Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-06
Through for North South Traffic Seen Budget
New Library 10 House
Board Of Education
Provided in Budget

txtensIbIe building
Would Be in John
Marshall Place Area
Construction Of the first unit Of
a new main building for the free
public library, to include quarters
for administrative officers Of the
Board OF Education, will be made
possible upon approval Of the 1910
District budget as placed today be-
fore the House.
The structure, to be started as
an extensible building, would be
erected on the north side of Penn
sylvania avenue NV. between Sixth
street and John Marshall place.
The cost limit would be $l,118,000.
Between two plans submitted, the
District Appropriations Subcom-
mittee approved that providing for
a larger building, thus allowing
space for the school administration
as we'll as the library in the project
ed Municipal Center development.
To begin construction during the
new fiscal year the subcommittee
recommends the use of $350,000 OF
an unexpended balance OF an old
appropriation for starting of the
Municipal Center. Plans for the
building now are being prepared.
Cut Budget Figure.
Outside of this item the subcom-
mittee recommended library APP
preparations amounting to $18l ,260.
or s6,26O in excess of the regular
funds granted for this year but
50 $40 less than the Budget Bureau
estimates for next year.
The Collins subcommittee rec
commended an additional $10,500 for
the purchase of books, to raise the
1910 total to that granted for this
year. 1t said this was necessary
for supplying books in fairly ade-
quate" numbers for the main library
and several new branch libraries and
to meet increasing demands OF the
reading public.
The body also allowed an increase
of 81, 440 for the rental of additional
space for the Chevy Chase Branch
Library. 1t explained this was
necessary to supply the reading de-
mands of persons living within that
section, since no other library facili-
ties were located within several miles
of this branch.
The first of the two plans for the
new central library proposed by the
board of trustees of the library pro-
vided for building on Pennsylvania
avenue, between the National Hotel
at Sixth street to the Ford Build
ing at John Marshall place, and
extending back toward G street.
There was also to be parking lot
adjacent.
Planners Backed Larger Building.
The other proposal, advanced by
the National Capital Parks and
Planning Commission, was for a
larger building. which would extend
all the way from Sixth street to
John Marshall place. This larger
structure, if considered more than
needed for the library, could then
be used to house some other Dis
trict agency. it was brought out IN
the hearings.
DR.. George F. Bowerman. librarian.
told the committee that the board
of trustees first favored the smaller
project to occupy about two-thirds
of the east end of the site, with
parking lot on the west end.
However" explained DR.. Bower
man, I'VE would be we'll satisfied
with the scheme proposed by the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, as the library trustees
letter of comment will show" Dis
trict Commissioner McCoach said
he favored the commissions pro-
posal.
The position of the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission
was outlined in a letter from Fred
eric A. Delano. chairman OF the
commission, to the District Commls-
sioners, and placed in the record.
This letter explained that both
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming and Fine Arts Commission
asked Nathan Wyeth, the municipal
architect, to make a study Tor a
building whose facade would ex-
tend the whole length of Pennsyl-
vania avenue within the building
lines previously established" These
lines were explained as parallel with
PENNSYLVANIA avenue, and set back
40 feet from the middle OF John
Marshall place.
Feared "Short Sighted" Planning.
Among the reasons for the two
commissions desiring a whole build
ing for the entire Pennsylvania ave-
nue. front of the square, Mr.. Del
ano told the Commissioners, was
the fact that because this site had
cost the District government nearly
ST 500, 900, it would be short-sighted
planning to design building to
occupy only that portion of the site
which the prospective requirements
of the Public Library would seem to
dictate at this time.
There was also the feeling" con-
tinued Mr.. Delano, that as the site
frames the portal of the Triangle
group of buildings, it was important
to plan for the eventual extension of
the building front on the north side
of Pennsylvania avenue westward
to Sixth street where it would be
picked up by the line of private
buildings on the north side of the
avenue beyond that point 80
Weigh Armory Factor.
ut is understood that one reason
for the suggestion now advanced
for occupying the eastern portion of
square 491 with the library building
is the desire to avoid removal at
this time of the old National Hotel
building occupied by the National
Guard While the commission rec
ognizes this practical motivation,
in view of the key i'm