Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-17
UNITED ACT|ONH HELD
VITAL TO BUILDING
BEAUTIFUL CAPITAL
Hewlett Cites Need for Co.
operation in Speech
to Trade Board.
WSUALlZES METHOD
OF REACHING GOAL
Ideals Of Objective Must Be Mani
fest in Industry and Gus
toms, He Says.

A Washington, beautiful in an indi-
vidual way, with distinctive spirit and
character of its people and architecture
was the concept of the Nations Capital
offered the Washington Board OF Trade
last night at its first Fall meeting, by
j. Monroe Hewlett of New York, flrst
vice president of the American Institute
Of Architects. The meeting was held
in the Willard Hotel.
"As we travel" Mr.. Hewlett said I'VE
are impressed by the enormous progress
same time, We are oppressed by the loss
of individuality and local character
that has accompanied this progress.
mo liberality on the part Of gov
eminent can succeed in making Wash
ington our ideal of a National Capital
without thoughtful. patriotic and
imaginative cooperation on the part of
the agencies that are represented here
tonight.
Ideals Must Permeate.
IF we are to make Washington q
real sanctuary of American unity, the
ideals which inspired the design of the
city as whole, Of the Capitol, the
White House. the Treasury Building
and the Washington Monument must
permeate the consciousness Of this
community In such a way as to in
fluence all that Is done. It Is not merely
in the design Of buildings that this
spirit must manifest itself. 1t must in
fiuence manners and customs, commerce
and manufacturers, the investing of
money and the return on that invest
ment.
The immediate future of Washing
ton. Mr.. Hewlett declared. depends on
what is done toward developing the
north side of Pennsylvania avenue OPP
posite the triangle, the scene of opera
lions for the enormous, Government
building program.
The speaker said: To-day, from all
parts OF the country, we are watching
to see what happens to Pennsylvania
avenue. In the future as we pass
through this great street from the
Capitol to the White House, we arc
assured that on our left stately sue
cession of public buildings, amply
spaced, worthily will embody our ideals
OF government. The things that happen
on the right side Of the street will be
the first great test of whether you
gentlemen who represent the trade and
commerce OF this city are to prove
worthy of your high calling, whether
the commercial value of dignity, unity
and beauty has permeated the con-
ScAousness OF this community"
Elliott Speaks.
Representative Richard N. Elliott of
Indiana, chairman of the House COM
mittee on public buildings and grounds,
was another speaker before the 742
members who attended the meeting.
He outlined the history and provisions
of the bill making possible the Govern
ment building program, and expressed
himself strongly in favor of the Cram
@f
the Federal Government acquire for
park purposes the land on either side
OF the Potomac River from Mount
Vernon to Great Falls.
A few minutes before, the board had
gone on record as supporting the Cram
ton bill. Other measures to receive the
support of the board were the pro-
posed calendar change and the par
ticipation of the United States In an
international congress to bring this
about; action to relieve the present
conditions Of Rock Creek and Piney
Branch. which were called open sewers
and the linking up of Rock Greek Park
and Potomac Park by a highway be-
for 1882.
Louis Justement. local architect, an
| other speaker, said that Washington S
ugly buildings are due to the EMPLOY
ment Of incompetent architects. He
recommended that local architects be
employed, rather than their colleagues
from other cities.
A series of lantern slides showing
structures here of outstanding design
were shown and explained by Gilbert
Rodier. another architect.
e. j. Murphy, president of the Board
OF Trade, presided, and introduced the
following guests and prominent mem
berS from the platform: Commissioner
Proctor l.. Dougherty, Representative
Elliott, Mr.. Hewlett, Col. U. S. Grant,
3D.; Commissioner William B. Ladue,
Mai. l.. e. Atkins, Capt Hugh Dram,
! Capt. e. N. Chisolm, Theodore w.
Noyes, Samuel J. Prescott, Robert N
Harper, e. r. Colladay and George
Pitt.