Evening star., 1931-06-23
GRANT TO SPEED
CAPITOL CHANGES
Negotiations Under Way
Looking to improvements
for Next Year.

Negotiations were in progress today
between Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd,
executive officer in charge Of the Ar
lington Memorial Bridge Commission;
The District Commissioners and David
Lynn. architect of the Capitol. looking
toward early improvement of the area
Immediately west of the Capitol grounds.
which will give Bicentennial visitors
next year glimpse of the development
program.
It IL probable the next section of old
u street to be widened and Strengthened
into Constitution avenue, running from
The Lincoln Memorial past the Capitol,
will be from Seventh street east past
the Capitol. This will be fitted in with
the enlargement of the Capitol grounds,
now in progress, including the new ave-
nue. being laid out from Union Station
to Pennsylvania avenue at Second
Street. Contingent upon this improve
Iuent will be the erection of the new
$l,250, 900 Standard Oil Building on the
new Constitution avenue (B street i'm
proved between Second and Third
streets. This improvement will make
the triangle between Pennsylvania ave-
nue., Constitution avenue and First
street Government property.
Would Protect Paving.
Col. Grant said that with rapid prog
Tess being made in the improvement of
Constitution avenue, working east from
Seventeenth street and Virginia avenue,
difficulty has arisen regarding the next
stretch from Fourteenth to Twelfth
street, due to the fact new buildings
are to be erected in that area. The
commission does not intend to lay the
new street and then have 1t torn to
pieces by the heavy trucking of build
ing material. So it Is probable the next
section to be undertaken will be the
cutting Of Constitution avenue across
Pennsylvania avenue, II conferences
with the District Commissioners are
satisfactory.
Col Grant explained the Government
now has the square where the old St.
James Hotel is located, the next block
across Pennsylvania avenue, where the
new Municipal Center is to be erected,
and the block between Third and Sec
ond streets, where the new Standard
OH building is to be erected. Thus. he
believes, If it fits in with the program
of the District Commissioners and the
improvement of the Capitol Grounds
under the administration of David Lynn,
this section of Constitution avenue at
the eastern end can be developed most
efficiently as the next item in the pro-
gram.
Variation From Program.
This will vary the old program of
Constitution avenue improvement in
connection with the building of proper
approaches to the new Arlington Memo
rial Bridge, but it will greatly facilitate
the Capitol development program in
preparation for the Bicentennial cele-
bration here next year. This work is
all authorized under the Arlington
Memorial Bridge act, but the appro-
priationS are not yet available. as they
are made from year to year. 1t is
probable, however, that in order to eX-
pedite the improvement so the city may
present the best possible appearance to
Bicentennial visitors, Congress will
promptly make appropriations "imme-
diately available" for this work
This program would clear away many
of the unsightly buildings along Penn
sylvania avenue at the west frontage
Of the Capitol grounds, greatly improv-
ing the outlook for Capital visitors and
giving them a better view of the tre-
mendous program of Capitol develop
ment. 1t would link in with the re-
location and improvement of the Ma
tional Botanic Garden to the south side
of the Mall and clear the way for lay
ing out Union Square," across the
Mall, which Is one of the most impor-
tant Improvements west of the Capitol.
Building to Be Started.
Arrangements are being made for
starting construction of the new Dis
trict Headquarters Building for the
Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey. on
the north side of Constitutional avenue
between Second and Third streets, with
the award of the job to James Stewart
g. Co., it was announced today.
The work, however, is being held up
due to delay of the Government in ac-
Quiring the present property of the oil
concern on Pennsylvania avenue at
Third street, and the widning of Con-
stitution avenue.
John 2. Walker. representative of
the oil concern, said he expected some
action in the project within 10 days.
The new Standard Oil Building is to
be Of five stories. faced with limestone,
the estimated cost being about 81 ,250,-
900. 1t would front 335 feet on Consti-
tuition avenue and have depth of II
feet.
Plans for the building we're announced
in February of 1880, and one reason for
the delay in its construction. it was said
today. was uncertainty as to when the
Government would take possession of
the present building and when Constitu- 4
ton avenue would be widened Because
of the widening project the new build
ing is to be set back 40 feet from the
present street.