Evening star., 1940-02-04


been recognized by the commission
in designating the area around c.
D and Third streets and Independ-
ence avenue S.W. as suitable for
construction of the new buildings
Mr.. Delano told the committee
then conducting hearings on the
proposed appropriation of $3,000,-
900 with which to start work on the
two buildings, which were to have
an ultimate total cost of $14,250,000
that the then almost revolutionary
new site in the Southwest is suit
able particularly in view of the
fact that approximately 80 per cent
of the Social Security Board en-
ployes are in salary classification
groups below $4,000 annually"
I'm the eastern and southern por-
tions of the CITY," Mr.. Delano ex-
planned, rents and housing facili-
ties are obtainable at lower cost
than in the more expensive North
west section"
Better Balance.
The commission likewise pointed
out that the location of large Fed
eral activity in Southwest Wash
ington should lead to rehabilita-
ton not only of Southwest Wash
ington, but should provide stimu-
lus to residential development in the
east, and therefore produce better
balance in the growth of the city
than now obtained with so much
Government development in the
Northwest section"
The Social Security and Railroad
Retirement Boards have been oc-
cupying II buildings in Washing
ton and Baltimore, the old-age in
surance section of the former board
being located in the vast old Chand-
ler warehouse in the Maryland city.
Congress was told that the Social
Security and Railroad Retirement
buildings would pay for themselves
over a 20-year period, since the two
agencies have been paying annual
rentals of approximately $675,O00, in
addition to which concentration of
the two agencies under their own
roofs would result in further saw
ings of more than $275,0 a year.
The total annual savings of $3.50, 900,
amounting to 67 per cent of the es-
timated cost of the new buildings,
would amortize a $14,0O0,000 loan at
3 per cent in 20 years.
Despite a fight in Congress, sane
ton was given promptly to the pro-
posed new Southwest development
and, just before adjournment, the
Senate and House on June 16, 1898,
directed that 100000 be made
available from new Public Works
Administration funds for the prep
aration of plans and acquisition of
land.
So began project which is ex-
pected, during the new decade which
has just begun, to have far-reach-
ing effects not only on Southwest
Washington but also, by encourag-
ing a better-balanced planning of
Federal building, on the future well
fare of the whole Greater Washing
ton area. Congress, at the same
time, made available another So
100000 from the same source to
start work on a new War Depart
ment building in the Northwest
Rectangle, west of Eighteenth street
another example of the new in
f1uences which now are making
themselves felt strongly at the OPEN
ing of this new decade in the
shaping of the National Capital of
tomorrow.
Controversial Project.
In the same bill Congress provided
an initial appropriation of $50O,OOO
with which to start another con-
troversial but vastly important
project in Southwest Washington
the Jefferson Memorial on the
southeast shore of the Tidal Basin.
This magnificent memorial, now
nearing completion, is expected to
be vital factor in future develop
ment of this area, since it assures
the balanced plan" of development
of the Mall axis and the now-estab-
lished White House-Jeferson Me-
mortal cross axis, which was basic
feature of the original plans for
the development of Washington.
With the cross axis firmly estab-
lished by the erection of the JET
ferson Memorial there is renewed
assurance that eventually Washing
ton may see a realization of the
original plan, which called for a
great Federal development in the
triangle between the Mall and Vir-
ginia avenue S.W., balancing and
symmetrical with the Mall Tri-
angle" development between Con-
stitution and Pennsylvania avenues
NV.
The construction of the new