Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-23
Land Purchase
For Growth Of
Capitol Asked
Bill Filed for Buying
Of " Squares Near
Offices of Senate
By DON S. WARREN
By DON S. WARREN

The two top members of the
Senate Appropriations Commit
tee. Chairman Hayden, Democrat
of Arizona, and Senator Bridges,
Republican of New Hampshire,
Joined today in a bill to author
ize the acquisition of a square
and half of property near the
Senate Office Building to take
care of future expansion needs.
In statement to the Senate,
Senator Hayden commended the
expansion Of the Capitol grounds
was inevitable and it would be
a considerable savings to buy the
properties now before private de-
velopments and rising costs boost
the price.
Their bill would authorize the
purchase of the east half of the
square Immediately to the east
of the site of the new Senate Of
flee Building, now under con-
Structlon at First street and
Constitution avenue NE. 1t also
would authorize the acquisition
of the entire square Immediately
to the north.
Cites Continuous UrOwtn
Senator Hayden told his COL
leagues the continuous growth
of the population of Greater
Washington and the steady rise
in congressional requirements
make it imperative for the
Congress to provide itself with
adequate space in the vicinity of
the Capitol to permit its own in
evitable future growth"
He noted that increased activi-
ty in the restoration of old homes
near the Capitol and the Dis
trict's redevelopment program in
Southwest Washington have re-
suited in increased activity in
the real estate market in the
Capitol Hill area.
Pointing up the advantage of
buying sites ahead of mush-
roomed prices. Senator Hayden
recalled that IS years ago Con-
gress provided for the purchase
of two squares for a new House
Office Building for 81 million:
two squares for the Botanic
Garden for 1891, 900 and two
squares for the annex to the Lii
brary of Congress for 1921 900.
Less than 20 years later, in
1949. he said the cost of buying
only one half of Square 725 as
the site for the new Senate Office
Building amounted to 81 million.
House Moves Lauded
On the House side, he sug-
gested, wise steps have been
taken.
Under funds granted by Con-
gress, he said. the Architect of
the Capitol last September
bought the triangular property
bounded by Delaware avenue, C
and Canal streets S.W., for a
price OF less than 100000. At
the time of purchase of this
property a private corporation
was planning the erection there
OF an eight-story air. conditioned
apartment building with a cost
of more than SIS million.
Had this square not been
purchased by the Government
before erection of the proposed
apartment building" Senator
Hayden declared, the acquisi-
ton cost undoubtedly would
have been in the neighborhood
OF 81 million. instead of $780,
0OO"
He added that the new Senate
Office Building, expected to be
completed early in 1858, would
constitute the only additional
building accommodations pro-
vided for the Senate over a
period of 25 years.
Must Divide Space
Senator Hayden agreed that
some additional relief would
come from the projected extern
sion of the East Front of the
Capitol but said the working
space would have to be divided
between the House and Senate.
Senator Hayden said there was
only one property in the square
and a half proposed to be pur-
chased that has any real histori-
cal character. He said this was
the property at the southeast
corner at Constitution avenue
and Second street NE, the title
of which is held by the National
Women's Party.