Evening star., 1941-10-09
War Building
Conference SET
Tomorrow
President to Discuss
Its Facade With
Gen. Somervell

Gen. Brehon B. Somervell, Army
construction chief, will confer with
President Roosevelt tomorrow on
what materials will be used for the
exterior of the new War Department
Building in Arlington, Va, he an
nounced today.
Gen. Somervell appeared at the
White House this morning to discuss
the new S3l 100000 building with the
President, but was informed that the
pressure of national affairs had
caused postponement of the meet
ing until tomorrow. He was ac-
companied by George E. Bergstrom,
civilian architect attached to the
War Department and designer of the
new office building.
AS they left the Executive Man
sion, Gen. Somervell would say only
that the meeting was to consider
materials and would go into no de-
tails.
To Accommodate 10000.
The general emphasized that the
size of the building would not be as
big as originally proposed. He said
the new building will be big enough
ito accommodate 10000 workers at
l25 square feet per person"
Meanwhile, Thomas H. MacDon-
aid, commissioner of the Public
Roads Administration, said his
agency is prepared to recommend
for certiflcation as vital to national
defense all road improvements
planned in connection with the new
War and Navy Buildings in Ar
lington.
Should the Secretary of War GER
tify the improved roads as strategic
to defense, the cost of that portion
of the work not paid for directly
by the Army would be eligible for
public betrayal under terms of the
substitute Defense Highway Act now
being prepared for consideration in
the House.
Mr.. Macdonald said the Army
had asked P. R A. to make a
study of highway improvements in
the vicinity of the two buildings
and submit its recommendations for
the layout along with an opinion
as to the roads Importance as a
part of the defense highway system.
Foresees Early Action.
Asked If P. r. A considered the
improvements vital to defense, Mr..
Macdonald declared:
"We certainly do
He added that he had every rea-
son to believe that the new defense
highway bill, designed to take the
place of the one vetoed by the
President, would receive early con-
gressional action.
Mr.. Macdonald declined to esti-
mate the cost of the road improve
ments recommended by P. r. A., al
though he said the layout was for
warded to the Army yesterday, ex-
planning that he wanted to wait
until everybody concerned" had
had a chance to suggest changes.
Besides the Army, these con-
cerned' parties include the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, the National Park Service
and the highway departments of
both Arlington County and the
State Of Virginia, he explained.
In making public Tuesday its
plans for the new War Department
Building, the Army said a structure
for 10000 employees was to be built
at a cost of approximately $751;
100000. This is s4,00O,000 less than
the total appropriation for the
project, and Mr.. Macdonald said
it was his understanding that the
Army would use this leftover money
to pay for that portion of the nee
essary road improvements lying
within the military reservation.
Navy Building Considered.
Although the major reason for
the road improvements is tied up
with the free flow of traffic to and
from the Army structure, consid-
Grafton likewise is being given the
new Navy Building, located several
hundred yards distant at Arlington
Ridge road and Columbia pike.
1t was learned yesterday the last
three weeks of this month will wit
ness a shift of Navy, Marine and
Army personnel, numbering about
$500, to the smaller structure.
The security division of the Office
of the Secretary of the Navy will
be moved into the building Satur-
day and the headquarters of the
Marine Corps is to follow Monday
Subsequent days will see Navy De-
partment records, its library and
branch of the dispensary moved.
An undetermined division of the
War Department also will occupy
the Navy Building.
The Federal Security Agency will