficiency appropriation bill
q small portion OF the fund needed, 50
that some work may be undertaken TINS
year. Unless This can be accomplished.
the initial allotment Of money could not
be made until December or January,
after Congress has returned. and the
project would be delayed another year
Under the leadership of Senator FeSS
o. Ohio funds have been provided with
in the past year to start improvement
OF the western approach Of the Capitol
by acquiring for relocation Of the Bo-
tanic Gardens the two squares extend
ing from Maryland avenue 10 Canal
street between First and Second streets.
thus clearing the way for the Tearrange-
n7ent Of the existing gardens to conform
to the Mall plan This appropriation Is
only 10 buy the land. II Congress nov
acts promptly on the newly recon-
nlended layout for the plaza running
north to Union Station and sets up the
commission to begin planning for the
Supreme Court Building on the cast
front a long stride will have been taken
toward building up around the Capitol
Building q frame OF landscape and
architecture in harmony with the dig
nifty Of that outstanding structure.
The thousands who came TO WASH
tngton recently on Easter week sight
seeing trips spent a considerable part
of their time in the vicinity OF the
Capitol and their presence In such
large numbers served 70 emphasize the
prominence which that portion OF the
city occupies The first glimpse OF
Washington that meets the eve Of an
American from the States or a foreign
visitor is the view from Union Station
And. IL Congress goes through with the |
p'aza plan. that vision Of the Capitol |
from the station viii be one destined /
70 inlpreSs ths visitor.
Discussed for Is Years
Enlargement Of the Capitol grounds /
toward Union Station has been under /
consideration for ie years. The World |
War necessarily took attention from |
such projects The last Congress COM /
pleted purchase Of the squares living /
directly tn the line Of the present Capt. /
TIL grounds 10 the station. and while /
the new commissions plan will call i
fg- purchase of some additional land 1
n the west. the commission is fortified /
With a number Of reasons TO support /
tn revision
An essential feature Of the plaza
project is the proposed wide boulevard /
10 ruin diagonaily from the depot 10 !
Pennsylvania avenue, and the principal /
change that has been made IN the orig /
iTlal plaza layout Is the swinging OF /
this boulevard in a westerly direction TO /
have il meet Pennsylvania avenue about /
Second street instead Of at Peace |
Monument.
The chief reason given for shifting |
the boulevard plan was TO avoid an un- /
satisfactory traffic situation which /
would develop il the boulevard terni- /
mated at Peace Monument. crossing B |
street al heavy grade and cutting of /
one corner Of the existing Capitol |
GROUNDS
II Is further pointed out that in the /
original plan the boulevard would near !,
lT blsect the plaza parkway, making IL |
ctfAcult ~ produce balanced effect /
3 street is to be widened 20 form d. /
rect artery west 70 the Arlington Me- :
moral Bridge
Cuts Sharp Corners.
On the new route the boulevard viii /
cut Oh the sharp corners Of land at 4
North Capitol and d streets and at New |
Jersey avenue and G street IL is -ex- |
planned that the advantage OF this |
would be 10 have the facades Of build I
1ngE face the Capitol Plaza instead Of |
sharp angles projecting into H.
In preparing this revised plan for the /
plaza the designers have kept In mind /
suggestion made by Thomas Hastings. |
architect of the Senate Office Building |
foT the addition Of sn entrance portico /
n the corner Of that building at Della /
ware avenue and c street 10 marx |
Dels aware avenue as one of the principal !
approaches 70 Capitol Hill
Fitting n wltb tt1ls proposal also Is
tie recommendation To move the car
f3ackS from Delaware avenue 10 FIRST |
street east END 20 have the tracks Ga
g street pass through the plaza under
q terrace and connect with the tracks
CO FiESt street
The drawings also indicate the de-
Eraoillty Of placing q building al some
future tlnae on the square bounded by
California street, second street. r street
northeast ard tne plaza. 70 balance
with The P0St once on the vest side
% the station bat this Is not conlem-
plaiec a. az immediate step
The recommendation 70 Congress 10
authorize THIS rev plan would carry
WITH = authority for gradual removal
0f me Government oormitories erected
d3lg1ng the wsr.