Garden and gather valuable information regarding other 

 botanic gardens throughout the world. 48 



Five years later, in January 1925, legislation was approved 

 granting the Joint Committee on the Library authority "to 

 investigate and report to Congress, with estimate of cost as 

 to a new location for the conservatories of the United States 

 Botanic Garden, south of the Mall in the vicinity of the pres- 

 ent location/' To complete its report, the Committee was 

 "authorized to procure advice and assistance from any 

 existing government agency, including the services of 

 engineers, surveyors, draftsmen, landscape architects, and 

 other technical personnel" in the various executive depart- 

 ments and independent agencies. 49 



Under the provisions of this Act, careful consideration 

 was given to the property that would be needed, the most 

 appropriate location, and what types of buildings would be 

 most suitable. 50 The Committee's exploratory efforts cul- 

 minated with the passage in January 1927 of legislation 

 providing for the enlargement and relocation of the Garden 

 and the Bartholdi Fountain to the sites they occupy today. 51 



Two months later, the Architect of the Capitol was 

 authorized, under the direction and supervision of the Joint 

 Committee on the Library, to provide for the construction 

 of the new conservatories and other buildings that were to 

 be constructed 52 Between 1928 and 1932 the Architect of the 

 Capitol expended $981,140.37 to clear the site of the old 

 Botanic Garden, acquire a new parcel of land, and erect the 

 new facilities. 53 



The site finally selected for the new Botanic Garden Con- 

 servatory was directly opposite the former site on the south 

 side of Maryland Avenue. This new location fit very well 

 into the Park Commission's plan, which had proposed that 

 the Mall be flanked by public buildings. 



48 U.S. Congress, Architect of the Capitol, Annual Report of the 

 Architect of the Capitol, 1927, Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1928, 

 p. 20; and U.S. Congress, Joint Committee on the Library, Establishment 

 of a National Botanic Garden, Part 2, Hearings on S. 497 and S. Res. 165, 

 66th Cong., 2d Sess., Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1920. 



49 43 Stat. 729. 



50 Annual Report of the Architect of the Capitol, 1927, p. 20. 



51 44 Stat. 931. 



52 44 Stat. 1262. 



53 Architect of the Capitol, Annual Report of the Architect of the Capitol, 

 1937, Washington: U.S. Govt. Print. Off., 1937, p. 48. See also U.S. Botanic 

 Garden: Preliminary Report, p. 17. 



47 



