Evening star., 1933-10-14
CAPITAL ARCHES
SOURCE OF PRIDE
Union Station and City Post
Office Among Structures
Like Those of Old.
Hy JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

Although the Nations Capltal never
has been especially notable Tor It's
arches, there are in the city many
fine examples of the best forms OF
arch design. Doubtless the specimens
available would be more adequately ap-
preciated if they were better under
stood.
An arch, it may be noted, IS "an
architectural term denoting structural
form made up of a series or Weoge-
shaped stones or bricks so arranged
over a door or window in an edltlce Tor
habitation, or between the piers OF
bridge, as to support each other and to
carry IN addition the weight OF the
superstructure Each portion, as might
be supposed, has a technical name.
The origin of the arch is lost IN
Antiquity. Authorities agree that there
is no mention of the genuine arch IN
the Scriptures, but it was known In
Egypt as early as about 2o20 BIC:
Frank A. Bourne says, The round
arch was brought into extensive use
by the Romans and prevailed every
where until the 18th century A. D.,
when the arch pointed at the apex, and
called in consequence the pointed arch
the one SO frequently seen in Gothic
rchitecture-appeared in Europe as
its rival" There can be no question
about the genius of the original in
ventor of the idea. 1t is one Of the
most graceful forms to be found any
where in the world, and the individual
who first conceived. designed and exc
cuted it must have been one of the
greatest artists who ever lived.
Union Station Example.
For arches of the authentic Roman
type the Union Station might we'll
serve as a universal Mecca. AS "the
monumental gateway to the Capital,
it seemed fitting that the architectural
motifs" of the building should be
drawn from the triumphal arches OF
Rome" The architect, Daniel H. Burn
ham, made the most of his opportunity.
The whole motif of the structure as he
created it is based on the Latin arch
theme. The terminal is, in effect, a
symphony of arches. The main front
is one of the noblest facades in ex-
istence. 1t has three arches each 29l2
feet wide and 4834 feet high, with
seven 1anking aches. II feet wide by
pavilions have aches % feet wide by
S8la feet wide.
The west elevation has five arches, |
each 19 feet wide and 81 feet high,
and one arch - feet wide and "a feet
high, and in the east elevation the
same arrangement is repeated with
variation. The material of the
exterior walls is white granite from
Bethel Vermont. The main feature of
the interior is the general waiting |
room, modelled on the design of the I,
Baths of Diocletian, with magnificent
Roman barrel-vaulted ceiling whose !
apex is Sc feet above the floor Viewed |
from selected point of vantage at
the east end of the structure, it amply /
justifies the judgment that Imperial
Rome at her greatest did not possess a |
hall of such proportions" The per- |
spective is a harmonious recession of !
arching lines unparalleled in their /
beauty /
City Post Office Arches.
The Washington City Post Office also /
has several fine arches of the classic !
type in its corner pavilions. Pierce ,
Anderson was the architect, and he !
spoke of its style as that of the monu-
mental work of Roman times" The
whole character of the ediflce is in tune |
with the station, and, of course, it is |
proper that it should be so.
For Gothic arches in their perfection
Washington Cathedral already is dis
tinguished. When completed it should
be one of the finest churches in Chris
tendon, comparable with Chartres. |
Canterbury and Milan for its aspiring .
grandeur of line. +
The Capitol has no exterior arches
OF special note, but for appropriate
simplicity of design the main entrance
on the east front framing the bronze /
Columbus doors is eminently Satisfac- |
tory.
The Library of Congress has num-
bers of italian Renaissance arches |
rr,iy,I yoI ",
Hampshire granite, but its most note
worthy forms are the white italian !
marble arches of its interior. The So
called Commemorative Arch above the
entrance to the reading room is the
metaphoric core of the whole structure. 3
framing as it does he tablet which /
tells of the buildings construction. In
the reading room proper there are
four tiers of arches, one set upon an
other around the eight sides of the |
octagon of the rotunda |
For Romanesque arches the Post
Office Department building on Penn
sylvania avenue at Eleventh street may
be cited. A composition in gray granite,
1t has three heavy arches in its main
facade and one on each Of its sides.
There are smaller and less weighty |
arches in its first, fifth and seventh
floors and in its tower balcony.
Pan American Building.
The three entrance arches of the Pan
American Union building are especially ,
graceful, and there is a group of three
in the loggia Of the annex at the west
end of the gardens.
The Freer Gallery also has three
entrance arches Of the classic type as
preserved in the Italian Renaissance,
put even more attractive are the arches
of the inner court built of Tennessee ,
marble.
The bird house and the reptile
house of the Washington Zoo, designed |
by Albert r. Harris, are decorated with
interesting doorways of a Moorish type.
But visiting critics probably find in
the arches of Washington bridges some
of the most satisfying examples of the /
form to be found in the neighborhood |
Cabin John Bridge is one of the un-
challenged wonders of the modern !
world. Built in 1857-1864, under the !
direction of Secretary of War jefferson |
Davis and General Montgomery G. |
Meigs, 1t crosses Cabin John Greek, |
seven miles northwest of the city. Its |
span. 220 feet across at the base and |
105 feet in height is lone of the most |
noteworthy achievements of stone |
masonry extant The material used !
was Quincy, Mass, granite, and it /
was constructed to endure forever |