Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-31
ARCHIVES BUILDING
: Project TAKEN UP
Disastrous Government Fire
Draws Attention to Long
Felt Need.

The disastrous Government building
fire yesterday has again centered at
tention on the proposed Government
Archives Building, which for years has
been proposed, and has been authorized
by Congress. but is not yet constructed
New vigor has been put into the
project, however. 1t was learned last
night, in the form of a special advisory
committee appointed by President
Hoover, from four departments and two
independent Government establish
uents.
Although the proposal for an archives
building long has been on the list OF
necessities. many things have come up
it is pointed out by various officials
having to do with it, to prolong con-
Sideration until a building of proper
size facilities, architecture, and dignity
could be erected.
The site has been changed from time
TO time, and is now fixed on Center
Market, lying between B street and
Ninth street, on the so-called axis of
the Mall.
Advisory Group Active.
The Presidential Advisory Committee
on the archives building now is ac-
lively engaged in working out the prin-
cipal problems concerned in this project.
The Presidents Committee consists of
Louis A. Simon, head of the archi-
tectura1 division of the supervising
architects office Treasury Department,
chairman: Tyler bennett, historical
adviser OF the State Department. Ebert
K. Burlew of the Interior Department;
Brig. Gen. James F. Mckinley, assistant
to the adjutant general; DR.. J. Franklin
Jameson of the Library of Congress,
and James L. Baity, executive officer OF
the general accounting Office.
Two subcommittee have been APP
pointed to study the two principal prob
lens connected with the project. One
subcommittee, headed by Dennet, is
working on the question of what data
shall be presented by the various de-
partments for the files of the Archives
Building, the kind of material to be
included in the new building and the
amount
The other subcommittee, headed by
Simon, is engaged in a study of the
question of what kind of a building will
be needed for the purpose and the de-
tails Of the plans necessary. John
Russell Pope, eminent architect of New
York City, is collaborating with the
Treasury Department and the commit
tee in planning the building
Building Model Completed.
A model of the proposed building has
been completed and placed in the toy
city model of the whole Federal tri-
angle on the first floor of the Treasury
Department near the White House 1t
shows a monumental building with col
onades on each side, Ats front facing
the Mall.
The Presidents Advisory Committee
on the archives will complete its inten-
sive study as soon as is consistent with
a careful survey of the problems in
volved, and make its report to the Sec
rotary of the Treasury. Following this
plans will be developed.
To set up an organization to direct
the archives project from an admins
trative angle, a bin was introduced by
Senator Smoot chairman of the Public
Buildings Commission, at the last ses-
sion of Congress, out in the legislative
rush over the tariff and other matters, It
failed of enactment. 1t is still pending.
Discussing this legislation, the Public
Buildings Commission in its last report,
declares:
The commission recommends legisla-
ton to set up On archives organization
at an early date to assist the Treasury
Department in designing the most suit
able building.
Questions of space, preservation of
ACNOANos uSE VI
allotment, sequence, physical proper
ties Of the air, selection, destruction Of
useless papers, administration, public
reading rooms, arrangement of stacks,
concentrating of consular embassy and
nome documents, operation and gen.
eral working processes of the building
are commanding considerable attention
at the present time"
Sl,00O,O0O Already Appropriated.
Congress has placed a limit of cost
OF S8,750000 on the Archives Building
and appropriated 100000 toward
plans and construction.
Much preliminary work has been
done in the way of studying the needs
OF the various departments and the
nature OF the documents which NAV be
presented for the archives. But it is
known that this phase of the question
has not as yet been solved and is one
OF the difficult matters for solution
The question Of the design of the
building also has occupied much atten-
ton from various oflcials Louis A.
Simon, representing this Government,
was sent on trip to the capitals of
Europe and was given access to the IA
nous old archives buildings of the Old
World capitals. There he gathered an
immense fund of information which is
being found Of great value in planning
the American Archives Building.
Dealers of Center Market have been
given by Congress until January / to
get out of the building, so that it can
be torn down to make way for the new
archives structure. The legislation pro-
vides, however, that during the latter
part of this year so days notice may be
given to vacate, provided the Govern
n1ent decides the site is needed Sew
eral projects are under way to build a
new Center Market somewhere in the
retail area to house the dealers who
will have to leave Center Market.