The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-15
For tbs Union.


The Public Grounds in washanston C,sy,g
In the original plan of the city, five hundred ana forty
OF ground reserved for public tises OF
these the grounds within the enclosures OF the Capitol
and the Presidents House in excellent order and those
within the enclosures of the Navyyard, the Arsenal and
he added the lot opposite the Presidents mansion called
Lafayette Squares square distance northeast OF it,
known Spring Garden; and the Congressional Burial
Ground e-aatt,
But these improved lots embrace in all but little
than hundred acres, leaving about four hundred
acres OF public grounds in the city OF Washington in SO
soveny condition would disgrace any private
owner and what is disgraceu to individual be
pralsewOrthy in government. 'ul 1-. .lla .tat
From the Capitol the Potomac, extends long slip OF
territory, known the city plat 'the Mall and in
GLIDING about hundred acres. In state of nature
covered by fine forest trees But unfortunately,
IS not now IN state OF nature All the trees have been
washed by the rains, and cattle left to range it
such seasons, that it is impossible for grass to grow
tor at least such grass ought to grow American
SOIL What was intended TO be an ornament to the city,
has thus become detormity. ID lttN la tu9a
South of the Presidents garden, and extending to the
gnaly for parade ground. 1t is lnencosed, and made
depository of all kinds of filth and rubbish 5r39s
Bad, however, as is the condition OF the Mall and
the parade grounds, they in excellent order when
compared with the lot opposite to the north side of
the enc osure of the Capitol. 1t is difficult to un-
dersand the taste the economy that has led to the
expenditure of so much money the Capitol. and the
ground within the iron railing that encoses ii, and has
left in this than slovenly condition the broken
piece OF ground which must be seen Dy every VINO
arrives here by railroad, and by every one who APP
proaches the Capitol the north side. In Asiatic
palaces the entrance into the most splendid apartments
said to be, not unfrequenty, througha stable. How
much better is this approach to the beautiful grounds of
Capitol? To tt Wf HaJ
The condition of the public grounds in the city of
Washington, those only excepted that mentioned in
the first paragraph of this article such would fairly
bring tears in the eyes of Philadelphia alderman,
the seectman OF New England village And yet
put them decent order Only graduate the grounds
that they will not be washed by the rains, and pro-
ec them by enclosures, that grass and trees may
grow upon them, and nature will do the rest Costly i'm
provemens are desirable. Only make these grounds
neat Lancaster county Pennsylyania) farm, and.
from being public nusances, they will becomel public
ornaments ua3s .TsvI1
The grounds requiring the most speedy attention are
the lot the declvy of the hill opposite to thu north
side of the enclosure of the CAPITOL the loteaiae the
the Potomac But suitable plan OF Improvement aho.u
embrace all the public grounds, though not require the
completion of the improvement of all within the period
OF one year.
Perhaps will be said. this is not the proper time tor
making such improvements. When, then, it may be
asked will the proper time Gomez Fifty -four years have
elapsed since the cornerstone OF the Capitol was LAID
For how many years must the public grounds in the
metropolis of the Union be left in this dsgaceful condi-
ton? '' it' ~ ''--'A :. .
If the plan proposed were very costly one--f for
example were proposed to put all the public grounds In
the very superior order in which are the grounds within
the enclosures of the Capitol and the Presidents house.
might be admitted that the proper time for II had not
that is desired is that the public grounds should De put
in as neat condition Pennsylvania OF New England
farm and as for the completion OF this plan, the CO.
operation of nature necessary IS to be hoped that the
without the necessary measures being adopted: