NEW BUILDINGS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In 1!»<>1 ConoToss authorized the preparation of ])lans for an agri- 

 cultural ])uildino-, as a preliniiuary step toward securino- adequate per- 

 manent ((uarters for the National Department of Agriculture. On the 

 basis of plans and estimates which were made, an appropriation of 

 two and one-half million dollars was asked, which the Conoress of 

 1902 reduced to one and one-half million. With this reduced amount 

 it was decided to provide laborator}' and office acconmiodations for the 

 Inireaus and divisions occupyino- rented buildino-.s, and to leave the 

 administration building to be built later when further appropriation 

 should be made. 



A building- committee consisting of Doctors B. T. Galloway, D. E. 

 Salmon, and A. C True was appointed by Secretary Wilson to con- 

 sider in detail the special needs of the Department, and to arrange for 

 building plans. Messrs. Rankin, Kellogg, & Crane, of Philadelphia, 

 were selected as architects, and preliminary plans were drawn; but 

 controversy arose over the location of the building, which involved 

 the general plans of the commission for the beautitication of Washing- 

 ton, and pending the decision little progress could be made in working 

 out the details of the building. 



A location was detinitely determined upon earl}' in May, 130 feet 

 in rear (to the south) of the present main building, and fronting on 

 the 890-foot parkway projected from the Capitol to the Washington 

 ^Monument. The building will face north, and when completed will 

 consist of an administration building as a central feature, with L-shaped 

 wings on either side, the short arms of the wings extending to the rear. 

 (PI, III). This will occupy all the available space ])ack to B street SW., 

 and will necessitate the condemnation and closing of that street and a 

 part of the square adjoining it when future extensions are made. 



The location with reference to the present buildings is shown in 

 tig, 10. It will be seen that, with t!:e exception of the frame building 

 used as a uniseum and several ranges of greenhouses, the buildings 

 need not be disturbed for the present. The grass garden, which lies 

 between the statistical l)uilding and the museum, will have to ))e moved, 

 and the proximity of the vegetation house (V. H.) and a small building 

 for photographitig plants (P. (t.) will necessitate their being done away 

 with. The tirepi'oof building used for storing I'ecoi'ds and documents, 

 the stable, and other storage buildings will be left t'oi' the present. 

 The museum contaiu . :^,umerous olliees. and [)ro\isi()n t'oi'tluvse will be 

 made in rented quarters, as the building will be torn down this sununer. 



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