Evening star., 1948-01-31
By Nelson M. Shepard

A lOQg-QOrmaQG 1euQ over GL6
Pan American Annex Building broke
out today in, a belated move by
Secretary of the Interior Krug to
halt construction work just begun
on the triangle site in front of his
department because, it is charged,
the annex would protrude LOG feet
beyond the established building line
on the north side of Constitution
avenue.
Mr.. Krug was seeking, with no
signs of encouragement, the CO.
operation of the Fine Arts Commis-
sion and National Capital Park and
Planning Commission in obtaining
a legislative injunction from Con-
gress. He already has the support
of Maj. Gen. Philip B. Fleming,
Federal Works Administrator.
The two planning agencies have
approved the site and plans for the
annex, successfully blocked some IL
years ago by former Secretary of the
Interior Ickes.
-, Krug Makes Two Appeals.
Identical appeals were addressed
by Mr.. Krug to Chairman Gilmore
D. Clarke of the Fine Arts Commis-
sion, and Maj. Gen. u. S. Grant III,
Planning Commission chairman. He
charged that the DETACHMENT" of
the building line of Constitution
avenue also would effect irreparable
permanent damage to the plan for
the development of Washington's
central area"
In writing Mr.. Clark, he added:
'It emphasizes the foresight dis
played by the Commission of Fine
Arts in recognizing the threat to
the Federal City Plan when the
structure was first proposed and
the wisdom of it's efforts to amelio-
rate the damage through its assist
ance in the preparation of alter
nate plans which would have placed
the structure within the boundaries
of the present Pan American Union
site.
I'VE do not believe the present
Congress would condone this deplor-
able DETACHMENT of the Constitu-
ton avenue plan if the matter were
brought to its attention by the in
terested Federal agencies and men,
pers of Congress were invited to
study the proposition at the site.
We request, therefore, that the
Commission of Fine Arts join with
the United States Department of
the Interior and the Federal Works
Agency in uring Congress to enact
legislation necessary to halt the
present construction and safeguard
the plan for the central area by
prohibiting the erection Of any
structure on Constitution avenue in
conflict with the established build
ing lines"
Annex Setback Only 1887 Feet.
Measurements by Edward j. Kelly
of National Capital Parks deter
mined that the adjoining Atomic
Commission Building and Federal
Reserve Board Offices are set back
214.7 feet from the curb line on
the avenue. The annex calls for
a setback of only 1887 feet.
The present building line on the
north side of the avenue, was set,
ironically enough, by the erection Of
the Pan American Union Building
in the early 1900s. The Federal and
other buildings to the west were set
back to conform with the line Of
the Pan American Building.
Gen. Grant apparently was unim-
pressed by Mr.. Krug's complaint.
The Secretary's similar allusion to
the original cooperation of the
planning commission he indicated,
was in error.
The proposal to build the annex
at the present site originated in
1929, he said, and at that time no
one objected.
Costs Raise Estimate.
The building was to cost $500, ,000
Later the estimate was increased
to $650,00 because of desired mar
BILE facing. The depression halted
plans for construction and in about
1885, after a tunnel was dug con-
Meeting the main building with the
triangle site, Secretary Ickes rose
up in wrath. He objected mainly be-
cause the back door of the annex
would open on the front of the new
Interior Department Building which
was under construction.
Shortly after Secretary Ickes re-
signed, the Planning Commission
and Fine Arts Commission both ap-
proved construction on the present
site. Last November, the building
contract was let to the Turner Con-
struction Co. of Philadelphia, Pa.
The estimated cost then had in
cerased to S1,50O,000. The bulk of
the funds will come from the An
drew Carnegie Foundation.
During the days of the earlier
feuding. alternate plans were drawn
up. First it was proposed to close
Eighteenth street from c street to
Constitution avenue and build the
annex on the line Of the former. The