Evening star., 1947-05-16
Letters to The Star
More on Architectural Cuckoo"

More on ArchItecfural AuckOO
To the Editor Of The Star y
Your May editorial concerning the picture
OF the proposed General Accounting Ohice
Building was aptly headed, "An Architectural
Cuckoo and the readers letter In the same
edition offered appropriate criticism. Reader
Howard Cutler, however, in your May edition,
saws he is "in no wise biased in favor OF this
design :" but proceeds to praise the dumb
qualities of the design much of the actual
wastefulness of the design apparently being
unknown to him.
This is not State Department or Navy
Department Building, but simply workshop
for clerks to check Government accounts, and
vet it has over two .miles Of marble corridors
in 1t, and impractical stainless steel huted
columns and aluminium huted pilasters A
third of the floor space is to be occupied by
garage parking space, cafeterias and private
dining rooms for the "big shots"
And the windows are to be q new type, I'M
practical and foolish, but ideal in the eyes
of the dreamers OF the Public Buildings Ad-
ministration.
The building as originally designed was to
cost about 100000, but the dreamers now
have boosted the cost with impractical design
ing to $33,000,000. Congress should check into
the details of this project which have been
withheld by the Public Buildings representa-
tives who have stated that the building is
simple and inexpensive"
And as to the "block type building: That
is q monstrosity in which even Government
slaves should not be incarcerated. II dungeon
space with no windows, but with f1uorescent
lighting and air conditioning is so grand. why
do the brass" and near ''big shots" locate
themselves by the large exterior windows and
~Jn 3o rro a
the supervising architects Office with its grand
view of the Potomac would raise the question
as to why he would approve this dungeon space
for the workers. Fluorescent lighting huns,
1ickers, and goes out; air conditioning, SO called
recirculates the foul air full of germs and foul
gases, introducing only small amount oil
fresh air, to save money. Persons Gagged IN
this dark space, don't know whether it Is sun
shiny or raining, and 1t has very depressing
effect on personnel This was proven when
the dark file space in the Railroad Retirement
and the Social Security buildings was used for
Office space during the war. After one expert
ence, employees never knowingly would be
herded into such dungeon areas again.
The congressional committee should ask for
the details and drawings OF the g. A. O. Build
ing, which are completed, and see for them
selves how the taxpayers money is being tossed
around. ADUM ARCHYIECI.
Thoughts on War and Peace
To the Editor Of The Star:
Back In 1894 when first saw the light OF
day war clouds were all around. Since that
time I've lived through two more wars, No. ]
and No. q was not so lucky in No. !. was
there. Did say lived" through two wars?
went through one How, don't know, but by
the grace of God, I'm here still, able TO work
and past so. Our country was lucky in the
last two wars. Our country did not suffer any
Of the ruin OF war. Most OF the home folks
knew that we were ct war only because they
could not get everything they wanted when