Evening star., 1941-10-11
DeIaano Holds y
War Building
Objections Met
Planning Chairman
Says Agreement
Marked Compromise

An explanation of how the dimen-
sions of the proposed new War De-
partment Building in Arlington
County, Va, were reduced by one
fifth and yet will provide for the ac-
commodatlon OF only half as many
employees as were to have been placed
In the originally proposed structure
was offered today by Frederick A..
Delano, chairman of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion
Mr.. Delano, one of the conferees
named by the President to work out
a compromise on the project after
the Chief Executive announced it
was to be revamped, both as to size
and location, gave this explanation:
When the President said he had
ordered the building cut in half, he
meant the number of its occupants
rather than its physical dimensions
Instead of 10000 Army workers, the
building was to be redesigned for
10000, Mr.. Delano pointed out. Thus
it was, he said, that the impression
was created in certain quarters that
by cutting only a fifth off the size
of the compromise plans the Army
was trying to get around Mr.. RooSe-
velt'S wishes.
Cost Statement Challenged.
At the same time, Capt. H C.
Whitehurst District director of high
ways, took exception to statement
of Brig. Gen. Brehon M. Somervell,
Army construction chief in charge
of the project, that he did not know
who was going to pay the cost of
bridge approach improvements in
the city made necessary by the
placing of 10000 War Department
workers in Arlington.
Following a conference at the
White House yesterday with Presi-
dent Roosevelt, Gen: Somervell was
asked about these road movements.
He said he understood from CONVEX
sations with Capt. Whitehurst that
the District was to pay for the work
on its side of the river. Later. he
amended this statement to say that
he meant pay only the cost of the
preliminary studies connected with
the improvements.
Capt. Whitehurst declared the
Federal Government would pay for
the work 'or no one would" adding
that the District had less money lin
sight than was needed for only
one of the four major improvement
projects deemed necessary to the
handling of War Department traffic.
Furthermore, he said, the Federal
Government already has put up
enough money to take care of the
preliminary studies.
Widens Corridors.
Mr.. Delano said the size of the
War Department Building itself had
been decreased only slightly by
widening corridors, adding escalators
and an elevator and deepening the
inner court space between the two
rings" that constitute the building.
He emphasized, however, that every
thing that was planned was done
with the full knowledge and consent
of the President and the conferees.
Besides himself, these included Gen.
Somervell, Budget Director Harold
D. Smith and Secretary of War
Stimson.
Gen. Somervell, pressed for details
OF the building yesterday after yes
terday's White House conference,
said the actual physical reduction
amounted to about a fifth and said
every one" had agreed to this. He
referred reporters to Mr.. Delano
for corroboration.
Mr.. Delano pointed out that there
never had been any serious differ
ences of opinion as to the dimensions
of the building itself. During the
long controversy. settled by the
President, he said, the Fine Arts
Commission had objected to the
originally proposed structure on the
basis that its location at the cem-
etery gates would mar the view and
block future expansion.
Traffic Objection Raised.
AS far as the planning commits
sions part in the argument was con-
cerned, he said, it's objection
amounted to an effort to reduce
the buildings size so that fewer
people would be put to work in
Arlington. Principal reason for the
objection was the fear of an in
surmountable traffic jam caused bv
the movement to and from work of
the War Department workers, he
said.
He said that during the course of
the conferences, the Army had held
out for some time for building big
enough for at least $4,000 workers.
The compromise figure of 10000 was
reached only after much persuasion,
with the planning commission in
sistlng no more than $4,000 persons
should Ind work in the structure.
Capt. Whitehurst said at least
s4,0o0,000 will have to be available
soon If his department is to COM
plete the bridge approach projects
in the ID months established as the
completion date for the War De-
partment Building.
The projects involve construction
of grade separation at Fourteenth
street and Maine avenue S.W.,
widening Twenty third street NV.
from Washington Circle to the
Lincoln Memorial plaza, widening
and extension of Independence
avenue S,W. through West Potomac
Park to the Lincoln Memorial
plaza, and construction of a viaduct
along the line of K street NV.