Evening star., 1937-07-11
AUDITORIUM TYPE
TODETERM|NE SITE
TO Be SUGGESTED
Third and Constitution Area
to Be Urged if Building Is
to Be Just an Arena.
ADVISORY UNIT TO MAKE
ITS REPORT THIS WEEK
Anacostia Location Backed il
Sports Development Is to
Be Included.

II a downtown auditorium, seating
around $4,000, is desired, the loca-
ton at Third street and Constitution
avenue will be suggested, but if
larger development is required, en-
bodylng various activities in a sports
center, as well as larger auditorium,
then the site at the end of East Cap
ltol street, on the banks of the Ana
costa River, is desirable.
This, in effect, is believed to be the
glst OF the recommendation the Dis
trlct OF Columbia Auditorium Ad-
vlsory Committee will present shortly.
judged by the situation as it was
shaping up yesterday.
Under the legislation setting up the
District of Columbia Auditorium
Commission, headed by Secretary
1ckes, the report is required to be in
the hands Of Congress this session.
Secretary Ickes has been i'll for some
time at the Naval Hospital but has
now returned to his Office at the In
terror Department and is able to re-
ceive the report from his advisory
committee.
To Draft Report This Week.
c. Marshall Finnan, superintendent
OF the National Capital Parks and
advisory committee head, this week
Finnan proposes to draft the report and
place tentative copies in the hands
OF his fellow committee members.
preparatory to final decision. as en-
bodied in the findings to be submitted
TO the Ickes commission. Serving
with Ickes on the commission are two
Senator's and two Representatives
They will probably have their own
ideas and write separate report to
Congress.
The F1nnan groups report is ex-
pected to go forward late this week
or early next. Serving with Finnan
are Frederic A, Delano chairman of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission; Dr. Charles Moore,
chairman of the Fine Arts Commits
sion, and Rear Admiral Christian J.
Peoples, director of procurement,
Treasury Department-and the Dis
trict Government has a voice in the
deliberations. John Nolen, jr., direc-
tor OF planning of the Planning Com
mission, has been representing Delano,
and Louis A. Simon, supervising arch
ltect In the Procurement Division. has
been representing Admiral Peopes.
Congressional Act Needed.
The Flnnan committee has worked
up a mass OF data to accompany the
report and number of plans will be
submitted with its findings. Mainte-
nance costs and overhead generally,
as well as income have been compiled
from number of auditoriums in Mid
western and Eastern cities. These
figures will accompany the report to
aid Congress in deciding what kind
OF an auditorium the Capital should
have.
The Third street and Constitution
avenue site for the auditorium-which
finds favor in the minds Of many
is part OF the original Municipal Cen
ter program. Congress would have to
enact legislation. it is believed, set
ting this area aside for an auditorium.
The Municipal Auditorium at Kan
sas City, Mo, constructed with the
aid Of Public Works Administration
funds, is under study as a model
auditorium, embodying the latest i'm
provements and enabling the build
ing to be emptied rapidly.
Serving with Secretary Ickes are
Chairman Connally of the Senate
Public Buildings and Grounds Com
mittee and Senator Austin. Repub-
lcan. Of Vermont and Chairman Lam
ham OF the House Public Buildings
and Grounds Committee and Repre-
sentative j. Will Taylor, Republican,
OF Tennessee.