Evening star., 1931-12-08

Jackson was feeling peeved with Con-
gress that morning, as other Presidents
rave felt and purposely screened his
view of it.
From L'Enfant to Hoover, usually by
design and seldom by crance, the city
has grown through the years with
fidelity to its original plans.
Sense Perfect Art of City.
'As we stand today in the dome of
the Capitol and look down the verdant
Mall, fianked by shining new edifices,
across the splendid Memorial Bridge to
Arlington, We sense Its perfect art
Here is in the making an architectural
triumph Of the ages. Here will be the
substance Of all that builders ever
dreamed, from Greece, Rome, Babylon
and Luxor to the Tai Mahal and Yer
sailles
"As President Hoover said, this effort
is more than merely the making of q
beautiful city. BY It's dignity and archi-
tectural inspiration we stimulate pride
in our country, we encourage the ele-
ration of thought which comes from
great architecture. Here were
fought the political battles that tested
the foundations of our Government. We
face similar problems In our time, and
leans will face the problems of their
time. For our tasks and their tasks
there Is need of daily inspiration of
surroundings that suggest not only the
traditions of the past, but the great
ness of the future
Ito an interesting degree the making
OF modern Washington resembles the re-
construction Of Paris by Napoleon III
IS years ago. He tore away miles of
the old buildings to create the Paris of
today. You see the same thing going
on here now, as hundreds Of old houses
are destroyed and the debris trucked
away from the center of the Nations
Capital.
Cites Rebuilding Of Paris.
"The rebuilding of Paris had such a
great effect on France that the Institut
oes Beaux Arts was established, which
has drawn to Paris thousands Of young
architects, sculptors, painters and others
interested In the fine arts from all parts
Of the world
Similarly, Washington is rapidly be-
coming the greatest art center Of
America.
"One Spring day in 1785 a group of
tired business men called on George
Washington to talk about trade. The
fSeVolution nao Deen won, but business
was bad. These merchants asked the
Government to do something But
more than 100 years elapsed before a
Department of Commerce was estab-
lished.
To-day this department Is moving to
its new sl7,50o,000 home, one of the
greatest structures ever built by man.
1t took 90 acres of plaster to cover its
walls. It stands on 80 miles of concrete
piltng and its 36 elevators will carry
300 people at once. It's corridors are
Z miles long Seven thousand, five hun
dred men and women will assemble in
1t daily to work for Uncle Sam.
In it you may see everything, from
live fish to rotary presses that print
coastal charts for navigators and mans
OF airways to guide flying men, or trade
promotion movies.
THE United States Capitol will always
De the wonder building of our city, as
1t is OF the world" said DR.. Grosvenor.
Others there are which are larger,
taller, older or more ornate, though not
more beautiful or impressive to the ewes
OF an American. There Is none other
| wherein Is exercised such tremendous
power, which so completely enfolds the
pages OF nations history, where so
many great men have hallowed its halls
by their presence.
Its building began In 1872, eight