Evening star., 1932-01-02

which is linked Win Jne IIlIee NefeloP-
ments outlined here, is that OF consul
tuition avenue from the Capitol Grounds
to the Lincoln Memorial, which Is 10
become the ceremonial avenue OF the
Capital During the past year the sec
ton Of this street from Fourteenth
street to Virginia avenue was Wloeneo
and repaved and progress was MADE In
acquisition Of private property in the
line of the widening project in the
stretch from North Capitol to sixth
street. Congress is asked to appropriate
funds for the completion OF this INK
of the widened avenue during the en-
suing year. The remaining link, from
Sixth to Fourteenth street is to be de-
ferred to another year, awaiting further
progress on building operations IN the
Triangle.
The colossal new home Of the Depart
ment of Commerce between Fourteenth
and Fifteenth street, Constitution ave
nue. and E street, the first and largest
unit of the Federal Triangle develop
ment, was completed late in 1881 and
this week a caravan Of trucks began the
task Of moving equipment Of Commerce
employees into this $l7,500,00O Struc-
ture.
Meanwhile, during the past year con-
tracts were let which set long chain
of operations into motion which ellrrl-
mated many old landmarks and set the
stage for construction OF SIX major
buildings in the Triangle proper.
Wreckers attacked the old structures
standing in the area at Fourteenth
street and Constitution avenue early in
the second quarter Of the year and
later spread their razing operations TO-
ward the east and north! The home OF
the Potomac Electric Power c., with its
two immense smokeStacks, was the nrst
to fall.
Excavation in Progress.
The new home of the Department Of
Labor now is being constructed at Four
teenth street and Constitution avenue
and the new building for the Interstate
Commerce Commission at the northwest
corner of Twelfth street and Constitu-
ton avenue, with the Government Au-
torium to rise between these two. Ex-
cavation work now is IN progress Tor
these three.
Work also Is in progress on the ex-
cavation for the new Post Once Build
ing, which is to rise TO the north OF
the Interstate Commerce Building and
to the west Of the old Post once
Building. It will front on the south side
OF Pennsylvania avenue west Of Twelfth
street.
The costs of these buildings are esti-
mated at SO 10000 for the Post ONCE
Department, s4,5o0,oo0 for the Inter
state Commerce Commission Building,
S4,75OO00 for the Labor Building and
S4,5OO,000 for the Government Audi
torium.
In another sector Of the Federal Tri-
angle, farther to the east, other notable
changes were effected which forecast
still more remarkable improvements IN
the face of downtown washington Tor
the near future. The historic red brlck
Center Market, between Seventh and
Ninth streets, south of Pennsylvania
avenue, was razed early in the past year
and excavation later made for the new
Archives Building. Ground was broken
fol this building with formal ceremonies
on September 4 last. This building will
begin to rise soon. 1t will cost $9,-
100000
On neighboring area to the west eX-
cavators now are at work preparing for
the construction Of the new home of the
Department of Justice Building, on the
area between Ninth and Tenth streets,
Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues.
The cost Of this monumental structure
Is estimated at $l2,000,000
During the last year also contract
was let for the preparation of detail
plans for the Apex" building to be
erected at the small end Of the Fed
eral Triangle, between Sixth and Sew
enth streets, Pennsylvania and Consti-
tuition avenues. This building has an
authorized cost of $4,000 900. Final de-
cision as yet has not been announced
whether this structure will house the
United States Coast Guard employees or
other Government agencies. Construc-
tion may be started during the new
year but announcement as to this also
Is lacking. ~
Supreme Court Home Under Way.
Amazing changes were made in the
Capitol Hill section during the past
year, work now in progress already
indicating the beauty and grace of the
plan now being carried TO fruition
there.
Construction of the new home for
the United States Supreme Court,
which will be one of the most stately
J structures in the long list of monu-
! mental new Government buildings here,
! was started late in 1881 following
. award Of the contract at a figure Of
$6,383, 900.
This marble edifce will rise on the
site between Maryland avenue, East
Capitol, First and Second streets
northeast, facing the United States
Capitol. The foundation work on this
building was started early last year,
following the clearing Of the area
which eliminated from Washington
some of its old landmarks, including
the historic brick structure on First
street which once was used as the
Capitol Building.
Near the site of the Supreme Court
Building is a major, semi-public struc-
ture which has been structurally COM
pleted, the Shakespeare Memorial Ii
brary. built by the late Henry Clay
Folger, on the site of old Grant Row,
on the south side Of East Capitol
street between Second and Third
streets. The building, costing $780,
900, has an exterior Of white marble.
Temporary Buildings Removed.
Paving the way for later conStruc-
ton of the large addition to the Con-
gressional Library, q condemnation
jury in September reported condemna-
tion purchase prices for this site, which
runs from Second to Third streets
southeast from Pennsylvania avenue
north to the rear Of the property Of
the Shakespeare Memorial Library.
To the north Of the Capitol the last
of the old, temporary Government Ho-
sels buildings were removed as prog
re6S was made in the enlargement and
elaborate treatment to the Capitol
Plaza. This expansive area has been
graded and new avenue completed
FOR half its length from Union Station
to its ultimate juncture with Pennsyl-
vania avenue at Second street. Work
now is in an advanced stage on the
construction Of an underground garage
Of large size for the use Of members
OF Congress on the site south Of G
street and between New Jersey and
Delaware avenues. There will be a
large fountain development over this
garage, just 10 the south Of the street
car tunnel, completed during the past
year.
The east wing Of the Senate ONCE
Building, which will complete this
structure, will rise during the new year,
work now being in progress on founda-