American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-06
from the Republic a a
The Improv ents OF washin N z tom.

The rural and picturesque improvement OF
Washington was placed this season, as many OF
our readers are aware, under the able direction
Of Mr.. Downing, whose plans for turning the
wide waste extending from the Capitol grounds
to the Potomac into q magnificent public park
were adopted by the President. "
Mr.. Downing has had large force employed
for some time past, under the superintendent
of Mr. Breckenridge, in the preparation Of por
tions of the park around the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition on the south of the Presidents House. Iu
the former grounds many thousands of feet of
covered drains and culverts have been laid, and
the surface is now being prepared in the most
thorough manner for the reception of trees
In the square south of the Presidents, n large
swampy surface has been filled up, and lake
are now in course Of formation. In all these
operations Mr.. Downing's experience and skill
are applied to the preservation of features of
natural beauty, and the preparation of the soil
in such manner as to promote the rapid
growth Of trees when planted. This park,
when completed, will afford a fine carriage drive
of three or four miles, and will contain speci-
mems of every tree and shrub that will flourish
in this climate, especially of the finest forest
and ornamental trees indigenous to this coun
try. For scenic features it will have the Poto
mac at one end, and the Capitol-which, whei
the new wings are completed, will cover an arei
of over four acres-at the other; the Smith
sonian Institution and the Washington Monu
ment being situated in its midst.
Besides this larger work, Mr.. Downing has
shown us beautiful plans for the improvement
Of Lafayette and Franklin squares, which are
now in process of being converted into the
finest pleasure grounds for the enjoyment of our
citizens. In the centre of Lafayette square
/ will be placed Mr.. Mills's colossal equestrian
/ statue of General Jackson, which will be finished
about the first of January.
Among the unsghtly corners Of Washington
are the triangles along Pennsylvania avenue
the receptacles of rubbish and building mate
rails. The Secretary of the Interior mas uirccteu
one of these-that in front OF the theatre-to
4 be enclosed, as specimen Oh What may oe uone
4 towards the embellishments of the great avenue
! &c the CITY: and Mr. Downing has shown US
design for a very handsome iron railing, which
| is to be used for this purpose.
| Mr.. Downing Justly deplores the ignorance
which has dictated the introduction of SO many
foreign trees-not adapted to the climate-like
tho English elm and the ailanthus, when our
own country is the richest in the world in orna-
mental trees. The English elm, for example, is
\ native of cool, northern climate, where 1t
tbriyes well; whilst here, in our hot Summers,
il has a miserable existence, and is annually
deyoured by insects. On the other hand, the
American em--a far more beautiful and grace
full tree-is perfectly adapted to the climate,
and much more luxuriant in growth. Ha
Now that the embellishments Of the Capitol
both rural and architectural--have been placed
in the hands of men of acknowledged taste and
ability, we feel confident that Washington will
begin to wear very different aspect, and we
look forward to the day when it will be known,
not for. its magnificent distances" but its
magnificent public parks and buildings.