Evening star., 1935-09-01
By Wiliam S. Odlin.

y
TINE most imposing Of the Fed
eral Governments new $70.-
100000 triangle of buildings
u bordering the Mall is 1.-THE
Archives Of the United States Of
America" now nearing completion.
But this magnificent structure, ex-
ceeded in height in downtown Wash
ington only by the Monument. the
Capitol and the old Post once De-
partment Building, has been found to
have Numerous other distinctions.
Not the least among these is the
fact that even before the building can
be occupied 1t has been discovered
that 1t Is too small to house all the
priceless documents Of the Govern
ment Of which 1t is to be the perma-
nent depository. When the building
was designed 1t was realized that fu-
ture space demands would require ex-
pansion and, accordingly, structural
connections were built in. That future
has arrived even ahead Of dedication
Of the structure and the work OF pro-
Wding millions more cubic feet OF
stacks for document storage in the
large interior court is now under way.
In the meantime, the Archives
Building, first projected exactly q
century and a quarter ago, is suf-
ficiently near completion to reveal its
splendorS. OF pure Roman architec-
ture, designed by the eminent John
Russell Pope of New York. 1t stands at
the apex of the Federal triangle.
Towering $50 feet in the air In q city
that has a building limit Of ITO feet
it dominates all surroundings, includ-
ing the other new department build
ings.
It's east-and-west length, includ-
ing the dry moat which nearly sur
rounds it, is 406 feet, and it Is 800
feet wide. It Is six high-ceilinged
stories high and underneath 1t are
three Easements. Up to the main
door 1t is built of Milford pink granite
and all above is buff Indiana lime
stone.
Upon near approach to the hand
some structure the outstanding fea-
ture meeting the eye is the series Of
Sc mammoth Corinthian pillars that
adorn every side of the building
These are go feet tall and their carved
capitals are 9 feet and 6 inches in
diameter. Above them are deeply
carved inscriptions, Of which the fol-
lowing, from the west facade, Is
typical:
THE glory and romance of our his
icles Of those who conceived and
huilded the structure Of our Nation"
The thought is paraphrased in the
legend on the Archives oflcial seal,
"Littera scripta manet"-the written
word endures.
Approaching the overpowering south
elevation opposite the Mall, which at
the top of long, gradual incline Of
steps contains the main entrance. the
eye is captured, after its gaze has
descended from the towering clere-
story and the pediment sculptured by
James E. Fraser, by two enormous
stone statues at the sides Of the steps
They also are the work Of Fraser and
are reputed to be the largest ever
hewn from a single block. One is the
seated figure Of Clio, muse of history,
denoting the contents Of the building
behind her, and the other an armed
Roman legionary, conveying with what
determination the American Govern
ment at last will guard the precious
story of its life.
Leaving these the eye next meets
two Of the largest bronze doors on
earth which, when the building Is
closed for the day, I'LL a doorway 40
by 20 feet with significant implication
that what lies beyond must rest in
violate.
When, on electric impulse-no hu-
man hand would sufflce-the doors
slide back and visitors may inspect
the interior magnificence Of the
Archives Building they next will see
a gigantic spear-topped bronze grill
Passing through the huge gate Of this,
surmounted by stern eagles. one
stands in a cathedral-like rotunda
70 feet wide, whose dome, strikingly
reminiscent of st. Sophia's In Istan-
bul, Is 100 feet above the marble floor
On either side Of the majestic semi
circular wall will be II by 81 foot
murals, painted by Barry Faulkner,
respectively on the themes Of the
Declaration Of Independence and the
Constitution Of the United States.
Below them are glass and bronze cab
inets for the display Of national docu-
mentS Of the first rank and between.
at the heart and core of this whole
enterprise for the protection and
preservation Of the Nations historic
original papers, is being built large
marble, bronze and glass altar.
THIS obviously was designed to be
the final depository Of the two
greatest, the Declaration Of Inde-
pendence and the Constitution. Both
Of these now rest in the Library Of
Congress, the former after hazardous
wanderings that more than once en-
dangered its very existence.
It is quite understandable that the
Library Is not enthusiastic over the
possibility Of losing exhibits which
annually draw thousands Of patriotic
Americans and even visitors from
other lands to its portals. On the
other hand it is equally apparent that
national archives minus the two most
tremendously significant papers in
United States history would be un-
thinkable.
The issue is a grave one. An act o:
Congress will be necessary to move
these historic documents. To the
neutral observer it seems patent that
the shrine prepared in the Archives
Building provides q setting far more
adequate and impressive than the
modest little tabernacle in which the
documents now are on view at the
Library of Congress. Moreover, the
marble tablet above the glass and
bronze exhibit case in the Archives
rotunda is obviously for the inScrip-
ton in bronze letters of the deathless