Evening star., 1939-02-23
Architects Leader Opposes
Central Auditorium Site
F.P. Sullivan Cites Figures in Support
Of Contention Troffic Would Be Too Heavy

lHtS Is LHe lZLn OF q series OF
articles dealing 1Dith the audtto-
rtun-stadtum problem pending
In Congress-. Further discussion
toiH tollotD, and the opinions OF
readers are inpited.
Urging study in behalf of a plan
for the whole Washington metro
politan area, Francis p. Sullivan
chairman of the Committee on the
National Capital of the American
Institute of Architects, is opposed to
the Constitution avenue site for the
projected auditorium.
"The plea for careful considera-
ton OF the relative advantages and
disadvantages Of the various loca-
tions suggested" he has said, de
serves the support of every one in
formed on the subject and inter-
ested IN the very important problem
which 1t involves"
Mr.. Sullivan's views are contained
IN a letter prepared for The Star
reading in part as follows: "The
selection of site for the auditorium
not large enough to provide the
structure with a proper setting and
without the traffic facilities that are
necessary to handle the large crowds
that would arrive and depart from il
would be a most serious error.
Few persons realize what an audi
ence Of several thousand persons
would mean in terms of the area OF
space occupied by them, the time
taken by them In merely entering
and leaving the auditorium, the
number OF vehicles required to trans
port them to and from, or the side
walk space occupied by them If COM
ing and going on foot.
Time for Transportation.
The smallest capacity which has
been suggested for the auditorium
is $4,000. 1t appears to me that
an auditorium of this size would be
unnecessarily large for EVERYDAY
events and entirely too small for the
larger gatherings which a building
OF adequate capacity would attract
However, assuming that this would
be the maximum number to be &C.
commodated, it will be found on CAL
culatlon that this number of per-
sons would fill 300 5O-passenee,
street cars which, moving at 100 feet
apart, would occupy more than {
miles OF track and, leaving at one
nall minute intervals, would REQUIRE
2h2 hours to carry away the last
member of the audience.
The same size audience would M.
cupy 375 4O-passenger coaches which
moving at the same intervals anc
rate, would make a column of buse,
more than 8 miles long and consume
more than three hours from the time
When the audience began to depart
until the last bus took up the las,
passenger.
If these $1,000 people were soldier,
IN company formation and wer,
marched away from the auditorium
on foot in columns of squads, the,
would make column miles Ion,
and require l hour and 43 minute!
from the time when the head of thu
column began to move until the las
squad was in motion.
And, finally, if one-quarter O,
these people were to be taken ava,
by buses, one-quarter by street cars
one-quarter on foot and one e-quartel
IN f1ve-passenger automobiles, the,
would form column consisting O
75O automobiles, IS street cars, 8:
buses and $3.50 pedestrians-a col.
umn which would stretch froh, tn,
Capitol down Pennsylvania ayenu.
to the White House, out Connection
avenue, across the Taft Bridge tt
Chevy Chase Circle. Extended In tn,
other direction, it would 60 down tn,
Mall, across the Highway Bridge ane
out the Memorial Highway to Alex.
andria.
Praises Other Site.
obviously, there is serious ques.
ton whether the Municipal Center