Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-05
FINAL STEP TAKEN
TOBEAUT|FY AREA
AROUND CAPITOL
Union Station Plaza Bill Is
Last Link in Chain
of Projects.
IMPROVEMENT SLATED
AS IT BECOMES LAW
Cost Will Be $4,912,412ePart of
Funds Anticipated in One of
First Supply Measures.

The Union Station plaza park bill,
which became law in the closing
moments of the Seventeen Congress
yesterday, is the last link in a chain
of projects that will improve and
beautify the area surrounding the
Capitol.
To the south of the Capitol a new
House Office Building is about to be
started. On the east front the monu-
mental home of the United States
Supreme Court will rise, balancing the
Library of Congress. To the west the
Botanic Gardens are to be relocated
and the old gardens worked into the
Mall plan. Now comes the authorize
ton for the plaza improvement, ex-
tending north to the depot.
The plaza project, as approved by
Congress yesterday, will cost s4,912,414,
spread over a period of several years,
but a part of the money to start the
work undoubtedly will be made avail
able in one of the first appropriation
bills framed by the next Congress.
Boulevard Is Feature.
A feature of the plaza improvement
will be a spacious boulevard. running
diagonally from the fountain in
front of Union Station and merging
into Pennsylvania avenue between
Second and Third streets. This por-
ton of the plaza project will link In
lower end of the Mall, and also will
harmonic with the municipal center
of District buildings. to be grouped
north of Pennsylvania avenue between
Third and Sixth streets.
q Senator Blaine, Republican, OF Wis
consin had been objecting to the bill
unless amended to provide for the erec-
ton of new dormitories for Government
workers to replace the temporary struc-
lures that will be cleared from the
plaza. He withdrew his objection yes
terday, explaining that he understood
one group Of the temporary dormitories
would not be disturbed for two years
and that there was, therefore, no hurry
in the consideration of his amendment.
Track Changes Planned.
The plaza improvement contemplates
several important changes In street car
tracks in the vicinity of the Capitol, as
follows:
Removal of tracks from Delaware ave-
nue. between the station and B street
and from B street between Delaware
avenue and First street east.
The present tracks on G street arc
to be lowered into a depression from
New Jersey avenue to Delaware ave-
nue., in order to have an unobStructcd
vision of the Capitol from the depot.
The c street tracks would be extended
on the surface from Delaware avenue
to First street east.
New tracks are to be laid on First
street east from B street to Union Sta
ton, taking the place of the rails to
be removed from Delaware avenue and
B street.
Street Would Be Closed.
North Capitol street would be closed
at D street. leaving the area from that
point to the Capitol available for ap-
propriate landscape treatment.
The project as approved contemplates
purchase of several additional squares
on the west side of the original plaza
area. in order to have the new diagonal
boulevard from Union Station strike
avenue near Third street.
and at the same time improve the lover
end of the north side of Pennsylvania
avenue.
Senator Reyes, Republican, of New
Hampshire, who Steered the legislation
through the Senate, has been one OF
the leading advocates of the plaza i'm
provement. 1t was handled in the House
by Representative Elliot of Indiana.