Evening star., 1939-02-12
Stadium Problems UnsoIved
Although Need Is Agreed On
Matters of Size, Style and Cost in Confusion
Still Despite Proposals Long History

This is the first OF series OF
articles dealing Uith the audi
torium-stadium problem no,D
pending in Congress. Further
discussion 1DW tollow, and the
opinions OF readers are inuited.
The Nations Capital needs a large
public auditorium. Practically every
one Is agreed about that. But there
are differences of opinion about
what kind of a building is wanted
apd where it should be erected. The
problems of size, style of architec-
ture, costs of construction and
maintenance, use and especially 10
ton, still remain as much unsolved
as they were on January 81, 1887,
when an all-day doWnpour of rain
soaked the crowds gathered for
President Roosevelt's second inau-
guration and dramatized the fact
that Washington possesses no IA
cllltles for sheltering a large assem-
bly,.
Perhaps it would help to eliminate
some OF the prevailing confusion if
the history of the pending audito-
rum projects were reviewed.
The lack of accommodation for
large gatherings has been appreci-
! ated for many years. On Septem-
Der 2, 1925, The Star reported that
plans for great stadium here,
which could be the scene of national
| and international games and other
sporting events, have been tenta-
lively completed by 1t. Col. Clarence
O. Sheriff., director of public build
ings and parks, he announced to-
day. The proposal included an
arena for assemblies of official char
acter as we'll as Army and Navy
| football games, international polo
meets and other allied sports.
Stadium for 100000.
| Development of the eastern side
of the city was forecast in the Sher-
rill plans, though not specifically
stipulated. Similarly, the Washing
ton Board of Trade, in proposal
set forth September 26, 1923. hinted
at the Anacostia River site without
definitely naming it.
Claude w. Owen, chairman of the
boards Community Affairs Com
mittee, urged Theodore Roosevelt
memorial in the form of stadium
which, he explained. would not be
used merely for athletic purposes.
1T should be built to seat 100 900
or more persons tand) would be an
ideal place for people all over the
country to hear inauguration ad-
dresses, for such receptions as given
to Lindbergh, great national gath
erings which are held from time to
time here, presidential speeches,
military and naval displays, athletic
contests. local gatherings and va
rious other features"
Another Move in 1880.
A much more detailed move in
the same direction was indicated
December 81, 1890 when The Star
said: The National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and the
Fine Arts Commission are study
ing a plan to beautify East Cap
itol street from the Capitol to the
Anacostia River. The Allied Archi-
tects. Inc a group of Washington
mans. Is cooperating in the project
and already preliminary plans have
been drawn up, contemplating the
erection of stately buildings along
this thoroughfare, terminating on
the banks of the river in a great
stadium.
Horace w. Peaslee, acting fol-
his colleagues in Allied Architects
has submitted plans for this ambi-
tious program to the Arts and Plan
ming Commissions If Washington
is to be developed as a balanced
Capital, Mr.. Peaslee declared, the
city should be extended to the
east Charles w. Eliot, ID, direc-
tor of planning, National Capita
Park and Planning Commission
proposed that East Capitol street
should become the Avenue Of the
States"
Ickes Asked Study.
The next steps were chroniclec
on February 8, 1885, in a report tc
the effect that "Secretary of the
Interior Harold L. Ickes will be
asked soon to approve the employ
ment of an engineer. an archi-
tect and a landscape architect tc
draw up plans for the proposed sta
dium at the end of East Capito
street. C. Marshall Finnan, super
intendent of the National Capital
Parks, who heads a special COM
mittee studying the project, expects
to have his report ready within a
couple of weeks and make definite
recommendations to the cabinet Off
Ger. The stadium is being projected
to seat 100000 people This will
give rise to a traffic problem which
the Finnan committee is consider
ing thoroughly
Mr.. Ickes on April Is, 1885, ap-
pointed Bremen Pond, landscape
architect at Harvard University, a:
special consultant for the pro-
posed stadium at the end of East
Capitol street" Francis P. Sulli.
van, Washington architect, later
was named to confer with Mr.. Fin.
nan. On May q, 1885, it was an.
nounced that a National Guarc
armory and drill field would be in.
corporated in the plan.
BY June % of the same year, Tht
Star could tell its readers that
approval was given today by the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission to plans submitted by
Mr.. Finnan for development of E
stadium and sports center at the
end of East Capitol street" BY Au.
gust 6. 1885, tentative approval hac
been signified by the Fine Arts Com
mission. The understanding wa:
that 1.-The structure probably will in.
clude National Guard and Marine