Evening star., 1932-02-06
One Great Building Contract.

Decision has been reached By the
Treasury Department to combine in one
operation the Superstructure work for
the four buildings planned for the sec
tor of tte Mall-Avenue triangle i'm
mediately east of the Commerce De-
partment Bids are soon to be invited
for single contract for this construc-
ton. instead of for four different con-
tracts. This plan. 1t is believed, will
make for greater economy, for greater
efficiency and for greater speed. On
these considerations the single-contract
plan is undoubtedly preferable.
The consolidation of the construction
work in this sector will insure co-or-
dination of the operation. The struC-
lures will be virtually single unit, the
fabric being continuous from the
northwest corner of the Labor Depart
ment to the northwest corner Of the
Post Office Building. Division of the
work into sections, with different con-
tracts, would entail possible DELAYS due
to differing rates Of speed. Consoli-
dation will permit the production and
aSSemblage of material on a large scale
and the completion of the several ad-
miniStrative units simultaneously, prob
ably within a shorter period than II
different organizations were engaged
This great contract will make rec
ord for size. 1t will entail total cost
of about t21 $4,000, the largest sum
ever spent in the history Of the coun-
try for single building operation for
the Government. That great sum will
spread over a wide territory Of produc-
tive and manufacturing activity, CIV
ing employment to vast number o..
workers elsewhere than in Washington
in addition to the assembling force en-
gagged here.
In former times the policy OF the
Government has been to spread these
works out, in point of both organiza-
ton and time. Now there Is urgent
need Of speed, as great speed as is con-
sistent with sound workmanship. The
Federal service is cramped for quarters
and its efficiency is leSSened in conse-
ouence. The various units that are to
occupy the structures about to rise in
this sector Of the triangle are now in
inadequate housings. Even the Post
Once, with building Of It's own, which
will be removed as soon as its successor
is available, is not properly accom-
| modated.
1t is expected that by the time the
uuadruple unit for which bids are about
to be opened IS completed the Depart
ment OF Justice, situated two blocks
to the east, will likewise be ready for
occupancy. perhaps earlier, owing to
the slightly advanced beginning. Mean
while the so-called apex building,
east Of Seventh street, will have been
begun and will perhaps also be nearing
completion. Then it will be possible
to raze the old Post ONCE and complete
the unit that has had its beginning
in the Internal Revenue once. 1hat
will conclude the operations in the tri-
angle, save for the successor to the
Southern Railway Building and the
consolidation Of the present Municipal
/ Building into the fabric Of this sector
Thus the decision to consolidate the
contracts for the four structure unit
signifies program of continuous action
at the highest speed consistent with
quality Of construction. 1t is a move
in the direction Of he wisest and most
effective economy, of cost and of time,
which will reduce the period Of waiting
for the first complete housing for the
Federal administrative agencies in the
| history of the Government.