Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-24
Friends Rally to Save Old Patent Office

Senator is interested In pre-
serving the historical values Of
this country.
No Hearings Held.
Neither Senate nor House
Public Works Committees has
held hearings on the legislation
and Capitol Hill observers say
these are unlikely before Con-
gress quits. District traffic au-
thorities and the Washington
Board Of Trade have not yet
taken an official position on the
legislation.
"A plaque erected in 1850 by
the National Capital Sesquicen-
tennial Commission, on the
south side of the old Patent Of
flee Building reads:
This building was designed
by Robert Mills. architect, pur-
suant to an Act of Congress APP
proved July 4, 1886. for a Patent
ONCE Building. Occupied by De-
partment of Interior 1852-1925-
u. S. Civil Service Commission
since 1892"
Historians recall that a mon
umental flight of stairs leading
to the F street portico was re-
moved to permit the street to be
widened In 1884. Some observ-
ers still consider the old building
q traffic hazard, causing irreg-
ularities in the line of F and G
streets.
Chairman David e. Finley of
the Fine Arts Commission wrote
in a letter to Chairman Dondero
Of the House Public Works Com
mittee::
1.-THE commission could not
give its approval to the destruc-
ton Of an important historical
and architectural monument
such as the Old Patent Office.
They feel that this building.
which was designed by the dis
tinguished American architect,
Robert Mills, should be preserved
and that its destruction as a
result Of action taken by the
Federal Government would have
a discouraging effect on the
movement for the preservation
of architectural and historical
monuments in this country in
| which the Federal Government
has taken such an important
part.
1.-THE commission hopes that
the Old Patent Office Building
may be preserved and that the
| proposed Legislation will not
be enacted into law"
Parking Official Opposed.
!. Leonard B. Doggett, jr., presi-
dent of both the Washington
and National Parking Associa-
lions, also opposes use of the
site Of parking, but for different
reasons.
| Mr.. Doggett declared: 1--WE
are unalterably opposed to Gov
eminent Intervention. ! feel it
is the old story you have heard
a million times. Why parking is
singled out over hotels. restau-
rants or any other business that
has to experience a peak period
is beyond me. Some business
men believe in q little bit Of
socialism.
There are now hundreds of
offstreet parking spaces in that
area crying for cars. trying to
get people into the downtown
area. We will do everything in
our power to prevent the project
from going through, as we do
i not believe it is sound. 1t would
benefit only a few selfish inter-
tests. It is another case of q Gov
eminent handout. And It would
be Q white elephant at night.
1.-THE new parking facility,
erected BY private enterprise. at
Ninth and D streets NV. only
q short distance away. is now
operating only at 20 per cent
Of capacity. Washington leads
the nation in providing additions
al offstreet parking. ! am con-
WINGED that parking requirements
in certain part Of downtown
Washington have been met. =
Other Opponents Listed.
Opponents of the plan to raze
the old Patent ONCE include:
/ the Society for the Preservation
of Maryland Antiquities. Column
bia Historical Society, American
Planning and Civic Association