Evening star., 1938-08-30

Time secretary lcKeS denied the request
on the ground that there had been
too much Federal expenditure in
Washington and il any more was to
be spent 1t should be authorized so as
to reduce the enormous rental paid
by the Federal Government.
Since then his attitude has changed.
He recently informed The Star that
the amount of Federal expenditure in
Washington would have no bearing
on the matter of meeting the munich
pal needs of the local government.
which are in no way affected by the
new Federal building program.
Plans for the proposed Municipal
Center have been pared, peeled and
cut down in recent years to bargain
counter price. An appropriation of
100000 made by Congress enabled the
drafting Of plans several years ago in
cooperation with the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. These
original plans were drastically revised.
In November, 1894. three radically
new plans were submitted. The Park
and Planning Commission was anx-
ious to have the center buildings,
when constructed, correlated with the
street widening plan in the area from
Third to Sixth streets and Pennsyl-
vania to Indiana avenue NV. 1t
was anxious as well to obtain a har-
monious development with the Apex
Building and the then proposed Mel
Ion Art Gallery.
The whole center plan was based
on the theory that the National Capt.
tails own municipal buildings should
be, from an architectural standpoint,
hitting companions for the Federal
edif1ces. District officials themselves
earlier had advocated erection of
buildings less monumental than those
demanded by Federal authorities. who
saw the center chiefly as a neighbor
to the United States Governments
structures. Consequently, plans look
ing to more elaborate development
were drawn up when Congress ad-
vanced 100000 for the purpose.
Contracts Are Signed.
The Commissioners and the P. w. A.,
meanwhile, signed formal contracts
covering loan grants for five groups of
projects, for which P. w. A. approval
already had been announced inform
ally.
The total cost Of these five groups
OF projects is 1886, 625. of which the
District will repay $2,176,14375, which
Is IS per cent of the total.
The District will have "a years to
repay the loan, with interest at 4 per
cent beginning in 194l.
The list subject to the formal CON-
tracts provides for eight school
projects, expansion of the new part
OF the District Jail to be built this
year under regular D. C. appropria-
lions, a variety of sewer extensions,
some of them intended to reduce
pollution in the Klingle, Rock Creek
and Anacostia Valleys; sewer and
water works at the District Reforma-
tory and Workhouse and building
expansion at the District Train
ing School for Feeble Minded at
Laurel, Md.
The District already had entered
into formal contracts for the construc-
ton OF new municipal court, an ad-
dition to Gallinger Hospital and q
new juvenile court.
Sl.03S.00e for Schools.
For the eight school projects, subject
to today's agreements, the P. w. A.
will advance $1,03S,000, of which the
District will repay $570,900. The
funds will provide for construction of
halls for the Bancroft and
Schools, assembly halls and
gymnasiums for the Giddings, Monroe
and Smothers Schools; construction of
\ new Bunker Hill elementary school,
Of an annex to the
Martha Murray Washington Voca-
tional School, and an addition to the
Kingsman School. The school
projects must be started within II
weeks and completed by June 80, 1910. !
A sum of 81 SOC, 900 will be advanced
by the P. w. A. for the construction
and equipment Of four new cell blocks
at the District Jail, construction of
two connecting buildings and a power
plant The District will repay $780,
900. This work must be started by
January and completed by June 80,
1910.
The p. W. A. will advance $758,625
for 4 long list Of improvements and
extensions to the sewer system. The
District must repay $417,24575. This
work must be started within eight
weeks and finished within 20 months
A sum Of 100000 will be advanced
for additions and Improvements to the
water works and sewage system at the
Lorton Reformatory and the Occoquan