Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-13
commerce FRONT
NEAR COMPLETION
Impressive Facade 0verIookS
Park of Unusual Beauty
in All Details. -.

Featured by % huge columns, weigh
ing 75>tons each, the classic main front
Of the great Department of Commerce
building on Fourteenth street is rising
rapidly to completion.
Proud of their handiwork, the stone
settlers Yesterday had finished by far
the greater part of this front, and were
placing stones in the base of the parapet
wall above the colonnade.
The main entrance to the department
is designed after the Doric order Of
architecture, and presents q magnificent
architectural end to what VIII be the
grand plaza. This plaza will run from
Fourteenth street eastward from the
Department Of Commerce building, 50
the beautiful facade, now under COM
pletion, viii overlook the park Of sunken
gardens, flowers pools and fountains.
Stone Selections.
The stone work Of this main front Of
the Department Of Commerce building
rise sfrom the granite base at the bot
tom, sometimes known as the water
table. This Stoney Greek granite, which
comes from Connecticut, is used in the
base of the building. the balustrades,
copings and approaches" Virtually all
the rest of the exterior is of Indian
limestone of various textures, coming
from several different quarries in
Indiana and finished in different mills,
in the same general vicinity.
On top of the granite base rests
what is known as two stories Of lime
stone in variegated colors. It IS cut IN
heavy blocks which appear to stand out
from the building, and with stripping
texture" known as Scotch preaching"
This gives the first two stories differ
emit aspect from the rest Of the build
ing. and accents the difference in color
and the upper.
Use Of Columns.
From the top of the first two stories
the columns start, each resting on both
a plinth, or square stone, and also q
circular base. These columns, OF which
there are % on the main front, consist
of five great drums, each OF which
weighs IL tons.
On top of the column goes a cap,
which is to be trimmed in rosettes
carved on the neck. The ornamental
ton under the cap is known as an egg
and dart mold. On top of the column
cap goes square stone known as an
abacuS.
Above the columns themselves then
rises the entablature, which consists OF
SOIuCS, CIle large SVOllcS SCIctCAIulS ALOiAl
column to column; the architrave, frieze
and cornice. The Sof1its of the archi-
trave are carved beneath with what is
known as a guilloche ornament, and
the frieze is embellished with tryglyphS
and simple discs in the metopes.
The cornice Is decorated with what
Is known as dentn course, mutuleS, with
carved panels between them. Over each
mutule will be o lions head, to be
carved after the stone Is set.
Surrounding all this comes the para
pet wall, the base of which was being
set yesterday. This wall will be about
10 feet in height and will be topped
with a decorative belt course" The
parapet wall is to be left blank for the
present, SO that great inscription can
be carved on it later. This inscription
has not as yet been composed, but it
is to be significant not only of the De-
partment of Commerce itself, but also
of the great architectural, composition
known as the triangle and the Signifl-
canoe of that group OF buildings in the
life of the Nation.
The stone is being set on the entire
building by expert artisans Of Alex
ander Howle, the stone-Setting con-
tractor. r...r