Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-19
to secure at least decent room for the mansion

to secure at least decent room for the mansion
of the chief of this growing nation.
There are two squares, one on the east aud
another on the west side of Lafayette square,
of dimensions sufficient for the contemplated
buildings. These squares can, in all proba.
bility, be purchased on reasonable terms, GER
tainly for much less sum than has been, and
is being spent for mere ornament to the CAPT.
tol alone and no one will question that for
ornament and habitual use, the grounds secured
by the removable Of all the buildings on the Presi-
dents square, except the mansion, would be
preferred universally to all the ornaments Of
all the public buildings. If, indeed, the ques-
ton were put to the vote in this District and
throughout the Union whether they would not
prefer the Capitol itself, to be Of plain brick,
wholly destitute OF ornament, aud retain these
grounds cleared from the disgrace of its build
ings, there would come mp from every quarter
one unanimous amen A failure now to secure
the ground, is failure forever The subject
has been debated in Congress, and the razing
the treasury building to the earth, when nearly
completed, failed by single vote, and, but for
personal considerations, would have passed
The two squares above mentioned are most ell
gibly situated, giving full scope Of vision from
great distance of the architectural beauty of
the edifices which may be erected on them
They will be light and airy, accessible from all
four sides, and by their proximity afford IA
cilty to the transaction of business hitherto un-
known. None of these advantages would be
had in an equal degree by buildings on the
Presidents square, which now is a mere tho
roughfare, shamefully so a perpetual tbrong
passing and repassing through the very portico
OF the mansion itself Besides which, the pre-
sent buildings could be occupied without an
noyance, while the buildings are being
erected on the two squares mentioned but to
build on the Presidents square, would cause
confusion, annoyance, and destruction Of trees
very many years growth in the grounds Of the
Presidents square.
For these reasons and for very many others
which might be urged, the belief is entertained
that the Presidents square should not be desc
Grated by additional buildings
70 show the importance attached TO parks
and public grounds in New York, as well as
the folly of not laying off in the infancy Of ci.
ties sufficient ground for those purposes, we
extract the following from the New York ri
6ane in relation to the projected park in that
city. The Tribune says:
The land required Tor the park will cost.
we are assured not more than 81 ,000, 900 at
farthest from which $2000,000, it is esrima-
ted, will be deducted by assessment on adjacent
lands extensively benefited by this noble en-
terprise leaving the net cost of land SIS 900 600.
To this we will add 81 100000 as an outside
estimate for the cost Of grading, planting. and
fencing, and we have net cost of $4,000. 900
when the park is completed, funded in a stool,
bearing live per cent. interest, so that the park
will cost $780, 900 year. We can save double
this amount every year by shutting up our
grogshops, and thus reducing the heavy bar.
dens imposed on us by crime and pauperism
And the value Of such park to our city can
not be over estimated. Our citizens, especially
those unable to spend the summer in the coun-
try, will derive health, comfort, exercise, relaxa
ton, enjoyment, from it. while the attractions
" Oui City dS IL the renneQ and
afiuent will be sensibly heightened.
I" We entreat our citizens to look to It that
this park be not FILTERED away in obedience to
the promptings Of reckless speculation or mole.
eyed parsimony. The original plan of our
city, as laid out by Gouverneur Morris and his
associates nearly half century since, included
park of three hundred acres, stretching from
Twenty-third to Thirty-fourth streets, and from
the Third to the Eighth avenue That narl,
would not have cost the city one million dollars.
and would be worth to it, if this moment in
existence, at least twenty millions. But specu.
lation whitfield off one corner, and meanuess
bartered away another slice, while the people
slumbered, until nothing but Madison square
a place for nursery maids and hoop trundlers,
u It shall ever be covered with trees-is left Of
all that noble device Of far-seeing genius. We
are now driven mile farther up town: let MS
make stand here, and resolve not TO give an.
other inch.'