Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-31
Notice Is Served on Tenants
In Area to Vacate With
In 80 Days.
STRUCTURES EXPECTED
TO BE EMPTY BY MAY !.
Project to Be Pushed Forward
Rapidly, With Completion
Early in 1888 Seen.

Taking an important step toward the
$9,740,000 building for the United States
Supreme Court, officials today served
notice on tenants of all buildings on the
site bounded by First and Second streets,
East Capitol and Maryland avenue
northeast to vacate within 80 days.
AS soon as the structures on these
two blocks are vacated, most of them
by May /, the whole site will be cleared,
according to David Lynn, architect Of
the Capitol, in charge of the project.
Mr.. Lynn, who Is a member and ex-
ecutive officer Of the Supreme Court
| Building Commission, of which Chief
Justice Hughes is chairman, said he ex-
pected that the phases Of the project
will be pushed forward in sequence 30
the building may be completed probably
early in 1888.
Notice to vacate was served on the
many tenants In the two blocks by
| agents of the Treasury Department,
under the direction of F. A. Birgfeld,
| chief clerk of the Treasury Department,
who has been custodian of the property
since it was taken over by the Govern
ment in condemnation proceedings.
Most Leases Expire ON the list.
Most of the leases expire on the 1st
| of the month, so that 1t Is expected
most of the sites under the 30-day
| notice will be vacated by May /. A
| few leases, however, are dated on other
| days of the months. These tenants will
| have 80 days from the due date OF their
next rental. Thus, some OF the build
ings will not be vacated until later In
| May.
| within a few days now, Mr.. Lynn
| said he plans to advertise for bids for
| demolishing the buildings on the two
| squares of land and hopes to let this
| contract In time for the wreckers to
start work as soon as possible after the
structures are empty.
| This actual demolition and other
steps were made possible by Congress
in appropriating $500 900 in the de-
| flciency act signed Wednesday by Pres
| ident Hoover. This sum is expected TO
provide sufficient funds for proceeding
| with completion of a formal contract
with the architect, CaSs Gilbert. A
meeting is expected to be called within
a few days. The preliminary work of
the commission and preliminary plans
we're authorized by Congress and paid
for by special appropriation OF
$4,000.
Expects to Proceed Steadily.
Excavation probably can be accom-
plished under the half billion dollar
appropriation, Mr.. Lynn estimated
today. BY the time the excavation is
finished, Mr.. Lynn believes the plans
will be in shape and further money
available to proceed with actual con.
struction. The ground was purchased
by condemnation and cost about 81, 7o0,-
600.
Among the most famous structures
to be torn down on the site Is that
formerly occupied by the National
Womans Party. This building at one
time was used as the Capitol.
The late Chief Justice Taft was In
terested in providing a new and i'm
presSive home for the supreme tribunal
| of this country. He was the first chair
| man of the building commission and
it is known that he had hoped to live to
see the court of which he was chief
| justice installed In its new home.