Evening star., 1934-08-03
Rate By MalI-PayabIe In Advance.
No More Mausoleums.


Secretary MorgerTthau. following
the precept Of the administrator Of
public works, Secretary Ickes, declares
that the era Of imposing Federal
buildings In this country Is at an end.
He cited the erection in recent years
IN many cities Of expensive structures
where more utilitarian and less costly
ones would have sufficed. Orders
have been given TO revise drastically
the plans for works that have not
already been started. The structures
TO be turned out under the new pro-
gram will not be mere factory build
ings," he said. adding: There will
be no more mausoleumS."
A survey of the public constructions
In the United States would yield
many examples OF decidedly poor
architecture, Of needless cost, Of dis
proportionate dimensions. So long
spread has been the work OF equip
ping the Government with its re-
quired accommodations-its needs
never fully met in results--that the
widest conceivable variations are evi-
dent. There are some factory build
ings" that are veritable disgrace to
the country. There are some over
elaborated constructions In poor taste
and poor economy. There has been
no established school" Of public
building art.
washington presents some of these
contrasts, as for example the State
War-Navy Building. which will some
day, If present plans are executed,
be modified in external appearance
to its great betterment, and the old
Pension Once, which closely ap-
proaches the factory type, and,
likewise II present plans are followed,
perhaps soon to be amended in ap-
pearance TO its great improvement.
The Secretary's reference TO 'nau-
soleums" evokes q particular interest.
Just which Of the existing structures,
especially in Washington, If any, fall
within this category is not indicated.
The word 'mauSoleum" appeals quick
ly 10 the imagination. It is defined as
"a tomb of more than ordinary size
or architectural pretensions, especially
q grand monumental structure, so
called from the splendid tomb erected
at HelicarnasSus, $50 BIC, in honor
OF King ..Iusolus of Caria by his
widow. Artemesia." Would the old
Post once Department Building here
at the Capital be so classified? Or
would the much newer and, according
to all architectural judgment, In
finitely finer Department of Commerce
Building be called ''mausoleum"?
The tomb of Mausolus at Helicar-
naSSus was rated as one Of the seven
wonders Of the world, the others being
the pyramids OF Egypt. the hanging
gardens at Babylon, the temple of
Diana at EphesuS, the Colossus of
Rhodes. PhidiaS' statue Of Jupiter, the
PharoS at Alexandria and the golden
palace Of Cyrus. Only the pyramids
remain intact the others having
passed into history and tradition. Per-
hapS a List Of seven mausoleums of
American design and construction
might be made to serve as warnings
Of architectural sins to be avoided in
the new program of Government
works II bad examples are to be
sought for such purpose the only
difficulty will be in selection. There
are undoubtedly numerous instances
of waSteful expenditure upon desgn
and detail, with far less of convsn-
ience and accommodation than prac-
tical purposes require.
The new deal of public architecture
surely should not go so far as to
eSchew all consideration for the future
taste of the public. A busineSslike
balance between stringent economy
and wsStefulness can be found. Ger
tainly in completing the Governments
program of construction here at the
Capital there should be no parsimony,
aS well as no ''mauSoleumS.