Evening star., 1938-08-30
p. w. A.
Continued From First Page.)


Continued From First Page.)
Districts administrative offices to the
new location on judiciary Square is
the problem Of disposing Of the present
District Building. A huge valuation
has been placed on the building by
District officials.
$1,000, 900 Available.
Including the 81 100000 authorize
ton made by Congress, the sum ap-
proved by the P. W. A. makes $780,
600 available to start the municipal
center. Should the entire estimated
cost not exceed So, 900, 900 the amount
will be sufficient to complete con-
siderably more than half the build
ing. 1t is so designed that wings may
be added from time to time.
A good portion of the P. w. A.
funds, it was learned, will 60 for
boilers and a heating and power
system.
The increased funds, beyond any
expectation, give rise to an interesting
problem concerning use to be made of
John Marshall place which runs
through the site.
Because the thoroughfare provides
beautiful vista Of the old court
house from Pennsylvania avenue there
is disposition on the part Of some
Federal and District oflcials to keep
1t open. Construction work on the
administration building will start on
the northeast corner of Third street
and Indiana avenue and extend west
ward as funds become available. This
eventually would carry the building
across John Marshall place and cut
off the vista of the courthouse. 1t
raises at once the question Of whether
the building should be extended be-
yond John Marshall place.
To Extend to Sixth Street.
That question is one for the deter
mination Of the District Commission
ers. the Fine Arts Commission, the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission and the P. w. A. The
whole scheme for the municipal CEN
ter eventually will be extended west
to Sixth street.
A large part Of the area in which
immediate construction would start is
vacant. A sizeable demolition job
must be carried through, however, as
the building is extended westward.
AS soon as contract is signed, with
the P. w. A. releasing Is per cent of
the funds for initial expenses, con-
struction work will start. 1t will have
to be expedited. since the law requires
completion of all projects by January
l, 1910. That will give a good year
and a half.
District officials continued their pol
icy Of discreet silence. Not since Sec
retary Ickes publicly rebuked them for
rushing into print atout their P.
w. A. program have the Commission
ers or any one else down the line dis
cussed proposals in advance Of the
signing of contracts.
The unexpected increase in funds
for the municipal center led to ru-
mors that. the Commissioners in bar
gaining two weeks ago had agreed to
throw out some of the minor items re-
naming on the program. Mr.. Gray
said today, however, that is not 80.
$22,7O5.0Oe Program.
The increase in the municipal CEN
ter allotment brings the District pro-
gram to $22,705, 900, little more than
half of which has already been granted.
>The terms under which P. w. A.
money is allotted to the District are
even more advantageous than the
former 60-40 ratio of congressional
appropriations abandoned some years
ago in the interests Of Federal
economy. Under that arrangement
Congress appropriated 40 per cent to-
ward the upkeep of the District of
Columbia. P. w. A. will contribute
IS per cent and the balance of IS
per cent. in the nature of a loan,
may be repaid at per cent interest
over a period of rs years, unless the
District budget makes it preferable
to repay it quicker.
Pending on the District program
awaiting action from the P. w. A.
are the following applications: $9l0,-
900 for the Glenn Dale tuberculosis
Hospital; 100000 for three branch
libraries; $2.750,000 for the National
Guard Armory; $l,080,000 for the
first half Of the Fort Drive; $55,000a
for an addition to the Highway De-
partment garage; and $4,000 for q
Health Center.
There is pending also approximately
half Of the s3,8ll,375 requested for
new public school construction and
about $750,000 for a 96-inch water
main from Delecarlia to Georgetown
Reservoir. The P. w. A. has allotted
81 ,030,000 for eight new school build
ings and there is still a possibility
that eight more will be approved.
Ickes' Attitude Chapxed.
Three years ago the Commissioners
sought In vain to obtain . p. W. A.
loan and grant Of s4,600, 900 for de.