Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

days of progress, with historic land
marks as well as dens, novels and dis
reputable, dilapidated buildings biting
the dust in the gigantic program of
building a splendid new oficial center
in the National Capital:
With 50 much of the old triangle"
south Of Pennsylvania avenue to the
Mall cleared Of the ramshaekle struc-
lures which predominated as a result
of the Federal Governments holding a
deaths hand over this area for nearly a
half a century through avowed intent
some day to occupy it with the Govern
ments workshop, citizens and visitors
are treated to new vistas and views of
the Capitol, Treasury, Washington Mon
ument, etc, from different angles
Even without the massive. monument
tai as well as mucn-needed edif1ces to
house Government departments, a Won
derful improvement has been made in
the heart OF the Nations Capital. And
all within very few years.
The cleaning up of the Mall triangle
started from a bill introduced by Rep
reSentative Charles L. Underhill, Repub-
lican, of Massachusetts,, after hearing
testimony by the superintendent of pub
lie buildings and grounds, and favorably
reported to the House on February 25,
1925. This provided for Federal acquisi-
ton of the entire area between the
Treasury and the Capitol on the south
side Of Pennsylvania avenue and border
ing on the Mall" The report to the
House declared that area was an eye
sore and disgrace to the Nations Capt.
tai" It emphasized that 'it was the
plan Of George Washington and has
been since that time the intention of
the executive and legislative depart
ments Of the Government ultimately to
procure these lands for park and build
ing purposes"
Representative Underhill in reporting
to the House made a'vivid word picture
OF unWholesome conditions in the
triangle" IF this land is acquired, -
ne said, ut will wipe out various build
ings commonly known as Chinese
joints, some Objectionable and dilapi-
dated business buildings and all of the
eyesores from the Capitol to the Lin
coin Memorial, giving an uninterrupted
view OF the Capitol, the Washington
Monument and the Lincoln Memorial I"
He urged the imperative necessity of
immediate acquisition Of that area be-
cause land values would be increased
materially with the erection of the
Arlington Memorial Bridge.
President Coolidge gave impetus to
this great program on November 10,
1925, when he declared at the White
HOUSE to Richard N. Elliott, then chair
man OF the House Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds and now as
slstant controller general, that he ia
Vore0 immediate authorization Of a
$z5,OOO,OOO appropriation to purchase
this area.
And now, when two Of the great Gov
eminent buildings are already COM
pleted on this area and ground has
oeen cleared and excavations made for
other large buildings, we NAV well
contemplate the new utilitarian NOM
ments and appreciate the foresight and
INITIATIVE OF these men who started the
big job VAC
With day and night shifts making the
excavations and driving the pilines for
the ornate $3.50 900 structure 10 be
known as the National Archives Build
ing, where historic Center Market stood
onIy Two years ago, 1t is we'll to give
.nousnt 70 what this structure means
70 tne government. Here will be en-
Snrlned some Of the fundamental docl-
ments OF the Government SO placed and
lighted that they can be seen and give
new inspiration to countless school chill
dren and other visitors.
Here also VIII be properly preserved in
nreproof cabinets, guarded against de-
terloration and the ravages of time ALI
the vouchers and other papers of meal
culable value. because If they were de-
stroyeo the Federal Treasury would be
thrown wide open to innumerabIe claims
aLeaoy PAID but against which the Gov
eminent would not be able to defend
itself. NeAeo
Probably the one class of records in
Whlch the people Of the country have
the greatest heart-intereSt are those
"Hlch ofnc'ally record the services of
bear!y 100000 men in the World war.
Whlch are irreplaceable. In attempting
10 OBTAIN relief from the Veterans Adj
mlnstration these service records are
indispensable in establishing service
connections for disabilities and, further
more, in future generations these record.
Win De needed to establish the service of
1oretathers as well as eligibility for or
CARNATIONS that will undoubtedly grow
up IN the years that are 70 come
Sucn records have always been con-
sloereo highly confidential. and the
AoJutant Generals Ofnce and the War
department. have always endeavored to
give these records the best possible
care, but adequate storage facilities
nave been lacking. The World War
records, OF course, are much larger and
more voiumlnous than the old records
that the Adjutant Generals Office has
mad, and these priceless records had to
be stored in f1imsy temporary buildings
that have been declared firetraps, and
Where the nature of the structure
tended to make the records dry up, be-
come brittle and crumbly. THE service
records OF the men who actually were
IN the Army or Navy were stored in
temporary building put up for war work
and since condemned. Something like
10000 600 selective service records of
men enrolled, but not called to active
service, have been kept in two buildings
at Washington Barracks.
Should fire, the atmospheric condi-
lions Of excessive dampneSs or dryneSs
or any other calamity overcome these
papers they could never be replaced.
Patriotic organizations have forcibly
brought this to the attention of Govern
ment officials and members of Con-
gress insisting that an adequate, mod
ern. fireproof building be provided for
their protection.
That's the why" for the Archives
Building and the reason for its being
one of the first to be constructed in
the big $150,o00,0o0 Federal housing
program in the National Capital.
The recent textile strikes in Massa-.
chusetts with appeals to the Federal
ofIicials recalls that Washington has
had its own experiences with labor war
fare connected with an earlier Federal
building program. when the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing Building, now
occupied by part of the Treasury De-
partment was under construction in
July, 1878. Men engaged in digging
excavations for the building were driven
from their work by a mob of outsiders
in protest against their working for
rs cents a day. Thomas Babbington,
one of the workmen, calamity disputed
the right of any one to interfere with
him when he chose to work, and was