Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13
CONTINUED From First Page,

In an uncomplimentary way, and clotht
II in new shell more IN harmony with
its surroundings.
The next President has been advised
that the strange combination of French
Greek and Gothic architectures incor-
porated into the State, War and Navy
Building is illegal. anyway. That is tt
say, Congress intended the structure tC
be a counterpart of the Treasury
Building and so ordered it in the act
authorizing its construction. The archi-
tect, so the story goes, had ideas of his
own, however, and apparently without
asking Congress anything about it pro-
ceeded to take all kinds of liberties
with the law-and with good taste.
Liberties Were Taken.
The fact that such liberties were
taken was unearthed about three years
ago. At the same time it was diScov-
cred that so far as the interior arrange
ment goes. the State, War and Navy
Building matches that of the Treasury
Mr. Hoover thinks it would cost only a
moderate sum, as building appropria-
tons go. to remove the fanciful eX-
terror of the State, War and Navy
Building and remodel it into another
TreaSury-type structure. It is said there
are no serious engineering obstacles to
such plan. The face lifting" opera
ton would restore architectural balance
to the TreaSury-White House State,
War and Navy group of buildings with
out the necessity for tearing down the
whole structure and putting up a new
building at cost of ten or twelve mil
lions of dollars. The cost of the re-
modelling probably would not exceed a
million and half dollars, according to
rough estimates.
Desires Permanent Buildings.
Eventually the President ELECT be-
2leVeS. the Navy Department. Munitions
Shipping Board buildings and all other
temporary structures erected during the
war to house expanding governmental
activities must be vacated III favor of
permanent buildings designed to fit into
the general plan of public building de
velopment. The time will come, more
over, when the drab gray granite POST
office Departmental Building, another
diScordant Splotch, must come down. Mr..
Hoover thinks it may take so years,
however, before an outraged public
reaches a state of indignation sufficient
to induce 1T to dig into its pockets for
the money with which to erect a new
post office edifice.
Until that day arrives and until steps
are taken to improve the appearance
OF the north side of Pennsylvania ave
nue., the Nations parade ground will
find itself losing the spotlight under
competition to be offered by its near
neighbor, B street. Mr.. Hoover expects
B street to become one Of the world s
most magnificent boulevards, lined
throughout its length by imposing pub
lie buildings with cleaning colonnadeS
and colorful landscaping. He has walked
over the site of this great DEVELOPMENT
time and again and envisioned the
grandeur of the scene which succeed
ing generations will enjoy. AS Secre-
tary Of Commerce, he took a deep per-
sonal interest in the triangle project,
with special reference to the location,
design and construction of the huge
new Commerce building This structure,
TO cost some S15,000.000, will be the
largest of the group and will be located
eS the western SIDE of the triangle.
Ideals in Private Building.
The next President is said to feel
that private building interests should
take just as much pride in maintain
Ing the dignity and beauty of the Ma
tioilal Capital as do the officials IN
charge of Federal construction pro-
grams. There should be wholehearted,
cooperation between public and private
interests to the end that the harmonious
motif intended to dominate the appear