lying areas are thousands of homes, with great new residential and apartment projects constantly under way. There are about 500,000 residents in the metropolitan area of Washington, which added to the 1,000,000 residents in the District of Columbia proper, make a total population of a million and a half in the city and the surrounding residential areas. It is expected that this number will increase to 2,000,000 by the year 2,000.

A feature of this development is that, in accordance with the comprehensive plan for the city of Washington, adopted by the National Capital Planning Commission, the system of streets as set forth in the original L'Enfant Plan of 1791, is extended into the suburbs and coordinated with the plan.

SESQUICENTENNIAL MEETING OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

At a meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts on February 20, 1950, the Commission concurred in a suggested plan for devoting an evening, during the National Capital Sesquicentennial Celebration, to the Development of the National Capital, similar to a meeting held in Washington on April 25 and 26, 1929. Mr. Edward Boykin, Director of the Sesquicentennial Commission, approved the suggestion and made $5,000 available to make a sound film on the city of Washington. Dr. Raymond S. Stites, Head of the Educational Department of the National Gallery of Art, was designated to have charge of making the film, and to be ready for an official meeting on May 17, 1950. Preliminary approval of the plan was given by Dean Wurster, Chairman of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. It was decided that Major General Ulysses S. Grant 3d (retired) should be chairman of the Committee on Arrangements.

PARTICIPATION IN THE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION EXHIBITION OF PORTRAITS-MAKERS OF HISTORY

During the course of the meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts held on July 20, 1950, Chairman Finley, as Director of the National Gallery of Art, conducted the Commission through the exhibition of historical portraits which had been assembled and placed on exhibition at the National Galley. The exhibit in

Director Hermann W. Williams of the Corcoran Gallery of Art also invited the Commission to view the exhibition, American Processional, on the second floor of the Gallery. The members availed themselves of the opportunity. The exhibition continued until the middle of December 1950.

All of these exhibitions were made possible by funds made available by the National Capital Sesquicentennial Commission, established by Act of Congress to mark the 150th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Seat of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia in 1800.

L'ENFANT MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN

At a meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts, held on February 20, 1950, note was taken of H.R. 4274, "A Bill, authorizing the erection of a memorial fountain to Pierre Charles L'Enfant, in the City of Washington," which had been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Davis of Tennessee. The bill reads as follows:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress

Assembled, That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is hereby, authorized to secure by competition, according to such regulations as he may adopt, designs for a memorial fountain to Pierre Charles L'Enfant, author of the Plan of 1791 for the city of Washington, on a site to be selected jointly by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the National Commission of Fine Arts, with the concurrence of the Secretary of the Interior: Provided, That the accepted design shall have the approval of the National Commission of Fine Arts; Provided, further, That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated such sum as may be necessary to carry out such accepted design.

The Commission discussed the bill and felt that it would be appropriate to place the fountain at the head of Pennsylvania Avenue, near the Treasury Department, replacing an old temporary war building, where it would be seen by a far greater number of people than at a site heretofore suggested on the Mall, south of the National Archives Building.

It was decided, however, to take no action in the matter pending enactment of the legislation.

UNITED STATES SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTA

TIVES CHAMBERS

TR. Francis P. Sullivan, architect, acting

MTM

in behalf of the Honorable David Lynn, Architect of the Capitol, submitted samples of materials proposed for use in renovating the United States Senate and the House of Representatives Chambers, at a meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts held on February 11, 1949.

Mr. Harbeson, the consulting architect for this project, stated that inasmuch as Tavernelle marble could not be obtained, it was proposed to use Hauteville (French) marble which is similar in color but without the graining.

The Commission, after consideration, approved the use of Hauteville (French) marble, as proposed.

Regarding the use of nylon or silk fabrics, the Commission expressed preference for the use of silk, but, before taking final action in the matter, suggested to Mr. Harbeson that it be made the subject of further inquiry and study.

As to a location for the Senate clock, the Commission recommended that it be kept at the first-floor level.

UNITED STATES CAPITOL

At the meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts, held on May 6, 1949, the Commission inspected samples of materials proposed for the walls of the renovated Senate and House of Representatives Chambers, that were submitted by Mr. Harbeson and Mr. Sullivan in behalf of the Honorable David Lynn, Architect of the Capitol.

The Commission recommended a nylon fabric, since it is easier to keep clean, but not necessarily the pattern exhibited by the samples. A report was sent to Mr. Lynn, accordingly.

SCULPTURE FOR THE REMODELED CHAMBERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, UNITED STATES CAPITOL

At a meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts, held on March 16, 1949, Mr. Francis Sullivan, architect, appeared before the Commission in behalf of the Honorable David Lynn, Architect of the Capitol, to discuss sculptural decoration for the Chambers of Congress. Mr. Sullivan said:

The sudden passage of legislation in the House of Representatives, to make changes in the House of Representatives Chamber at the same time as they are being made in the Senate Chamber, makes it necessary to expedite our program, because it means we will have to make twenty-two plaques and carve them in marble in time to set them in place by January 1950. We decided it would be best to divide the work among a number of sculptors, and we asked six to make four plaques each; it was our intention to ask Mr. Lawrie to act as liaison officer between the sculptors and the architects. Moving the clock down from the doors to the gallery level is going to make a place for two more plaques.

As regards the State seals in stained glass, which were on the ceiling over the House of Representatives at that time, Mr. Sullivan said: "The Committee, before passing this legislation, was very insistent that the State Seals should be incorporated in the design. The glass seals are to be returned to the respective States, but there will be new seals moulded in plaster in the ceiling."

As regards the United States Senate Chamber, Mr. Sullivan said, "Mr. Lawrie is to do the panels and Sidney Waugh the clock with the eagle in the Senate Chamber."

During a meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts, held on October 17,1949, the Commission met in the office of the Honorable David Lynn, Architect of the Capitol, to consider matters relating to the alteration and renovation of the

United States Senate and the House of Representatives Chambers, on which work was in progress. There were present, also, Mr. Francis Sullivan, architect, and Mr. John F. Harbeson, consulting architect.

Mr. Lynn desired advice with regard to portraying the seals of the various States, a design for a clock, and the selection of wood for paneling the walls of the Chamber of the House of Representatives. A sample of a State seal was submitted.

The Commission concurred in the decision of the House of Representatives Committee, including the Speaker, that the State seals should be executed in plaster, raised and painted in color, without light from behind.

For paneling the Chamber of the House of

Representatives, the Commission recommended the use of walnut, in natural wood finish, and the use of St. Genevieve Sheldorado, a stone similar to Tavernelle in color.

The Commission recommended that the sculptor, Sidney Waugh, be requested to make a design for the clock in the House of Representatives, giving it a horizontal treatment rather than a vertical one.

The Commission was pleased to note that still other sculptors will soon be commissioned for executing additional works of sculpture in the Chamber of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and that this work is to have the supervision of Mr. Lee Lawrie. A written report was sent to Mr. Lynn.

54 feet and about 76 feet back from the sidewalk. From Twentieth and Twenty-first Streets there is a distance from the property line of 75 feet. The building will be 258 feet long on E Street. Future extensions are not contemplated, but the plan indicates how this work may be accomplished.

The floor plans indicated the location of the "blood-bank," canteen, waiting room, laboratories, offices, and auditorium, as well as exhibition space, kitchen, and cafeteria. The building was designed to be four stories high, plus a penthouse.

The Commission approved the design, subject to the presentation of details of the central element (the doorway and related sculpture). The sculpture was modeled by Edmond Amateis. and was subsequently approved by the Commission.

The building was dedicated by President Eisenhower on October 2, 1953, when the President gave a notable address relating his experience with the Red Cross while Supreme Commander of the Armies in Europe during World War II.

Honorable John Clifford Folger, Chairman of the District of Columbia Chapter, American Red Cross, stated that the new building is "the most complete and best equipped Red Cross work shop in the world."

NATIONAL ARBORETUM

At a meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts, held on December 10, 1948, Mr. A. S. Thorn, Acting Supervising Architect, Public Buildings Administration, submitted a number of designs, including a plot plan of the grounds, showing the location of proposed buildings for the National Aboretum at Mount Hamilton in Northeast Washington, where the Government has acquired about 500 acres for the project. In general the plans submitted were considered by the Commission to be satisfactory.

At a meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts held on February 11, 1949, Mr. Thorn submitted designs for the following buildings for the National Arboretum:

Propagator's residence,

Motorized equipment and storage building,

Farm machinery storage building,
Headhouse and greenhouse.

Mr. Thorn stated that these buildings were designed in cooperation with officials of the National Arboretum, Department of Agriculture, and were designed to fit locations designated in the plot plan of the National Arboretum heretofore submitted.

The architect members of the Commission inspected the drawings and upon their recommendation the Commission approved the plans, with minor suggestions in matters of detail.

MASON HALL APARTMENT, MOUNT VERNON

MEMORIAL HIGHWAY

At a meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts held on January 10, 1949, Mr. Irving C. Root, Superintendent, National Capital Parks, National Park Service, submitted a set of drawings for a new apartment house to be known as Mason Hall, and located in Virginia between Slater's Lane and Bashford Lane, along the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway.

The Commission agreed that the apartment should be built in accordance with existing regulations, at least 40 feet back from the property line of the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway. The Commission could see no objection to the Government granting the use of a 15-foot rightof-way for a service roadway and sidewalk, provided the owner dedicated a similar strip of ground to make the total width for the service roadway and sidewalk 30 feet.

The Commission interposed no objection to a flat roof, but recommended that the elevations be greatly simplified. The architect, Mr. William St. Cyr Barrington, submitted a revised design at a meeting of the Commission of Fine Arts held on March 16, 1949. The architect members of the Commission, Messrs. Aldrich, Reinhard, and Murphy examined the revised design carefully, and upon their recommendation the Commission approved it.

The plans showed a brick building, 600 feet long parallel to the highway, with four wings from 50 to 100 feet long. The details were in colonial style.