Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-07-02
Parking the street. Of w..s,nx,ou


Through the various important measures of
improvement nov sure to be carried out within
: the coming year or two, the Washington of the
future h certain to be a very different looking
city from the Washington OF the past. And
among these Improvements, perhaps, no one Is
destined to effect such q marked change for the
better as that of parking eur wide streets aud
avenues by which these vast uncared- for wastes
OF alternate quagmire and sun baked earth and
dust will be converted into attractive lawns Or
namented with shade trees, and vet affordinp
ample space for carriageways and footwalks.
The parking Of X street, between 18th and
10th streets, is now I'm progress after plans fur
nished by William Saunders, U. 3. Superinten-
Dent Public Grounds and Gardens, and who as
landscape gardener has record and reputa-
ton well qualifying him for this task The
work now in progress includes the moving OF
the present gutter and curb to the edge of the
narrowed carriage-way, (which is to be forty feet
wide;) and the preparing of the ground for imme
date sodding, and for the planting of trees and
sbrubbery, which will be done at the proper
time i'm the spring.
This street (K) L. los feet inches in
width, and deducting a csrriage-way OF 10
feet leaves space for something over "a
feet Of parking on either side. On some ac-
counts it would have been desirable that the
parking should have been done In the center of
the streets to be thus improved, and the car
riage-ways put next the foot-waiks; but under
the act of Congress fixing a certain width for the
carTisge-wsy, there would not be room for two
carriage-ways and a park in the center. The
present plan Is, however, preferred by many
and Is said to be that under which the city of
Cleveland has gained its reputation OF having
the most delightful streets in the country.
he L haa
point-under the tasteful and active supervision
of Mr.. Henry willard, who pro bono pa5lieo has
consented to act rs Observation-Disclosures
some idea of its effect can be gained. The pre-
sent sidewalks are retained, the cutters AMI
curbing, as already stated, have been moved TO
the earriage-way, and foot-w walks are being laid
from each house across the line Of parking 10
the carriage-way; thus dividing the park into
attractive Plats in front Of each house. 1t Is
proposed TO plant line of arbor vitsr next the
clrriage-way, with shade trees in the rear, and
the park will be further ornamsntsd with fow-
eTing shrubs, but not to an extent to mar the
desirable feature OF smooth green lawns, so
agreeable to the eye. 1t will probably be requi-
site, in this city OF the largest liberty for hogs
COWS, goats, and geese, TO fence in the park, but
light, graceful wire fence will not greatly m ar
the beauty Of the grounds. IL Is to be hoped
that, either BY the interference of Congress or
otherwise our police can be induced to execute
the laws forbidding animals to run at large, 50
that IT will not be absolutely necessary to fence
in the parks on the improved streets.
Ii will probably be agreeable infor nation to
proPerty-holders to KNOW that the parking OF
our wide streets is, aside from the beauty aud
comfort afforded, a measure of economy: and
that ii costs considerably less to park them tn An
IL would to pave the same space.
Now that the experiment has been fairly set,
the show to do it, indicated. AMI its success
demonstrated, We suppose that the good work
will be extended TO other wide streets of prom-
nence. What a magnificent parked avenue, for
instance, could be made of Sixteenth street
with its imperial width of one hundred an 4 sixty
feet, The late Randolph Coyle IN sde plans and
designs ior the improvement of this street that
were much admired. IL is to be hoped that this
street, opening out directly from the White
House. and the widest in the city may be speed
lily improved, either upon Mr.. Coyle's plans or
others as good.
Massachusetts avenue, Connecticu. avenue
and other wide streets present themselves, Also
as particularly susceptible of improvement AMI
establishment of this kind.