Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-03
Board Of Trade
Invites Engineer
Societies Here
Campaign Seeks
Headquarters Move
From New York


Headquarters Move
From New York
A campaign to induce a group
of major engineering societies to
move their headquarters from
New York to the District has
been launched by the Washing
ton Board of Trade and the En-
Engineers Club Of Washington.
A strategy meeting was held in
the Willard Hotel last night. The
Engineers Club has headquarters
in the hotel.
Chicago. Detroit and Pitts
burgh already are bidding for the
engineering societies. Each has
come up with offers Of 81 million
or better in free land and cash
to the groups. New York is
fighting to keep the headquar-
tiers there.
Own 16- Story Building.
United Engineers Trustees own
the 16-story building in Row
York, valued at about SIS mil
lion. Making up this group are
the American Society of Civil
Engineers, the American Society
OF Mechanical Engineers. the
American Institute of Electrical
Engineers and the Institute of
Mining and Metallurgical Engi-
neerS.
The building also is occupied
by the Engineers Joint Council.
a federation of engineering So
cieties which includes the four
building owners and a number
Of other leading engineering So
cieties. More space and a new
building are needed.
Edward Bauman. president Of
the Engineers Club of Washing
ton. revealed his group has been
working on the campaign for
several years. A committee
headed by Bernard Locraft has
been trying to swing it without
publicity.
I'VE felt it was time to get
1t in the open." P. Y. K. Howat.
club member, said. I'VE felt it
was time to call on the Board Of
Trade for help in view of the
campaign being waged by the
other cities"
Support Promised.
Harry L. Merrick, president of
the Board Of Trade. promised
support, pointing out the Board
of Trade has undertaken a pro-
gram of trying to interest new
industry to move to Washing
ton.
A committee Of local engi-
neers will meet with Board of
Trade officials Immediately to
settle details of Washington's
campaign for the headquarters.
William H. Press. executive vice
president Of the Board of Trade,
said he hoped they could come
up with an offer of a site at
least.
It was revealed that last year,
the Engineers Club was working
on getting the headquarters 10
Gated on the Temple Heights
tract at Connecticut and Flori-
ia avenues N. w. This is owned
by Morris Cafritz and Charles
H. Tompkins. a leading engi-
neer.
Tract Unused.
The last announced plan for
the tract was to use it for a
luxury hotel, but after the site
was cleared. nothing further
happened.
The Engineers Club began
originally with the idea of pro-
noting an engineers building
here. When the club heard
about the possibility of the New
York groups moving out. it
added this to its campaign.
Former President bert
Hoover will be asked for his sup
port in getting the societies 10
Gated in Washington. A leading
engineer, Mr.. Hoover advocated
such move many years ago.
The local groups hope to win
out in the bidding by demon
strating that Washington is the
logical place for the engineers to
set up what could become the
engineering center of the world.
I'VE don't intend to outbid the
others with cash." Mr.. Howat
commented. 81 don't think that
will be the thing that will decide
the move anyway"