Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-28
.S3,6OO,OOO is PAID
FOR BUILDING SITE
Government Buys Two
Squares Now Occupied by
Electric Power Company.

Two squares of land lying between
Thirteenth and Fourteenth, and c
streets, occupied by the main offices
and several other buildings, including
subStation power plant of the Potomac
Electric Power Co., today were pur-
chased by the Federal Government as
a part of the great public building pro-
gram for a consideration of $3,600,oo0.
Formal announcement of the tranSac-
ton was made at the Treasury Depart
ment today. At the Office of the power
company, in the absence OF President
William F.. Ham, no information was
Forthcoming as to where the sub
station, which furnishes electric power
for the whole downtown section Of the
city, will be located. II had already
been announced previously that the
main Offices of the company Will be
located on the northeast corner OF
Tenth and E streets.
The contract between the Government
and the power company was signed for
the Secretary of the Treasury by Ferry
X Heath. Assistant Secretary, in
charge of the public building program.
The site purchased today will be used
for erection of two portions of magnif-
icent building along B street, includ-
ing the Department of Labor and
connecting wing with another twin
building similar TO the Department OF
Labor. which is to be erected between
Twelfth and Thirteenth streets.
New Building Plan.
The Department of Labor is to go
on the square bounded by b and G
streets. Thirteen-and-a-Ha Half and
,,fA 90 NArln nd
the SubStation. the headquarters offices
and few small buildings. The con-
Meeting wing which will be a great
central architectural motif between the
Department of Labor and the Inter-
state Commerce building will be located
on ground bounded by B and c streets
and Thirteen and Thirteen Half
streets.
The contract provides that the COM
pany may remain in possession OF its
property for period of 10 months by
paying a rental of 5 per cent per year
of the contract price. The company
retains possession of certain cables and
subStation equipment, which are TO be
salvaged by the power company.
The Department of Justice will be
requested 10 handle the legal end OF
obtaining title for the Government. AS
soon as the title passes and other
of payment will be passed.
Already plans for the Department OF
Labor building are well under way, and
it is expected that the administration
will go to Congress for estimates OF an
appropriation to construct this building
as soon as possible. The Department
of Labor is now in rented quarters.
Authorized by Congress.
The purchase was made under au-
thority Of an act of Congress authoriZ-
ing acquisition of the entire triangle of
land bounded by Pennsylvania avenue.
Fifteenth street and B street for the
construction thereon of magnificent
series of public buildings. Congress has
authorized the expenditure Of $25 600
600 for the acquisition Of this land and
negotiations are under way also for OBJ
tanning virtually all the triangle as soon
as possible either by direct purchase or
condemnation.
The power company deal has been
hanging fire for many months and IS
considered one of the most difficult
negotiations 50 far completed for direct
purchase on account of the complex
nature Of the property involved. The
power company not only owns the land
and buildings. but expensive under
ground cables and conduitS. The con-
Z
offer of the Potomac Electric Power Co
Announcement of the Governments
purchase was made in brief state
ment.
THE Secretary of the Treasury has
accepted the offer Of the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Co. to sell to the Govern
ment for a consideration of $3.600,0O0
squares 259 and 260. together with the
buildings and all equipment thereon,
except certain cables and substation
equipment, which the contract provides
is to be Salvaged by the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Co. The contract also pro-
vides that the power company may
remain in possession of all or any part
of the land and buildings for period
of i8 months, rental at the rate OF
per cent per annum of the contract
price to be paid to the Government
after title to the property is vested in
the United Staes and unil the prop
erty is vacated"
Plans for the Department Of Labor
and the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, which are to be twin buildings.
connected by a central wing are being
drawn in tentative form by Arthur
Brown, jr.. of San Francisco. member
of the Treasury board of architectural
consultants. The Treasury entered into
contracts with the architect for fur
nishing plans for the building and will
use the plans to draw up estimates TO
be submitted to Congress.
Congress has authorized the entire
building program for the triangle
through the general legislation on the
triangle, but there still remains the
necessity of getting further authorize
ton and specific appropriation for the
Department of Labor Building.