Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-12
Millions Involved in Federal
Projects Under Way or
Planned in Capital.
COMMERCE STRUCTURE
PROGRAM is PUSHED
Specifications in Hands of Contrac-
tors Seeking to Bid
Upon Job.

building activity in the history of the
National Capital, involving millions of
dollars.
With few huge projects already un-
Ger way, contracts will be let soon for
others, more land is to be acquired and
cleared of old buildings, to make way
Tor the new, monumental Washington of
the near future. Many squares of
ground are under condemnation pro-
ceedings by court for acquisition by
the Government.
From now on the number of work.
men employed on Federal projects here
Is expected to mount until it reaches
a large total in the Summer, but con-
tractors say they are not ready for an
influx OF laborerS now, and have all they
need.
Steady progress is being made on
foundations for the largest project of
all. the Department of Commerce. and
bids will be opened on March 81 for
the big contract to build the super
structure. Specifications have been in
the hands of contractors wishing to
bid for several weeks. The cost of
preparing bid on such a job totals
thousands of dollars.
The work of driving piles and laying
foundations up to the street level for
the Department of Commerce has been
Pt"NCSoAiS Satisfactorily dCCOTQlnR UO
Treasury Department officials super
vising the job of the Consolidated En-
cheering Co. Unless some unforeseen
circumstances should occur, it is ex-
pected that this contract may be fin
lShed around the middle of May. This
contract is for $1,160,000, and has
engaged the services of a mass of
machinery, motor trucks and men.
Hoover Jufarccfad
Bids on the superstructure will be
analyzed and if the low bidder proves
responsible it is hoped that the Treas
ury may be able to let the contract so
operations may start almost as soon as
the foundation workers are out of the
way. The total cost of this building.
which is to be longer than the Capitol
Building is $17,500,000. President Hoo
yer is especially interested in this part
OF the Government building program.
Steel is arriving daily and being put
IN place on the foundations of the In
ternal Revenue Building, under a con-
tract which now totals S6004,0 900 with
the James Baird Co.. Inc. of this city.
Derrlcks are to go up. and within a
few days steel columns will arrive. The
building. to be in the area bounded by
Tenth and Twelfth. B and c streets, has
been authorized by Congress to cost
S10.000,000.
Agriculture Project Advances.
The Department of Agriculture prof.
ect. which is divided into two phases, is
making progress, according to reports.
Inc administration building, which is
to connect the two white marble wings.
has been almost half completed by the
George Hymans Construction Co.,
which is working under two-year con-
tract for S1.5l0,000. and probably will
be finished by April, 1880. The Stand
ard Engineering Co. is busy on a Sis
600 contract for mechanical equipment.
a larger part of the agriculture
project involves the so-called extenSible
building, which is to be built on the
south side of B street southwest, OPP
poslte the present headquarters. To OBJ
tam the site condemnation proceedings
are underway. The Government is con-
demning what is known as squares No.
263 and 264, bounded by Thirteenth,
Fourteenth, B and c streets southwest,
Plans have been completed at the SUI
pervising architects office at the Treas
ury for construction of the extensible
building to cover both blocks. and as
soon as the Government gets title, it is
expected contracts will be let for tear
ing down buildings on at least one
block.
Eventually Will Cover Third Block
1t is expected the first block on which
old buildings will be torn down to make
way for the extensible building will be
No. 264. bounded by Thirteenth street,
Linworth place, B and C streets. Even
tually the eXtensible building is expected
to cover also third adjacent block on
the east, bounded by B, c. Twelfth and
Thirteenth streets. But this block will
not be condemned and RACED for the
present.
Work also is under way and expected
to increase shortly for construction of
the addition to the Government Print
ing Office, at total cost set by
Congress not to exceed $1,250.000. The
Rust Engineering Co. is busy on foun-
dations under contract for $825,000,
with $40 days from November 16, 1928,
to complete the project. The Virginia
Engineering Co, Inc, also has con-
tract for $4,000 for mechanical equip
ment.
Two large areas in the so-called Fed
eral triangle, bounded by Pennsylvania
avenue. B street and Fifteenth street,
are under condemnation proceedings,
and the Government hopes to get title
when this process is completed.
One of these areas is between Ninth
and Tenth streets and is for the Ar
chives Building and a surrounding
shell building. The other section of
land under condemnation lies between
Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, B
street and Pennsylvania avenue and is
the site for the Interstate Commerce
Department Building and home for
independent Offices of the Government.
Meantime architects are preparing
preliminary sketches for the following
additional buildings. on which the
Treasury Department will submit esti-
mates to Congress- Department of
Labor, Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. independent offices and Depart
ment of Justice. Plans have not yet
been completed for the Archives Build
ing.