davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08

employees even though new pri-
ivate structures must do so.
This, the article said, has
made parking cars "devour the
grand spaces of Washington, /"
like the Great Plaza between the
Post Once and Commerce build
ings. and the Court of Honor
between the Capitol, Supreme
Court and Library of Congress.
The most effective way to free
parks and these monumental
areas of cars, the article said,
would be "a garage beneath the
Mall, from the Capitol lawns To
the eastern edge Of the Wash
Iington Monument superblock,
like the gigantic parking facil-
lily Chicago has recently COM
ipleted under Grant Park.
This would be a fine way for
Congress to spend the $40 mil
lion plus which it plans to waste
instead on boon-doggling with
the Capitol facade. Under
ground shuttle service could con-
meet all important existing and
new structures along the Mall
| Another need. the authors
said, is to design parking ga
RACES so they would not be out
of place in monumental Federal
areas. and make them rich and
handsome street furniture
besides storing cars"
Key Feature
Such a monumental garage is
a key feature Of Mr.. Gutheim's
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08

official caprice will not pull the
foundations from under him.
If delays continue to hold up
Area c, Area B viii be out on a
bad. bad limb. and its flop from
that limb will have repercussions
on middle Income redevelopment
all over the United States"
Following are the articles ma
jor observations on other aspects
Of Washington development:
L'Enfant Plan
From 1890 to 1910, the Len
FAINT plan provided a boldly ade-
quate" pattern for development
In the last Is years. "helter-
skelter" development and the
spaghetti" bowls of, cloverleafs
oyerpasses and bridges needed 10
have tended to break the plar
down.
In the future. such massive
road projects as the inner loop
expressway system downtown
will further change the L'Enfant
plans basic street layout.
THE plan will probably be
preserved rec6gnizably at thu
ceremonial and monumental
heart Of the Capital" the article
said. elsewhere, only in bits and
pieces at the large interstices
OF the spaghetti"
Parking
The Federal Government is
the main offender" in the park
ing picture. providing no off,
street parking facilities for. it,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08

that It Conveys an impression
OF progress is delightfully."-
cheap" But they added:
Whether eo-Classicism is
sophisticated as in the Federal
Reserve BRUTAL as in the
State Department, fiashy as in
the U. S. Court or dowdy as in
the proposed Senate Ofices. the
style inherently carries the un-
gracious quality of institution
versus man. 1t has a mean look. "
y Mem Government
Two OF the most recent ex-
amples, the forum said. are
unfortunate"
One. the new marble head
quarters Of the Brotherhood OF
Transfers. on Louisiana avenue
NV. south of Union Station
would be reasonably acceptable
in most cities" the article said
ION the edge of the Capitol
grounds 1t looks incredibly vul-
lgar. It does us the service oil
demonstrating how merciless are
the demands Of such a site. >
The authors other example
a photo showing the new ALL
CLIO Building on Sixteenth street
rising above st. Johns Church
was criticized asa ''horrid docu.
ment Of the chaos of our cities.
They complained that the his
toric old church, across Lafay-
cite Square from the White
House, is being mo more re-
spected in the townscape than
any other little urban GEM" and
added: This is how we make
new messes Of our cities faster
than we clean up old irlesses. >
Smithsonian Plan
Recent criticism by Douglas
Haskell. Architectural Forum ed
itor. of the Smithsonian plan
to build its huge Air Museum
downtown, was expanded greatly
in the article.
1 Contending that the museums
priceless goods are crowded
i"willy-nilly" in present buildings
the article said that super.
flcially, space would seem Il
he the Smithsonian's biggest
problem.
But it is not. It's biggest
problem is that its officials hav,
an attic psychology. Until they
can overcome this. space win moi
cure the problem; the Smith,
sonian will always be an attic
and viii always be unable Il
process and exhibit what shoule
he shown"
i The authors prime example
was the Air Museum, which the,
commended should be located a
Boiling Field. where it woule
have the unlimited space it re.
Iquired.
They also charged the Smith,
sonian has failed to make best
use of the Mall area. and urgec
formation Of a master plan tx
make 1t lone Of the most mag.
nificent museum completes il
the world"
IF Director ueonard) Car.
michael would come out OF tn,
attic and turn his undoubtet
Iskills to this problem the arti.
cle said, "the result could be {
national museum worthy of tn,
~. S."
One Of the Forums stronges,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08

suggestion for closing rennsyl-
wanna avenue to cars between
Thirteenth and Fifteenth streets,
and turning the area into an
open square.
A sketch, prepared by Mr..
Gutheim and Willo Won Moltke,
chief designer of the Philadel-
Iphia Planning Commission. shows
q tall. narrow parking garage
along the south side Of E street,
between Thirteenth and Four
tenth. It could hold 1900 cars,
permitting the Great Plaza i'm
mediately to the south to be
restored as a garden-like park.
Mr.. Gutheim said the main
purpose Of his scheme was TO
bring a new architectural solu-
ton" to the clutter of conflict
ing use" buildings In that imme-
date area.
The Forum article noted that
three Of the old structureS-the
District Building, the Southern
Railway building. and the Ole
Post ONCE, are to be razed. But
it said. current plans call only
for more buildings and clutter
which could compound the
mess beyond imagination"
Great Tradition
The Gutheim plan, the article
said. would have Pennsylvania
avenue end as a highway west
of Thirteenth, but continue as
an axis. a sightline. a pedestrian
route end-of great Importance
"a ceremonial route for parades
all treated in the great ira
dition Of urban squares"
Neither city highway nor Fed
eral planning officials have seen
this suggestion. but each ques-
toned that Pennsylvania avenue
could be closed because OF the
heavy traffic which requires il
as an access to Fifteenth street
Under the Gutheim idea, traffic
leaving Pennsylvania would have
to use e street.
Wonderful architectural OPP
portunities" are present with
the construction of new Federal
buildings in Washington, the
article said. but no field of con-
temporary architecture has been
so poor :. so disappointing
/! SO cropping as what might be
called government monumental
! The authors said the Supreme
Court Building is probably the
last example Of the Classic Re.
vival style. They criticized a,
"a failure" the Modern Neo.
Classic style which, in its place
has become Federal architec-
ture by default"
OF the Neo-ClasSic style. the
article said, the Federal Reserve
Building on Constitution avenue
is probably the most skillful'
and the State Department Build.
ing near Virginia avenue lone
lof the most repellent.
This form Of architecture, the
authors said. has become COM
mon in all capitals Of the world
They speculated one reason Il
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08

mittee's handling of the Zecken-
dorf Southwest redevelopment
proposals.
The Planning Commission to
date has approved nearly every
aspect of the redevelopment plan
and is expected to give final APP
proval within the next few
months.
The article, however, singles
out for emphasis only one aspect
of studies made by a committee
headed by Conrad l.. With, Ma
tional Park Service chief.
This aspect Is q series Of de-
lays and confusion over a con-
iflict between the zeckendorf
plans key feature, a wide South
Mall" entrance to the southwest,
and Smithsonian requests for a
site for its proposed huge Ma
tional Air Museum. The Wirth
committee never has reached O
firm conclusion on this basic con-
Iflict over location. but the COM
mission last month asked the
Smithsonian to find q site else
where.
Reviews Background
The article reviewed back
ground Of the With committees
lclosed-door operations. and
added:
These With Committee 60
Iings on are so strange 1t is diff
cult to interpret them.
Occasionally, sharp ears in
the outer world pick UP mutter-
lings that imply Washington is a
lgentlemen's private club and the
new man. Mr.. Zeckendorf. is not
up for membership. Whatever
goes on in the committees head,
planning does not. Planning i'm
plies, at the least, a sense of pro-
Igression and enlightenment Of
the public, while the committee
runs In secret circles.
This burlesque Of the plan
ming function with its deadpan
actors. apparently unable to
make public whatever Is eating
them, would be funny II so much
were not at stake--for the step
child southwest. for Washing
ton and the Nation"
Both Mr.. Feiss and Mr..
Gutheim told The Star they had
nothing to do with the redevelop-
Iment section Of the article.
Called Well Suited
The author said major ele-
'ments Of the Zeckendorf plan for
the southwest were brilliantly
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08


Dear Mr.. President:
With further reference to your
request Of March Is; 1855, that
confer with the appropriate
agencies concerned with the Re-
development Of Southwest Wash
ington in an effort to expedite
the project, ! am pleased to re-
port that this important UNDER
aking now appears to be fully
underway and its ultimate sue
cess assured.
In marked contrast to the un-
certain status Of the project nine
months ago. I can now report
that:
ID Land use plans have been
agreed upon and either finally
or tentatively adopted by the
National Capital Planning Com
mission. covering the three
Southwest project areas, B, C-1
and c. as shown on this photo
graph.
a A developer has been Sc
lected Ia group headed by James
H. Scheuer and Roger L. Stevens
Of New York; and is getting
ready to build in Area B. The
Washington Real Estate Board
will cooperate in the develop
ment Of Area C-l. The District
Government Is prepared to carry
out certain public improvements
In all three areas. The firm Of
Webb & Knapp Is preparing de-
tailed site development plans and
specifications. In cooperation
with the Planning Commission,
to carry out the Area c plans.
81 Congress has authorized,
and the General Services Ad-
ministration is pursuing through
established procedures, the con-
struction Of new Federal Office
building in Area c as a part of
that plan.
~ The Housing and Home
Finance Agency Is not only CO.
operating fully with the local
officials in paving the way for
the final loans and grants needed
for these projects but is actively
seeking to get them under con-
tract by the end Of this fiscal
year.
50 The location Of the pro-
posed Smithsonian Air Museum,
described by Mr.. Bartholomew,
the Chairman Of the Planning
Commission, as the last problem
in Southwest Redevelopment
planning, was disposed Of as O
further consideration in these
plans by recommendation of
the Planning Commission last
week that Smithsonian find a
site elsewhere for this structure.
Predictions are difficult, and
probably unnecessary, but !
would venture to say that new
construction should be under
way next year in Area B and
perhaps In Area c and CT,
Within five or six years, the face
of the 548-acre region encom-
passed in these projects should
be materially changed and the
$500 families who have lived
there rehoused in greatly i'm
proved surroundings in the
Southwest or elsewhere. Within
10 years. barring national
emergency. the area could be
completely rebuilt, a model down.
town urban community which
could point the way for the sal
walton Of obsolete city cores
throughout the Nation.
The District Commissioners,
the members and stats Of the
Planning Commission, the Re-
development Land Agency, the
National Capital Housing Au-
thority and the Commission Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08
Continued From First Page

Continued From First Page
very grateful for your devoted
efforts in this public service"
Contrast Noted
Mr.. Garrett noted In his final
report that southwest redevelop-
ment today shows marked con-
trast TO its uncertain status
nine months ago. when basic
policies were sclouded. by con-
troversy. indecision and delay.
He told the President that
each Of the three southwest prof.
ects appeared to be assured Of
success.
The three are Area B. the rs.
acre pilot project bounded by
the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks
and South Capitol. Fourth and
I streets S.W.: Area CT, q
smaller 30-acre tract south Of
Area B. and Area c. the vas,
project encompassing most OF thu
rest Of the southwest in which
the zeckendorf firm Of Webb &
Knapp hope to handle the major
rebuilding job.
Mr.. Garrett reported that thu
National Capital Planning Com.
mission had approyed--eithel
tentatively or finally-land use
plans for all three projects.
Mr.. Garrett. investment broker
and president OF the Fedora
City Council, said the Planning
Commission at, its December
meeting disposed" of the last
remaining planning hurdle tc
the Area C Zeckendorf plans
conflict between the plan,
South Mall" entranceway to the
area and proposed site for the
Smithsonian Institutions Ma
tional Air Museum.
! Smithsonian Loses Out
This conflict was disposed Of
as a further consideration in
these plans by a recommendation
of the Planning Commission
that Smithsonian find a site else
where for this structure" the
report said.
| Mr.. Garrett devoted q major
part of his time since his APP
pointment In March, 1855, to
conferences with the city, Fed
eral and private agencies In
volyed in redevelopment. In ad-
dition to attending most formal
meetings, he held numerous pri-
vate sessions with officials con.
cerned to try to iron out differ.
ences. In carrying out his mis-.
sion, he worked quietly. for tht
most part without public notice
Mr.. Garrett ventured a predic.
ton In his White House report
that construction would be un.
der way next year in Area B
and prossibly in the other two
projects.
Within 10 years." he said
barring a national emergency
the area could be completed,
rebuilt, a model downtown ur.
ban community which coulc
point the way for the salvation
OF obsolete city cores throughout
the nation"
The District Commissioner.
Will hold public hearings Januar,
% to act on a formal "urbar
renewal" plan for Area CT
and to make important change,
IN the Area B redevelopment
plan.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08

$AtAoAAAAS 6ASNNAA GAASA NONA
cludes that time is standing
stock still in the brains Of many
of the men who will have much
10 do with shaping the Doth
century Capital"
Its attack ranges from bur
lesque" actions Of Federal plan
ners to the attic psychology" of
the Smithsonian Institution,
from the failure" of modern
government architecture to on
Gals who compound" rather
than solve the parking problem.
The sharply-worded article
was written by Jane Jacobs, a
Forum staff writer. with the
help of two Washington private
planning consultants, Frederick
Gutheim and Carl Feiss.
Planning Officials
Mr.. Gutheim is a member of
the Upper Montgomery County
Planning Commission and is
vice chairman Of the National
Capital Regional Planning Coun-
ell. He also is a retained consult
ant to the Zeckendorf arm Of
Webb g. Knapp for It's southwest
Washington redevelopment pro-
posals.
Mr.. Feiss. well known in plan
ming circles, is q former official
Of the Housing and Home FL
nance Agency's urban redevelop-
ment program.
The article states that Wash
ington's tremendous growth is
bound to bring about a new type
Of Capital. including vast
changes in the original L'Enfant
plan. The articles purpose, it
says. IL to ind what type of city
Il emerging and it adds:
The emerging Goth century
Capital win become q miserable
hodge-podge instead of the in
spring city Americans deeply
desire unless thought catches UP
with event."
Mostly Critical,
For the most part the article
Is critical Of what's being done.
Some proposals are made. how
ever. including one by Mr.. Gut
helm. It calls for Pennsylvania
avenue to be closed to autos be-
tween Thirteenth and Fifteenth
streets NV. with a vast cere-
monial square and parking ga
rage to htghlight that area.
The article devotes its strong
est attention--and bitterest crit
icism-at a National Capital
Planning Commission subcom-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08
THE SUNDAY STAR All
Washington, D. C.. -
SUNDAY JANUARY 4. 1855

attacks was on the drive to COM
plete the extension of the east
front Of the Capitol. which 1t
noted now appears imminent
after many years Of controversy.
The authors criticized the
project as destruction Of the
Capitol's finest facade" merely
for "a textbook correction of the
Ioverhang of the dome's base be-
yond the wall behind the port
ico."
The article quoted architect
Thomas Walter as saying. You
may remedy this one feature.
but the cost in sentiment, his
tory and beauty is too great"
The advantage OF more space
within the Capitol has been
the big point" whenever the
project has been discussed. the
article commended. AS to why
the project has had the support
of architects of the Capitol, the
authors speculated that this
probably has something to do
with the fact that invariably
architects of the Capitol get q
passionate itch to write their
names upon this building"
Keep Landmarks
The article deplored moves to
destroy the historic old Patent
office at Eighth and F streets
NV. and similar landmarks.
Noting that the General Serv-
ices Administration supported q
bill last year to tear down the
Patent Office to make way for q
parking garage. the authors said:
When irreplaceable beauty is
up against a combination Of
bureaucracy and commercial
profit, its chances are not good"
The authors praised George.
town as a huge success finan-
cially, socially and architectu-
rally" and appiauded similar
housing rehabilitation moves on.
Capitol Hill and in Foggy Bot
tom.
Another View
But they took a more pessi-
mistic view of rehabilitation eff
forts for lower-income inhabit-
ants, especially if Government
subsidy is not present. They
cited one such project on Fem
ton place in southwest Wash
Iington. and declared:
THE trouble with Fenton place
and similar efforts is that.
though the backyard privies are
gone and the interiors are sani-
tary, they are still fundamen-
tally slum housing. mainly be-
cause of lack of sufficient land
and the impossibility of provid-
ing a sound neighborhood plan
to protect the Improvement
ut begins to look" the article
concluded. "as If the amenities
that make rehabilitated slums
into nonslums can be afforded
only by the well-to-do. Or else
/. 1t must be subsidized at
least to the extent Of street
planting and neighborhood out
door breathing space"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08
Astrologers to Meet

The Washington Astrological
Society will meet at 8 pm. Tues
day at the Hotel Sheraton
Carlton.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08
Architectural Magazine
AssoiIs D. C. Developers

bstering Washingtons development and the
who plan made in the issue Of Architectural
Forum which also suggests scheme for blocking
Pennsylvania Thirteenth street NV with gigantic
park
The 2page article examines several aspects of washngton
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08

It's time TO register rs vot-
ers. The place Is the District
Building.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08
Report Cites Progress
On Southwest Project

FOLLOWING the tert OF George A. CARROTS report
President Eisenhower the status OF southwest Washington
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-08

A Syndicate Lined Up
A New York syndicate headed
by Roger L. Stevens and James
II. Scheuer already has been
Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1956-08-18
Twelve Complete
Driver Course At
Jackson College

Twelve persons completed the
course in driver education at Jack
son State College Friday. The
course sponsored by the American
Automobile Association, the Mis-
sissippi State Department of Edu-
cation and Jackson State College
was taught by Mr.. and Mrs. Ran
vile T. Sawyer sometimes referred
to as Mr.. and Mrs. Driver Educa-
ton.
They are reputedly the only hus-
band and wife team currently en-
gagged in teaching this course. Mr..
Sawyer handled the teaching end
of the work while Mrs. Sawyer de-
voted her time to the testing phase
of the program. Mrs. Sawyer
sometimes lectures, counsels with
the would be-driver teachers while
Mr.. Sawyer instructs would-be-
drivers in the behind-the-wheel
techniques. Mr.. Sawyer was pre-
sented certificate as the most
outstanding trainer of driver edu-
cation instructors in the United
States in February, 1856. Incl
dentally, the Jackson State College
group had the use of the dual con-
troll auto owned by the Jackson
Driving School which is owned and
operated by Mr.. and Mrs. Ben
Farrier.
Among those completing the
course were Steve Morris, Jr.,
Waynesboro; M. P. Pittman, Sandy
Hook; John Griffith, Clarksdale;
Leroy Ramsey, Meridian; Goslin
Ward, Beaumont; Louis Gaines and
Collins Gray, Belzoni; Lawrence
Sutton, Louise; Mary E. Voolfolk,
Yazoo City; Charles E. Leonard,
Greenwood; C. L. Hill and Ebert
Cobbs, Jackson.
Patronize Our Advertisers
Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1956-08-18
Negro Farmer 49,.
Continued from Page One)

Those who received certificates
of merit are: Ike Austin of Thorn
aston; Philip Furness, Coy; j. w.
Greenwood, Clayton; Sam Nicely,
Centreville; Nick Fitchard, Hunts
vile; L. G. Orr, Danville; Tillman
Hardy, Jr., Titus; Isaac Long,
Aliceville; Charley MCGUIRE, Troy;
and Ben L. Reynolds, Childersburg'
The awards program climaxed a
day Of discussion and farm tours
conducted by DR.. r. d. Morrison,
director of the department Of ag-
riculture Of the college. The tours
included the livestock area where
the farmers saw purebred beef and
dairy cattle, swine, and sheep, and
Of the orchard, sorghum field ex.
perimental corn plots, and the
farm machinery shed.
During the discussion period
the conservation winners explained
to the group how they had bull,
terraces and carried out othe,
practices on their farms, and how
this work had improved their eroT
production.
Mr.. Belts, the first prize win
ner, owns . 48-acre hilly farm
When he first attempted to buy tho
place ~ years ago after II year
Of tenant farming, he said hi,
asighbors told him he would starvs
to death - tAs poor land. And
- savs - very nearly did. Ate,