Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-12-20
Sesqui Meetings
To Spur DC.
Improvements
Big Public Building
Program Seen as
Possible Sequel
By Wilton A. MilIen

By WilIiom A. MiIIen |
A new public buildings program
for Washington and its environs
and an improved city generally
may well be the outcome of meet
ings of national groups here next
year. as a feature of the Sesqui-
centennial, in the opinion of in
terested Federal and other officials.
THE time is ripe for a big public
building program" according to
DR.. H. Paul Caemmerer. execu-
tive secretary of the Fine Arts
Commission.
He pointed out that, after World
War I. came the great public
buildings program Of 1925 that
produced the Federal Triangle,
Supreme Court Building and other
developments.
1--WE are now planning for o.
world capital, with 100000 in
habitants," he said. THE whole
subject must be discussed. We are
now waiting for the time when
Congress can give some attention
to new public buildings pro-
gram. The State Department.
alone is now housed in 20 rented
buildings. The need is great"
Spotlighting the program for an
improved Greater Washington will
be the American Institute Of
Architects, which will hold its an
nual meeting here from May 10
to 10 in the May11ower Hotel,
with total registration Of 1000
expected. The ALA, which met
here in 1900 for Washington's
Centennial, fought for proper de-
velopment of the National Cap
ital. Out Of this campaign grew
the Mcmillan Park Commission
of 1901. revived interest in the
L'Enfant Plan Of 1891. the Fine
Arts Commission and the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission. /
Example IOf OtncfS.
Horace w. Peaslee, chairman of
the Institutes Committee on the
National Capital, who is taking
a prominent part in the ALA pro-
gram, said:
1--WE would like to have our Ma
tional Capital serve as an exam
pie for the cities Of the Nation.
We would like also to have it
hold its own as a proud city
among all world capitals.
"Other things being equal. we
may agree. at least tentatively, |
that it should set the pace in
slum elimination. in its schools
and colleges, and in hospital and
other institutional facilities; with
a park system comparable to that
of Minneapolis, Fairgrounds just
as good as Chicago's and parkways
equal to Westchester's.
And why shouldn't this Capt.
tai have a stadium and sports
field measuring up to the Olympic
facilities of lesser nations, and q
great hall for events Of national
moment?
II feel that the development Of
Washington hinges on the reali-
zation that Washington is just
not another municipality, but .
city that belongs to the entire
Nation and cannot be developed
purely on a municipal basis.
Special Booklet Planned.
II hope the sesquicentennial
will provide ways and means to
interest the Nations school chill
dren of today-the voters Of to-
morrow-on what is going on in
Washington"
The Washington chapter of
ALA is planning special booklet
on urban planning. with WASH
ington as q central theme, for the
convention. David Yerkes, WASH
ington architect. is chairman Of
the committee preparing the book |
let. Harry Barrett. president Of
the Washington Metropolitan
Chapter of ALA, Is taking lead
ing part in convention plans.
Walter A. Taylor, the ALAS d.
rector of education and research.
in collaboration with the Wash
ington Metropolitan Chapter. is
drawing up the program. 1t will
include bus tours for delegates.
showing them Washingtons slums
and other areas.
And, as another feature OF the
Sesquicentennial, the ALA is rem
ovating it's own headquarters, one
of Washington's Oldest buildings.
This is the Octagon. at Eighteenth
street and New York avenue NV,
built in 1900. It is being redeco-
rated and structurally improved,
and it's old garden is being re-
juvenated.