Evening star., 1941-08-12
War BuiIdinq
Continued From First Page

retarding effect on the National
Capital for the following reasons:
Il. 1t contemplates suddenly CIV
ing up the lease BY the Federal Gov
ernment of say 5000 900 feet OF now
rented floor space with consequent
serious economic disturbance
%. II will throw a heavy burden
on Arlington and Fairfax Counties,
which they may be unable readily to
finance.
"3. 1t will inevitably postpone at
least some of the long and care
fully considered projects for the
State Department, the Navy De-
partment and a number of minor
departmental projects.
"a 1t contemplates transporting
say $4,000 to $4,000 employees MORN
ing and evening through the streets
of Washington, because it will be
some time before any appreciable
numbr can be housed south OF the
river.
IS. Last. but not least. a question
presents itself, to-wit. Is II wise to
put the entire general and official
staff of the Army in one place where
many of them might be subject to
being put out OF action?"
Traffic Problem.
The planning commission estl-
mated that facilities incident 10 the
erection of building as big as that
proposed by the Army would entail
expenditure of between $1,000 900
and So, 900 900. The following "prin-
cipal findings and conclusions" were
set forth:
Il. 1t would be necessary to stag
ger working hours over two-hour
period, morning and evening, with
4O 900 people in the War Depart
ment Building and the 5000 people
in Federal once Building No. in
the same general area This conclu-
sion is concurred in by both the
transportation companies and by
the Director of Vehicles and Traffic
of the District Government. because
of limitation on the capacity of the
Potomac River bridges and ap-
proaches and on the ability to load
and unload the required 600 busload,
OF employees twice daily.
% There is available at the pres
ent time on the Memorial and High
way Bridges an additional capacity
during the morning two-hour rush
period for only $500 vehicles south
/ hn t,r-1
hour rush period for only 290(
vehicles northbound. both insufi-
cient to carry the additional traffic
that would be generated by the Wal
Department Building. However
with the improvements recon-
mended under items 3 and below
removing all present conflicts or
| approaches such as on Columbia
Island, there will be a maximum ad
ditional capacity available up tc
1000 vehicles southbound in the
two morning rush hours and 960C
vehicles northbound in the two eve
ming rush hours. This will be suff-
cient to handle the increased traffic
due to the War Department building
but the ensuing accelerated growth
of Arlington and Fairfax Counties
and Alexandria will undoubtedly
advance the time when new cross
ing, or crossings, of the Potomac
River will be required.
Need for More Roads.
'3 The placement OF a building
Of this size on the Arlington farm
makes it absolutely imperative that
the system Of access roads, grade
separations, etc, for improving the
Virginia approaches to Highway,
Memorial. Key and Chain Bridges.
as proposed by the Public Roads
Administration, be constructed and
in operation by the time the build
ing is completed. While some of
these roads were planned for future
construction. in any event their
immediate construction will be es-
sential to handle the larger traffic
volume. Preliminary estimates in
dicate that these facilities will cost
between 100000 and $4,000 900.
Inc COIuIllSSlUll HAS Dccll lIllOIIu-
ally advised by the War Department
that it is prepared to certify the
ALLEGATION OF defense-highway funds
for the construction Of access roads
up to about 100000, and if more
is necessary. to ask for additional
| funds.
a. To improve the District OF
Columbia approaches, 1t will be
necessary to advance priorities and
provide immediate financing for
the construction of a number OF
projects, some of which might other.
wise be postponed for several years
These projects include advancing
the date for completion of the Four
| teenth and Maine avenue grade
separation. the extension of Inde-
pendence avenue to the Lincoln
Memorial, changes in roadways in
the vicinity Of the Lincoln Memo
rial, the widening Of Twenty-shird