Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-21
PLAN TO BEAUTIFY
D. c. IS ENLARGED
BY BILL IN HOUSE
Budget Estimate Is Reduced
$4,000 in Effort to
Speed Development.
PUBLIC WAREHOUSE
FUND RECOMMENDED
Roads in Mall, Memorial Parkway
and Minor Improvements
Listed in Project.

The Stupendous program Of develop
ment and Identification of the National
Capital is expedited and enlarged under
the independent officeS appropriation
bill reported to the House today.
The budget estimate Of &4,250, 900 for
the Supreme Court Building, facing the
Capitol from the east, has been reduced
in the sum Of 100000 because David
Lynn, the architect of the Capitol,
under whose supervision the work is
going forward, suggested to the House
Appropriations Committee that it could
be made without delaying construction.
Warehouse Fund Approved.
An appropriation Of $4,000 is rec
commended for q public warehouse
authorization Of $1,750,O00 for this
purpose. The building when completed
will be used for a warehouse for the
General Supply Committee and the
various purchasing officers of the Gov
eminent, enabling them to buy in bulk
and thus effect savings in expenditures
For beginning construction Of roads
in the Mall, in accordance with the
plans Of Maj. LgEnfant and the So
called Mcmillan Commission, 500, 900
is carried In the bill. The plan con-
templates q central open grass vista
from the Capitol to the Washington
Monument, Unframed by rows of elm
trees and hanked by two 30-foot one
way drives. The outer portion of the
Mall will be bordered by 35-foot road
ways, passing directly in front of the
Government buildings. The present
appropriation Is to start the construc-
ton Of these outer roadways.
The budget recommendation of S4,-
100000 for the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission is for pur-
chase OF land for the George Washing
ton Memorial Parkway. One million
fiscal year. The commission anticipates
that by the end of the fiscal year 1882
there will be approved for purchase
projects In excess of the $5,0OO,0 900 ap-
propriated.
Minor Appropriations Listed.
The bill also carries appropriations
In relatively small amounts for improve
ments to the Executive Mansion and
grounds, Among these items are:
Preservation and repair of portraits Of
Presidents, $4,000; purchase Of 'furni-
ture, furnishings, etc, $4,000; recon-
struction Of the pipe tunnel under the
White House because Of overcrOwding
Of the present tunnel, $4,000; remodel
ing the west terrace TO provide addi-
tional ONCE space in lieu Of additions
TO the Executive once Building,
$4,000.
Another million dollars is included
for the Arlington Memorial Bridge prof.
ect, which Is In accordance with the
building program originally adopted
Federal Government Tor the cost of
widening and paving B street north
west, from the Lincoln Memorial past
the Capitol Grounds.
Bridge Project Progresses.
With the exception Of one square all
property abutting upon 3 street north
west Is now owned by the Federal Gov
eminent, and it Is anticipated that the
remaining square will be federally
owned by the time the street is i'm
proved, so that it is anticipated that
this will be the only street bordered on
both sides by Government buildings
and that the entire cost Of paving in
tersections will fall upon the District
Of Columbia, and the cost of paving
the remainder of the street win be
paid 20 per cent by the Federal Gov
eminent and so per cent by the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
The Arlington Memorial Bridge
Commission expects to have the bridge
in complete readiness for use by Feb
ruary, 1882, and has reasonable pros
pect OF being able to open 1t to the
public during the latter part Of the
calendar year 1891.
Mr.. Lynn, consecutive oficer Of the
q. 8. Supreme Court Building Com
mission, explained that S1,768,141 has
been appropriated and paid for the
site for the new Supreme Court Build
ing between East Capitol street and
Maryland avenue, First and Second
streets northeast, directly north of the
Library Of Congress Building and east
Of the Capitol Grounds. For con-
struction Of the Supreme Court Build
ing Congress has authorized expendi-
ture Of $9,T40,000. The commission ex-
poets to have the plans and specifica-
tons OF the Supreme Court Building
ready for the first contract which viii
include the excavation and foundation
work in q couple of weeks. and the
plans and specifications for the super
structure viii be ready In March or
April.
Tract Acquisition Explained.
Plans of the Government for taking
over the triangle between Maryland
avenue, First and B streets northeast,
which Is now occupied In part by the
Methodist Building, and for the ac-
QUESTION Of other privately owned
property bordering the Capitol grounds
were explained by Mr.. Lynn in re-
SPONGE to questions from members of
the Appropriations Committee. He
said that he had found q strong senti-
ment in Congress in favor of purchas-
ing the Methodist Building and the two
squares directly north, one Of which
just east Of the Senate once Building
Is to be acquired as q site for the Gen.
eral Accounting ONCE at an estimated
cost of $3.50, 1000, and the square north
of that on which there are several
tourist hotels is to be acquired by the
Government so as to do away with
privately-owned property facing the
development Of the entire area between
the Union Station and the Capitol.