Evening star., 1928-06-11
HUGE POWER PLANT
TREASURY Project
Central Heating Equipment
for All Federal Buildings
Under Consideration.

A huge central heating and power
plant to heat all the Government build
ings erected and proposed in the Gov
ernment's new triangle building pro-
gram is under consideration at the
Treasury Department.
The location has not been picked. but
the general idea would be to place it
within about half mile of the triangle,
probably along railroad tracks in the
Southwest section of the city TO facili-
tate delivery of fuel
Plans have been discussed by Treas
ury officials who have responsibility for
carrying forward the Government build
Ing program, and 1t Is likely that some
specific recommendations in the matter
will be submitted TO Congress for
authorization and appropriation next
December.
Cost Estimated at S2,O00,000.
The cost of such a plant has been
yariouSly estimated at somewhere be-
tween 81 500, 900 and $2,000,000.
The advantages Of such a central
heating system for the new Government
buildings are said to be many, princi-
pal among which are the economic fac
tor and the advantages to the architec-
tural beauty in having the plant and its
chimneys away from the handsome edi-
fees of the triangle. A central plant
would heat the various structures, much
cheaper than separate plants. according
to engineers. An example of such CEN
tral heating has proven itself on Capitol
Hill, where heat is furnished from a
single plant for not only the Capitol
Building. but the Congressional Library,
Government Printing ONCE, House and
Senate Office Buildings.
Already number of the old Govern
ment buildings downtown are connected
with heating tunnels, which we're con-
structed when an earlier project for a
central heating plant was started. but
was temporarily abandoned Connec-
ton Of these structures with the new
steam plant would be simple, as the
tunnels are already completed.
Still other Government buildings
which have no tunnels have been listed
by the engineers of the Treasury as
within economic range" of the new
proposed heating plant. Some elec-
vricity probably would be generated at
hle plant. but the extent to which this
would be done, has not been definitely
dec'ded, the principal purpose of the
plant being to furnish heat.
Need Seen as Urgent.
The, need for some such heating plant
becomes urgent with the building pro-
gram making good headway, and at
least tlAee new structures now under
contract \and construction, the Depart
ment OF Agriculture Administration
Building, The Internal Revenue Build
ing and the Department of Commerce.
The proposed heating plant would be
constructed large enough SO that
eventually it could furnish heat NOT
in the triangle. bounded by Pennsyl-
vania avenue, Fifteenth and B streets,
but also other buildings. The outside
heating plant building would be made
large enough for this purpose, so that
additional heating units could be In
stalled inside later Ion as the building
program grew to need it, This has
been developed as the most economic
heating program deviSable for the Gov
ernments purpose.
The first group outside the triangle
which would be hooked up with the
big heating plant would be those build
ings now already connected by tun-
nels. They include the Ayrny Medical
Museum. Fish Commission. Bureau of
Engraving and Printing. Liberty Loan
Building. Auditors Building. Agricul-
tural Department group. National MC-
scum group. Post ONCE Department,
Building, Treasury Depart
ment and Treasury Annex No. l, across
Pennsylvania avenue from the Treas
ury.
Other Buildings Listed.
Other buildings which have been
listed by the engineers as within the
economic range OF the new plant. but
which are not connected by the old
system of unused tunnels. include the
of Interior. Civil Service
Court OF Claims, NUM-
tons Building. Navy Building, PAN
American Building and the Veterans
Bureau.
A separate and efficient plant is In
use at the old state, War and Navy
Building which heats 1t and the White
House. SO these structures have not
been included in the FIRST tentative list
for central heating.