Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-03
Rate by MaiI-PayabIe in Advance.
Great Plsns for the Cauital,


lnss program for Warrington proposed
by Chairman Elliott of the House CON-
mittee on public buildings snd grounds
surpssses the most optimistic hopes If
those who have interested themselves
In the Federal Governments vigorous
efforts not only TO heautify the Ameri-
can Capitol. but to provide its own
establishment with fitting housing IA
cilities.
With SIS 900 900 already authorized
and part of 1t spent in acquiring the
Avenue triangle land and beginning
construction on some of the great build
ines. President Hoover last Summer in
tinated that the fund would have to be-
increased by smother $4,000 600 A
few weeks ago it ives revealed from
other sources that this addition would
be In the neighborhood of $4,000. 900.
Now. the bill. drawn by Cha 'rman Eli
oft. proposes that the addition to the
building program be $1l5,O00. 900. It
raises the total proposed for the District
OF Columbia program to $3.50 600 900
and would make thu funds available in
annual sllotments of $4,000 900 a year
Mr.. Elictt's bill opens entirely new
Vistas In the Governments DEVELOPMENT
OF the Capital 1t gives the much dis
cussed Avenue triangle project posi-
ton almost Of secondary Importance, fer
the Avenue triangle becomes merely one
OF series of triangular developments
The bill will mean the eventual pur-
chase and development by the Federal
Government CT great territory lying
west CT Seventeenth street, bounded on
the north by New York avenue and on
the south by B street. 1t means the
purchase by the Government of such
well known landmarks as the Cosmos
Club and the Belasco Theater. in order
10 permit the extension north to H street
Of the Treasury annex. 1t means
great development in Southwest Wash
inEton north Of the railroad tracks and
between the Capitol and the Bureau Of
Engraving.
In his message today President Hoo-
yer briefly explains the reasons for this
increase. AN expedition and enlarge
ment Of the program in the District
would bring about direct economies in
construction by enabling the erection Of
buildings in regular sequence. BY main
tanning stable labor force in the city
contracts can be made on more advan-
taseous terms. The earlier completion
OF this program. which is an acknowl-
edged need, would add dignity to the
celebration in 1882 Of the two hum
dredth anniversary of the birth of
President Washington"
The President also calls to the atten.
ton Of Congress the fact that even after
the completion Of the projects author
lied in the initial 375,O 600 900 allotment
for the District, I'VE shall have fully
10000 clerks housed in temporary and
rented war buildings, which can last
but little longer"
All Of the details of expanding the pro-
posed additional ais. OO0, 900 have not
been made known. 1t is understood,
however, that this fund would provide
for constructing certain buildings al
ready planned and authorized-such as
the extensible Department of Agricul-
ture Building. the Department of Jus
tice Building, the Archives Building. the
Labor Department Building, the Inde-
pendent Ofhces Building and a separate
building for the United States Coast
Guard. In addition, the fund includes
provision for a new War Department
Building.
This latter project is of exceptional
interest. 1t presents the possibility of
the relatively imminent demolition of
the temporary" War and Navy Build
ing at Nineteenth and streets and
the construction of a large new edifice
on q site yet to be selected. There
seems to be some misunderstanding
now as to whether the new building
would house both the Army and the
Navy offices. But it appears certain
that the new building will stand some
where south OF the Mall possibly
adjacent to the new site selected for
the Botanic Garden. Acquisition of
that site would clean up an ugly
portion of Southwest Washington and
would constitute a major part of the
Governments plans for developing that
section of the city.
In addition to setting a great ex-
ample to industry in speeding up con-
struction work, the bill by Mr.. Elliott
comes as further indication of the
Federal Governments real determine
ton to make of Washington the Capt.
tai that it should be. The days OF
penny-pinching are being relegated in
favor of the greater economy that lies
in building adequately for the future.
-s~S~ ---
Activity on the part of the authorities
already esfa hlishes a NOR outlook for