Evening star., 1947-08-16
PrioritiesDefer
Completion Of
TriiaingIeArea
Hopes Roised by
Struus Fountain
Work Discounted
By Nelson M. Shepard

Work Discounted
By Nelson M. Shepard
Priority considerations in Federal
construction here, officials disclosed
today, haFeE removed any hope that
the Federal triangle for monumental
buildings sun Pennsylvania avenue
might bes completed as an early
postwar project.
That dim hope had been aroused
IN some quarters by the recent re-
sumption of work on the Oscar S.
Straus memorial fountain in the
triangle's great plaza on Fourteenth
street, stopped before the war
It is to be dedicated this year, but
to complete the original plan of
the entire triangle would require
the removal and substitution of the
massive old Postofice Building, the
Coast Guard headquarters and the
District Building.
Detailing priority reasons why
these buildings are likely to remain
standing for some years to come,
Commissioner w. E. Reynolds of
the Public Buildings Administration
doubted, also, that the automobile
parking lot in the plaza would be
disturbed now.
II do not see the possibility of
any new developments in this Fed
eral triangle within the reasonable
foreseeable future" he explained.
Top Priority for GAO.
First on the Government priority
list Of postwar construction, he said,
is the proposed new building for the
General Accounting Office for which
the House voted a 22,850,000 cost
limitation on July Is.
Second on the list, he said, in.
wolves building the second xlit of
the present new State Department
Building and construction of the
new Navy Department Building.
These are the two most important
projects proposed for development
Of the so-called West End triangle.
Next on the list is the extension
of Rawlins Park, between. the In
terror and Federal Works Agency
Buildings, on a direct line with
Twenty-third street. Priority then
is planned for an addition to the
United States Public Health Service
Building, present home of the
Atomic Energy Commission, at 1901
Constitution avenue, and extension,
also Of the Federal Reserve Building
These are only the highlights of
new, Federal construction which in
dicates that stress is being laid on
the need of carrying to rapid COM
pletion the long proposed develop
mept of that area lying between
Eighteenth street and the Potomac
River.
Memorial Decision Deferred.
The General Accounting Office
Building will be erected on Gov
ernment-owned land bounded BY
Fourth, Fifth, H and G streets NV.
The huge authorization voted by
the House is in addition to the ST.
609,0W already spent on the project
III New developments iii Connection
with the Straus Memorial failed to
materialize yesterday afternoon,
when David Hinshaw of the Me-
mortal Commission came here from
New York to confer with Federal
officials and the Fine Arts Com
mission. 1t was expected a date
:. would be set for the Dedication, Or
ept&flce ceremen
Honoring the memory of a great
Secretary of Commerce and Labor
and former Ambassador to Turkey,
who served under four administra-
tions from Cleveland to Taft, the
Straus foundation should be COM
pleted early this falls The base was
started nearly 10 years ago, ap-
proval having been obtained in 1929,
but work was interrupted for rea-
sons of economy and later because
of the war.
Located on the east side OF Four
teenth street, in the middle Of the
plaza, the fountain would be f1anked
by two heroic-size bronze figures.
One, the figure of a man, will SYM
bolize the sway of reason" The
other, female figure, will symbol
ize religious freedom.
It was reported yesterday that
A. A. Weinman, the sculptor, has
not completed casting the figures.
Plans Include Parking.
In 1888, the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and the
Fine Arts Commission approved an
elaborate plan for developing and
landscaping the plaza in connec-
ton with the fountain. It was so
designed as to provide parking space
for about 300 carsA
The plan is simple one. It pro-
vides center lawn extending east
ward through the plaza, bordered on
each side by three rows of trees un-
der which automibile parking would
be permitted.
Other officials, however, are not so
hopeful that this plan might be
executed when the fountain is COM
pleted. One official said it would
bring many objections, especially
from the District Commissioners
who want to have the entire plaza
reserved for parking.
AS for the eventual removal of
the old Post Office Building, Mr..
Reynolds reminded that it is now
protected by a. special law requiring
the consent of Congress before a
stone of it can be removed. The old
District Building also appears to
be a sacred" building, it was said,
and might be made to conform to
the plans for development of the
north side of the plaza, should that
ever be started.