Evening star., 1950-01-03
By Robert J. Lewis

fN~~~se - ~ W -
For most of the $50 years since
Washington became the seat Of
the National Government in 1900
the Capitol dome has not only
dominated the city's skyline, but
like a strict and crotchety school
marin, has controlled and dis.
ciplined it.
The infinite variety of Wash
tngton buildings have been shaped
and shuf1ed by many men and
many regulations since Congress
first met here. George Washing
ton himself issued the first build
Ing regulations. Many boards,
commissions and bureaus have
had a hand in regulating and
controlling construction since
Then.
But the single most significant
TACT having a bearing on what
The city has become was the
height Of that million dollar,
:ast-iron dome rising 287h feet
above what used to be called
Jenkins Hill.
> AS history unfolded in New
York, Philadelphia, Chicago. San
Francisco or Houston, builders
Ind architects could send their
Ikyscrapers soaring into the skies,
much as they pleased. But in
Washington they had to reckon
With the height Of the dome on
Capitol Hill. For the Nation de-
handed that nothing overshadow
he symbol of what was to be-
.one the most powerful demo-
:ratic hope of peoples all over the
world.
Long before construction of the
.apitol was started, however
ieorge Washington and Thomas
efferson got their heads together
o develop set of building regula-
ions for the Federal City.
Those first regulations were Is
ued on October II, 179l, while
congress was still in session in
Philadelphia. Today they remain
tartially In force.
These regulations promulgated
y George Washington constituted
he f1rst milestone in a long series
t legislative and administrative
teps over the years which have
lined at producing safe buildings
d good design In a clean and
Fautiful city.
The building regulations issued
y the Nations first President
rere applied only to the Federal
1ty, which covered a relatively
mall part of the, Territory of
Columbia, as the District was then
allied.
They provided. among other
hings:
That the outer and party
walls of all houses within the
said city shall be built of brick
or stone.
2. The wall Of no house to be
higher than 40 feet to the roof
In any part Of the city; nor
shall any be lower than IS feet
on any Of the avenues.
3. No vaults shall be permitted
under the streets nor any en-
croachments on the footway
above by steps, stoops. porches,
cellar doors, windows, bitches or
leaning walls; nor shall there
be any projection over the
street, other than the ewes of
the house, without the consent
OF the commissioners.
The regulations also provided
or a division Of the cost of party
Falls. and this regulation is the
oundation and source of the right
damned by Washingtonians even
oday to locate their party walls
ne-half on their neighbor's land.
Thus the regulations issued, by
feorge Washington still have
,artial force today in the city
Fhich bears his name.
But the original building regu-
htions underwent q change even
efore the Nations Capital was
established here. On. June IS,
796, President Washington him
elf suspended the rule that all
rails Of buildings should be of
rick or stone.
And "a years later, President
Gonroe suspended the rule gov
rnipg the height Of buildings.
subsequently. at different times.
hanges were made in the regula-
loiis covering construction until
e7l. when an act was passed pro-