Evening star., 1942-03-31
Census Bureau
Moving April IS
To Suit|and
Building Incomplete;
Transfer to Take
Several Months

Transfer of the Census Bureau to
the new $3,200,O00 Federal building
at Suitland, Md, several miles from
the District line, will start about
April Is, Commerce Department
officials revealed today. About 1000
employees of the bureau will be
affected by the move.
The bureau now is housed in the
building between D street and Vir-
ginia avenue Sc. Since only part
of the Suitland building will be
ready for occupancy April IS, 1t will
take several months to complete the
move.
The Office of Price Administration
is expected to move into the build
ing now occupied by the Census
Bureau, which has a floor space of
approximately 100000 square feet.
Several Census Bureau units. in
cluding the divisions of foreign
trade statistics and current manu-
factures reports, are housed in the
Commerce Department Building.
For the present. it was said, 1t is
not planned to move these units to
Suitland.
Transfers Studied.
Commerce officials now are con-
sidering plan to give Census Bu-
reau jobs to Government workers
living at Suitland and in nearby
communities In Prince Georges
County. and to transfer employees
who find it inconvenient to COM
mute to Suitland.
Meanwhile, a survey Of Suitland
residents showed that they like the
new Federal building there and are
not concerned about the proposed
600 Alley Dwelling Authority homes
which may be built in connection
with it.
William Naecker. musician, who
lives on Silver Hill road, said he
thought the building would put
Suitland on the map" Mr.. Mace
ker, who has just completed a new
house, has lived in Suitland about
18 years.
Hopes for Shopping Center.
Mr.. Naecker also approved Of a
housing project in Suitland because
then we'll get a shopping center
out here"
Milton Jones of 4S31 Suitland
road agreed that the building would
make people Suitland-conscious
Mr.. Jones is a janitor in a part Of
the new structure.
Except for the fact that country
people would be living in the city,
Harry West, who operates a truck
garden at 1902 Suitland road, thinks
the building and housing project
are fine.
1T might help boost real estate
prices Mr.. West pointed out. He is
one of the first Suitland residents,
having moved there in 1908.
One of the newest residents Is
John N. Kailor, a Navy Yard en-
ploye, who lives in a brand-new
two-story house at No. Sycamore
lane. Mr.. Kailor has only lived In
his new house since December 10.
Wants Housing to Materialize.
The building location doesn't dis
turb him. He earnestly hopes the
proposed housing project becomes a
reality.
Then maybe we'll get some de-
cent bus service, sewer and water
lines, and lower insurance rates."
Mr. Kailor said.
Representative Sasscer, Democrat,
of Maryland stated yesterday that
he approved of the housing project
I'm in favor of an equitable dis
tribution of Government housing.
I'd like to see both Federal and
private housing increase all through
Prince Georges County, but I am
vigorously opposed to heavy con-
centration of Government housing
in one particular locality.
Housing for war workers is very
important and the Government
should take a hand in it. However,
it should be spread throughout the
communities neighboring Washing
ton and in Washington itself. To
have Federal housing centered in
one place is too great burden for
one county to bear, as it thereby
loses tax revenue"
In addition to the suggested Alley
Dwelling Authority houses, it was
announced yesterday that a pri-
vate development of 682 units ada
cent to Suitland is under way. Work
is to be started Immediately on the
first 108 buildings, containing four
family units each, it was said. To
be known as Suitland Manor, the
apartments will be erected by a New
York firm. They are to be ready for
occupancy August l.
The houses to be erected by the
Government would not necessarily
be for Suitland workers alone, ac-
cording to Representative Sasscer.
They would be for all war workers,
as are the proposed 800 houses the
A. D. A. is considering building at
Garrett Park.