Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-07

public building can be realized by COM
pairing contracts and obligations in
CURED during the period from May Is,
1925 to March 4, 1929, with those dur
ing the past 18 months. Total obli-
cations Tor land and construction prior
to March 4, 1929, amounted to $685.
Ash, while since that date addi-
tional obligations we're made to the
extent of S79.741.5 25, an increase of
more than 100 per cent"
Bids Expected in November.
The razing of the buildings on the
site for the Supreme Court, between
Maryland avenue and East Capitol
street, First and Second streets north
east, will be completed by October 6.
1t Is hoped to have the plans and Speci-
flcations ready for bids for the excava-
ton and foundations early In November,
With plans for the superstructure ready
three months later. It is planned that
the actual building of the superstructure
will begin in the Spring.
The foundation contract for the new
House Office building, in which mem
bers OF the National House of Repre-
sentativeS will be given much-needed
ONCE space and facilities for carrying
along the work for their constituents
which has multiplied during recent
years, was awarded on July %, and this
work is now we'll under way. All the
buildings on the site have been RACED, a
considerable portion of the lot has been
excavated and some of the concrete
footings have been poured. 1t is ex-
pected that the foundation work will be
completed before December Is.
Bids Asked on Superstructure.
David Lynn, architect of the Capitol.
is now advertising for bids on the SUPER
structure, which will include everything
necessary for the entire completion of
the building, with the exception Of
lighting fixtures. hardware and a few
miscellaneous items. Bids for these
items are to be taken within the next
six months. 1t Is estimated that the
building OF the superstructure will take
about two years.
The Office suites have been planned
with view to securing a maximum of
efficiency and convenience for the
members of Congress, while, at the
same time, avoiding any unnecessary
expense for purely architectural effect
In addition to Offices for members
Of Congress, the new building will con-
tain an assembly room seating $50
persons, f1ve large committee rooms,
several smaller committee rooms, a new
folding room for distribution of Gov
eminent publications, and book storage
room will replace similar facilities in
both the Capitol and the present House
ONCE Building. A new telephone ex-
change will be installed to serve the
entire Capitol group of buildings.
viii Occupy Whole Square.
The new building will occupy the
entire square bounded by B street,
New Jersey avenue, G street and South
Capitol street.
The elevation of the main cornice
will be a few feet lower than the main
cornice of the present House Once
Building, but the southwest portion of
the building will be considerably higher
than the present House Office Building,
due to the difference in street grades.
The exterior of the new building will
be of marble, with the lower story, In.
Guiding the terraces, of granite or lime
stone. The building has been de-
signed in simple, dignified style char
acteristic of our early Federal build
ings. Plans and specifications will be
available in the Office of the Architect
of the Capitol on Tuesday.
The new building will be connected
by tunnel with the Capitol and the
present House ONCE Building. Heat,
power and light will be supplied by the
present Capitol power plant.
Representative r. Walton Moore of
Virginia, who is voluntarily leaving
Congress at the close of the coming ses-
sion, was the original advocate of this
new building project. His own district
is the nearest to the Capital, and he
found his small Office crowded by con-
StituentS to such an extent that he
came to the conclusion that provision
G hn fnV TiSS1tN
at least two rooms.
The first step was taken when Repre-
sentative Moore proposed and there was
adopted in the legislative appropriation
act in the SiXty-eighth Congress in
1925 an appropriation of $4,000 for a
survey to be made by the architect of
the Capitol, who would then make
to Congress.
Following the architects report, Rep
reSentative Moore introduced, on Feb
ruary 6, 1926, the original bill, which
was favorably reported on February S,
1927, and passed by the House by a
large majority on March /, but it was
not considered by the Senate during
that session.
Subsequently in the SEVENTEEN Con-
gress, on December 5, 1927, Representa-
tive Moore reintroduced the same bill.
Frederick w. Dallinger
of Massachusetts, a member of the
House Committee on Public Buildings
and Grounds, which was considering
the legislation, then introduced SINH
lar bill, not differing in principle but in
some details When these two bills were
considered the Dallinger bill was re-
ported and promptly passed by the |
House. 1t was entirely agreeable to |
Moore that the Dallinger
bill should be the basis of action. AS
his one deeire was to get the much
needed Office space authorized.