Evening star., 1940-02-18
Ickes Not Mentioned
In Book Reviewing
P. ". A. Projects
Improved Architecture
In Public Building
Is Stressed
By JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.

By JAMES WALDO FAWCETT.
A book about the Public Works
Administration containing no men
ton Of Harold L. Ickes might seem
to be, as incomplete as Hamlet"
without the Prince of Denmark, but
such q literary curiosity has ap-
peared. It is volume which weighs
" pounds and includes 697 pages,
yet the name of the man who was
Public Works Administrator for six
years, up to July last, is omitted.
The explanation, according to the
compilers, is that, while 1t is true
that Mr.. Ickes was at the head of
the p. w. A. during the period rep
resented by the contents of the VOL
Tune, he no longer has any connec-
ton with it: also, since the book is a
Government publication, it ought not
to "glorify" any Government official.
The book bears the title, Public
Buildings: A Survey of Architecture
Of Projects Constructed by Federal
and Other Governmental Bodies Be-
tween the Years 1888 and 1899 With
the Assistance of the Public Works
Administration" John M. Carmody,
administrator of the Federal Works
Agency, and E. w. Clark, acting COM
missioner of the P. w. A., author
lied the publication. The editors are
G. w. Short and R. Stanley Brown.
Comprehensive Review.
"The greater part of work con-
structed during the last six years
by public bodies, such as towns,
cities. counties and States and by
the various Federal departments was
financed with the assistance of the
Federal Government" the introduce
ton states. LAS the information
concerning such vast number of
public buildings has been brought
together by P. w. A., for the first
time in one place, it has now become
possible to review the architecture
of a great number of public build
tngs In all parts of the country over
. considerable period of time"
Allotments, it is reported, were
made by the P. w. A. up to January
/, 1898, for 1876 Federal and 10,498
non-Federal projects, total Of
26,474, of which $3.50 we're for build
ing projects only. approximately
1890 buildings were erected, of
which 1900 were accessory to prof.
ects for sewers, gas, power and wa
ter supply" Allotments, divided into
two classes, consisted of Federal
projects which, with very few ex-
ceptions. had been planned and de-
signed by architectural and engi-
neering organizations of the vari-
GUS departments of the Federal Gov
ernment." and "non-Federal prof.
ects which had been planned and
designed by architects and engineers
In private practice, employed by the
owners"
Architecture Held Better.
The compliers believe that "the
architectural quality of the Federal
projects is far better than that of
the buildings constructed by the
Federal Government during the two
previous decades. I" Traditional
design predominates in Federal work,
although some trend toward the
Anodern' may be noted. particularly
In the Middle West, where the ira
ditions of the architecture of west
ern Europe are not so deeply rooted.
-" The non-Federal projects vary
greatly in architectural quality from
vrry good to extremely bad. ."
"The best designs of public build
lngs that have been produced in the
past six years indicate definite ef-
forts to provide structures to fit our
present civilization rather than to
make our civilization fit into build
ings that were designed for other
ages. So 1t is that this vast build
ing program presents us with great
vision-that of man building pri-
marily for love of and to fulfill the
needs of his fellowmen. Perhaps
future generations will classify these
years as one of the epoch making
periods Of advancement in the civil
ization not only Of our own country
but also of the human race"
A chapter devoted to Policies of
the P. w. A." explains that the
P. w. A. does not design any build
ings or projects. -" The P. w. A.
acts somewhat in the nature of
bank or q large building and loan
association"
go Projects Discussed.
The buildings discussed and de-
picted represent $40 selected prof.
ects. Names Of architects, engineers
and contractors are omitted.
Among the projects described are
the Interior Department Building,
the Federal Trade Commission
Building, chapel and gate to Arling-
ton National Cemetery, Fort Myer;
three laboratory buildings at Belts
vile, Md; repairs to the Washing
ton Monument, the Mall develop
ment, pachyderm and small animals
houses for the National Zoo; resto-
ration of Pierce Mill in Rock Creek
Park; Bethesda Chevy Chase Senior
High School, Montgomery Blair
High School. Silver Spring, Md;
library, Howard University; annex
to the Library of Congress, Alder
man Library. University of Virginia,
Charlottesville, Va; Art Museum,
Richmond, Va; stadium, William
and Mary College, Williamsburg,
Va; students activity building and
dormitory. Virginia Polytechnic In
stitute, Blacksburg, Va; Skyline
Drive, Shenandoah National Park,
Va; Hilton Parkway Bridges. Balti-
more; Eastern High School for Girls,
Baltimore; post Office, Easton, Md;
Pierre S. du Pont High School,
Wilmington, DEL, and many other
structures in towns and cities from
coast to coast.
Only 1900 copies Of the book were
printed. With the exception OF a
few reserved for sale to the pub
lie, through the office Of the superin-
tendent Of documents, at $3.50 a
copy, all have been distributed. They