Evening star., 1942-07-13
War Building
Will Be Ready
November IS
Arlington Pentoeon
Will Cost Sc, ,000, 900
Above Estimate
Nv NELSON M. SHEPARD.

~ NELSON M. SHEPARD.
The new Pentagon Building of the
War Department in Arlington is ex-
pected to be completed by November
Is. months ahead Of schedule, it was
disclosed today, but at cost Of ap-
proxtmately 5000 900 in excess Of
earlier revised estimates.
since April 30, when the first en-
ployes were moved six months ahead
Of the original schedule, 1858 en-
ployes have been transferred from
widely scattered buildings to the
Arlington site. BY November
the Pentagon Building will have =
population Of 10000. adding more
headaches to the war-swollen Cap
itals traffic problems.
OfI1cials said today the mammoth
Building, now about two-thirds COM
pleted, will cost little more than
43l ,000, 600. 1t is not likely, however,
that supplemental appropriation
will be necessary.
When the plan was first conceived
by 1t. Gen. Brehon B. Somerven,
commander Of the Army'S Services
Of Supply, who was then engineer
ofsicer in charge Of Army construc-
tion, the cost was estimated at $685.
600 900. Congress authorized that
amount. The public outcry against
the Arlington project, which was de-
signed as the largest building In
the world" resulted in drastic slash
ing Of plans. The War Department
then announced the revised cost
would be $25, 900 900.
Nearly Third Completed.
The House Appropriations Com
mittee said today that no request
has been made for = supplemental
fund, nor was one anticipated. The
increased building costs, 1t was ex-
planned, can be met from the con-
Rressionaf authorization Of $35 ,000,-
600. Difficulties encountered in con-
struction, due to the contour Of the
land and the foundations, it was
said, no doubt account for the extra
5000, 900.
Now that nearly 4 third of the
buildings overall capacity Of 1000
900 square feet Of space Is finished,
different STATS Of the War Depart-s
iiaent are moving in steadily. The
Ordnance Department was the first
to move in. Portions OF the Head
quarters, Services OF Supply, Signal
Corps and the Adjutant Generals
Once already are quartered there.
A new moving schedule was an
nounced today. During July 1851,
q large segment Of Headquarters,
Services Of Supply, will be trans-
ferred to it. The balance Of the
6iaYaalA Cdrps will 81 moved HON
August lis and the remainder Of
Gen. Somervelrs headquarters viii
be shifted August 1851. Other
transfers Will follow liYitif 1t least
30 900 employees have been moved
The building, when completed. viii
bring together under single roof
employees Of the War Department
who are now distributed In a. other
buildings throughout the Washing
ton Metropolitan Area.
Moving "A Hours = Day.
When the Arlington project was
iirst proposed, it was thought that it
would be large enough to release Al
ether buildings occupied by the War
Department. The Army has ex-
panded so greatly since then. from
an estimate Of $500 900 by the end
of this year to 4,50o. 900 men, that no
set plan for administrative once
spac4 can remain. unchanged for
long. In another year or so, the
armed forces probably will be around
100000 men and the need for addi-
tional ONCE space In or around
Washington will be pressing, indeed.
The ALLEGATION of oflice space in
the Pentagon Building is being
handled by the Adjutant Generals
once under the direction Of John
J.. McCloy, Assistant Secretary Of
War. The actual moving is being
conducted by the Moving Section,
Public Buildings Administration.
Hundreds of employees are being used
in the moving operations, the most
extensive ever experienced here.
They are going forward on. a a.
hour daily schedule.
The Army Ground Forces, under
command of 1t. Gen. L. j. McNair,
Is among the major groups that will
not be involved In transfers to the
Pentaeon Building. That group will
remain in its present location in the
Army War College, although onicials
said it will be allotted space for its
representation in the Pentagon
Building in connection with General
Stan activities.
Big Traffic Headache.
When the great Arlington project
Is completed, it will have 2,487 $40
square feet of Office space, 166 $40
square feet Of other types of working
space, and 7l4,750 square feet of
storage space. Space needed for
building maintenance and related
activities will bring the total to
about 1000 900 square feet.
Cafeterias, each having an area Of
81, $40 square feet. will be located on
all floors, with ample provisions for
soda fountains and other conces-
sions.
Col. Clarence Renshaw, District
engineer in charge of construction
said traffic conditions have improved
steadily since the opening in April
The War Department conducts a
1S-minute shuttle bus service be-
tween the Munitions and Pentagon
Buildings, but that service is not
available to every one. The big trafhs
headache will come when 80 900 en-
ployes, many of whom are living In
outlying sections on the Washington
side OF the Potomac, 90 back and
forth to work during rush hours.
There was still no on1cial wore
today as to whether Secretary Of
War Stimson would eventually move
his quarters to Arlington.
Air Training Courses
A. ~ cxA