Evening star., 1945-04-01
Naming Of Architects
Paves Way for Action
On Plans for Stadium

Selection Of consulting architects
to sketch preliminary plans for the
national memorial stadium to be
built here after the war, yesterday
set the stage for action by the Sta
dium Commission created by Con-
gress.
Senator Bilbo, Democrat, of Mis-
Slsslpl, commission chairman, said
he soon would organize a tour of
the Stadia in various cities in the
Eastern section of the country by
his subcommittee on plans and
architecture. He expressed hope also
for early recommendations from q
subcommittee on sites, headed by
Commissioner John Russell Young
The Dallas (Tex) architectural
firm Of Pettigrew, Cook & Associates
was employed as consultants. The
compensation to the firm will be $50
per day while engaged on studies 1t
Is directed by the commission to
make. If Congress ultimately ap-
proves its proposals the firm may
be paid percentage of the stadium
construction cost. Senator Bilbo said
the fee usually ran between 3 and
per cent.
Favors ROOf-type Stadium.
Selection of the. Dallas firm gave a
boost to the suggestion for an "all-
weather" type of stadium, for a rep
resentative of the firm, Walter w
Cook, appearing at recent meeting
of the commission, recommended
that the stadium be provided with a
roof, which he held was entirely feaS-
lble. He cited as an example the
Atlantic City Stadium, which his
firm designed, where spectators
watch football games without bum
ding up in overcoatS and blankets
Senator Bilbo said he was strongly
in favor of rooted stadium. Mr..
Cook had advised the commission
1t would be feasible to have a roof
with span as wide as 500 feet.
1t will be essential to inspect a
number of Stadia, Senator Bilbo
said, so that the commission can
avoid costly mistakes. At yester-
days meeting he reiterated his view
that the stadium, as a national me-
mortal to the veterans of the World
War and this war, must be made
'the finest, the biggest and most
beautiful" of any in the country.
He thinks the seating capacity
should be no less than 100000 Along
with this, he agreed, it must be
planned on a self-sustaining, self
liquidating basis. II believe it can
be done" he said.
Opposes Lincoln Park Site.
He revealed the commission had
received proposal that the stadium
be located in and near Lincoln
Park. He said he would be against
that because the cost of acquiring
the necessary number of squares
around the park would be too high.
Also. he said he had some OBJ
iectionS to the Government-ow
tract at the foot of East Capitol
street. which is suggested by the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
The Dallas firm won out over
several other contenderS, including
the Allied Architects, of Washing
ton, who stressed the advantage of
having the services of any one or
all 40 of their members, working
here in Washington, close to the
commission and the site of the
project.
Only Two Members Present.
Only Senator Bilbo and Senator
Burton, Republican, of Ohio, at
tended yesterdays session, but Sem
ator Bilbo said he was voting the
proxies of four other members who
could not attend Other commits
sion members are Senator Mead,
Democrat. of New York; Repre-
sentatives Janham of Texas and
Randolph of West Virginia, Demo-