Evening star., 1941-08-22
Applaud Correction
Of Arlington 'BIunder'
Editorials Commend President
For HoItine Error in Placing.
Of New War Building

From the Baltimore Evening Sun:
Those who have stood atop the knoll
in Arlington Cemetery and gazed across
the Potomac at Washington's great build
ings rising above sea of green treetops
will understand why President Roosevelt
is averse to spelling the panorama by
plunking 35 acres of War Department
building in the immediate foreground.
No more majestic view of the Nations
Capital is to be had than this one.
Not merely respect for a scenic advan-
tage has moved Mr.. Roosevelt to disap-
prove the War Departments choice of a
building site between Arlington Gene
terry and the Potomac River 1t does vio-
lence to the plans Of the District Park
and Planning Commission. 1t would pre-
vent, forever, a long-projected expansion
OF Arlington Cemetery, now become a
national shrine, to the banks of the river
1t disregards the recommendations of
the Washington Fine Arts Commission.
From any standpoint, aesthetic or prac-
tical, the erection of acres of buildings
at such location would be an egregious
blunder. Mr. Roosevelts attitude is
altogether sensible.
In this the President sets an example
for the authorities Of this and every
other community where the pressure of
the national defense boom is threatening
zoning laws, building and other regula-
tions. In the rush and fever of meeting
an emergency, it is easy to think only of
the present and forget the future. The
defense program itself makes no sense
unless it assures us future. 1t is entirely
possible to meet the demands of the mo-
ment without creating conditions that
will plague communities forever after.
From the New York Times:
In the haste begotten of overwork. the
War Department proposed to erect an
immense Office building on a site across
the Potomac near the gates of Arlington
National Cemetery. The Federal Art
Commission was quick to point out the
injury to the beauty of Washingtonsthe
obstruction of one Of its most majestic
views that would result if this immense
were to be allowed. Further, the COM
mission showed that in 1921 the Army
had agreed that the site in question
should be used as burial ground for the
Army and Navy.
Mr.. Roosevelt has now expressed his
dissatisfaction with a plan whose, execu-
ton would deface both Arlington and
Washington. He has given orders that
the War Department craftsmen should
get to work. in three shifts if necessary"
on new plans and a new site. BY this
prompt action a majestic prospect, a
harmony of architecture, landscape and
waterScape, will be preserved. Somebody
is always seeking, Intentionally or unin-
tentionally, to impair its charm. In the
nick of time Mr.. Roosevelt has halted
another bungling march against that
ordered proportion and relation of parts
that from generation to generation the
architects of Washington have sought to
maintain and enhance.
If, as he says pleasantly, as Assistant
Secretary of the Navy he induced Mr..
Wilson to approve those Army and Navy
buildings that have given sore eyes to
many, he has accompanied confession
with atonement and the Graces will not
only forgive but praise him.