Evening star., 1945-07-22
By DON. S. WARREN.

An indoor footbau held with a
concrete base, covered for games
with inches of a turf mixture of
earth and moss, was revealed yes
terday as one of the construction
details of the proposed memorial
stadium that would seat 100000
Washington sports fans.
Another detail planned is a huge,
circular, central stage for dramatic
events. This would be hydraulically
lowered and raised between acts for
resetting. 1t would be shielded from
view between acts by curtain of
water, or fountain, illuminated by
colored lights.
Chairman Bilbo of the Congress
sional Stadium Committee and Wal
ter W.. Cook, Dallas CTex), archi-
tect exhibited sketches drawn by
Mr.. Cook including the all-year ath-
letic field. The turf mixture, about
1000 cubic yards, would be stored
underneath tiers of seats when other
events demand a bare floor.
Mr.. Cook, who drew the tentative
plans, is a member of the engineer
ing firm of Pettigrew, Cook 81 AS
sociates.
Need Sl5oy0Oo Federal Fund.
2 Senator Bilbo and Architect Cook
declared the project could be
financed by private funds and would
be a public and financial success,
If Congress only will authorize and
advance Sl50,o00 of Federal postwar
planning funds, so that detailed
engineering and economic studies
may be made in order that CON
crete and well-documented" pro-
posal can be laid before the bankers.
This advance, Senator Bilbo has
declared, would be repaid once the
bankers take over the financing of
the project-which is estimated to
cost from 10000, 900 to $50, ,000. 900.
AS previously outlined, the struc-
ture would include huge floor space
to be devoted to permanent world
affair" types of commercial exhibits
jects. Mr.. Cook estimated that from
this source alone no less than $750,-
900 would be turned annually into
the commissions tills.
Amortization by Receipts.
The Bilbo-Cook statement said on
this point: "The gross income of a
combined stadium and sports arena
will be sufficient to amortize the
building by use of long and short
term, low-interest-rate nots, so that
in the end the building will be owned
by the commission at no cost to
the taxpayer.
This national memorial stadium
and sports arena, with permanent
exhibitions by all States and the
major foreign countries, as well as
building products and materials, will
be one of the main attractions of
the Capital. Its all-year use, made
possible by having roof, will make
it possible to amortize the cost in a
comparatively short period
All-weather and all-purpose in
plan and having facilities for most
any conceivable type of program.
from the Olympics to a wrestling
match or from circus to a classical
music performance, the stadium
would be built on the large District-
owned tract at the foot of East Cap
itol street, north of Gallinger Hos
pital and the District Armory.
Would Form Great Cross.
The structure would be in the
form OF great cross. In keeping
with its all-wather design, it would
have a permanent roof of aluminium
alloy sheathing, supported by se--
ries of 500-Soot steel trusses, giving
it a domed top. The ceiling would
be about 200 feet above the playing
field
For proof of the practicability
of roof over a football or base
ball field, proponents Of the project
point to the rooted stadium at At
lantic City, which has been success
fully used for such games.
While the building would be about
200 feet high, including clear story
over its dome, Mr.. Cook explained,
the structure would be set below
the present level OF the site, SO that
the dome of the Capitol still would
be the dominent element of the
national capital skyline.
To give natural ventilation and
daytime lighting, the four ends of
the arena, as we'll as the story
above the dome, would be gener-
ously fitted with non-glare type Of
large glass windows that could be
opened or closed, like Venetian
blinds. It is the thought that these
windows would give enough lighting
in daytime but for night events or
dark days, the latest type Of lights,
placed in concealed inches in the
ceiling, would be used.
Roof Increases Use.
The added cost of roofing the
stadium" " said the Bilbo- Cook state
ment, lis small in comparison with
the all-year, alI-weather use that
it makes possible. Also, the life OF
the structure is heightened By the
roof protection. The enormous
Philadelphia Stadium, which AL
ready is cracking and deterioratinp
Is an example of stadia without roof
protection"
To walk around the oaside of