Evening star., 1934-03-10
FINE ARTS BODY
0.K.'SM0NUMENT
HEATING SYSTEM
Plan Would Furnish Conn.,
fort to Visitors and Halt
Deterioration.
UNDECIDED ON TYPE
OF PLANT TO BE USED
Work of Filling Crevices in
Stones of Shaft to Be Done
This Spring.

11cdIulS VI tllc washington MOIlu.
ment to aid in halting deterioration
and add to the comfort Of visitors,
as recommended in a report by John
l.. Nagle, engineer Of the National
Park Service, was indorsed yesterday
by the Fine Arts Commission after
1t had made a personal inspection
Of the shaft.
DR.. Charles Moore, the commission
chairman, said today the Monument
should be heated to about SO de-
grees. He left 1t to the engineers
to determine If this should be done
through the new central system, in
stalled near the Bureau of Engrav-
ing and Printing, or through cleo
trical means. DR.. Moore explained
that sudden changes in temperature
cause the stones to drip and visi-
tors are exposed to catching severe
colds. In the heating, provisions
will have to be made to prevent
upward drafts, but this problem can
be overcome by the engineers. DR..
Moore believes.
No Action on Gardens
the commissioners did not 60 Into
the question pertaining to the prof.
ected Washington Monument gardens,
for which one proposal has been to
tear down the Monument entirely and
rebuild it from rock bottom. The
present Washington Monument Is
not on bed rock. At yesterday after
Moons inspection of the Monument,
the commission concerned itself only
with repairs and the putting Of the
shaft in order.
Filling crevices in the stones,
through which rain seeps in, will be
done this Spring. under present plans,
with Public Works Administration
funds.
The commission yesterday approved
the design submitted by Delos Smith,
consulting architect to the Depart
ment of Agriculture. for new buildings
at its experimental station at Belts
vile, Md. Mr.. Smith submitted a
program, calling for erection of q re-
search laboratory building, pumping
station. hospital and service build
ing, designed in the Georgian type
of architecture.
After sketches for new admins
tration building for the Pan-American
Union had been submitted the COM
mission took them under considera-
ton. These plans were prepared by
DR.. Paul Cret. architect of the Pan
American Union, for the structure
to be placed on Constitution avenue,
between Eighteenth and Nineteenth
streets. This building is designed to
harmonic with white buildings that
stretch along Constitution avenue
tomac River.
Sketches Submitted.
The quartermaster generals Office
of the War Department submitted
sketches for barracks to be built in
the vicinity of the Naval Hospital and
to be occupied by military police. The
commission also took these under
consideration.
An additional story on the Interior
Department Building, made possible
by Public Works Administration al
location, will be the subject of fur
ther consideration on the part of the
commission.
Favoring erection Of two new ma
tional Christmas trees in Lafayette
Park, rather than in Sherman Square,
just east of the White House, c. Mar
shall Finnan, superintendent of the
National Capital Parks, went before
the commission to urge this course.
Civic authorities here have previously
gone on record as favoring Lafayette
Park with the White House as a
background for the Yuletide cere-
mony at which the President offici-
ates. The Fine Arts Commission has
been represented in the past as in
clining toward Sherman Square as
the proper location for a national
Christmas tree
Due to recent Public Works Admin
istration activity, in enlarging the
roadways east and south of the White
House, Sherman Square has been re-
duced in size.
Charles A. Coolidge, eminent Bos-
ton architect, took his seat yesterday
as q commission member for the first
time since his appointment by Presi-
dent Roosevelt.