Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-15
ABOUT THE BOTANICAL GARDEN
Its Origin and Progress.


gresham LIE Fevre's commit 20. In regard to
the Botanical Garden. 1t would seem that there
Is an idea afloat that. like Topsy, 1t never had
any parentage. and that its whole mission Is to
furnish boquets to Congressman. The follow
ing will show that 1t had q definite BIRTH
growth and object 10 life and Is something more
than mere boquet mandatory:
number OF the citizens OF the District OF
Columbia, Impressed with the importance OF
forming an association for prom oting useful
knowledge, met on the 18th day OF June, 1916.
and organized under the title of the ''Metrop)-
| Titan Association" and appointed a com nitree
| to frame a constitution for their government.
| At meeting held On the Sth of the following
! appointed as aforesaid reported the draft of a
constitution, which was unanimously agreed to,
after having changed the name OF the a5s1cia-
ton to that OF THE Columbian Institute for the
Promotion Of Arts and Sciences"
The objects OF the institute, as provided for
by the constitution, was to collect, cultivate
| and distribute the various vegetable produc-
tons OF this and other countries, whether medi-
c1nal esculent, or for the promotion OF arts and
manufactures TO collect and examine the
various mineral productions and natural curl
every discovery which they may have been en-
abied to make. To obtain Information respect
ing the mineral waters OF the United States,
their locality, analysis and utility; together
with such Typographical remarks as might aid
vaetudinarian5. 10 invite communications on
| agricultural subjects, on the management OF
1 r.
Typographical and statistical history of the
different districts Of the United States noticing
particularly the number and extent of streams,
how Tar DaVigab,e; agricultural products the
imports ard experts: the value OF lands; the
cl mate, the state OF the thermometer aud ba-
rometer; the diseases which prevail during the
Inherent seasons; the state OF the arts and
manufactures. and any other information which
might be deemed Of general utility. To publish
annually, or whenever the institute should
have become possessed Of sufficient stock OF
Information
as might be of public utility, and to give the
earliest information, in the public papers, OF all
discoveries that might have been made BIZ or
communicated to the institute
The President OF the United States for the
time being, with his permission, to be cOnSid.
cred the patron OF the institute. The officers to
consist of president, four vice presidents,
secretary. treasurer. four curatOrs, and gen
eTal committee OF fourteen resident members
elected annually. The general committee to be
divided into four subcommittee on CORE
spohdence, mineraogy, botany and agriculture,
and general subjects The committee on botany
and an agr1 c,, among other duties, were
1eal garden, and the curator5 were to have
charge Of the specimens which were not to be
cultivated In the botanical garden. Any gen.
t!eman distinguished for his knowledge Of any
OF the objects or the Institute might be pro.
posed and elected an honorary member. pro-
vtded he did not reside within the limits of the
District OF Columbia, but no obligations were
to be required OF him.
At a meeting On the 7th Of October, of the
same year, the officers OF the society were
elected as folloHs:-President Edward Cutbush;
, vice-presidents, Andrew Hunter, j. Fred. Schaaf,
Thomas Law, Joseph Anderson; treasurer,
Oyerton Carr; secretary. Nathaniel Cutting;
curators, L. Is. Caldwell, John Law, r. c.
Weightman, Robert Brent; general committee,
Samuel H. Smith, William Thornton, James II.
Blake j. a. Gunfon. DR.. McWillams, B. II.
Iatrobe, Walter Jones. Henry Hunt George
! Matierson, Edmund Law. Benjamin Homaas,
William Seaton, Joseph Mechlin, William
Latham, and committee appointed TO wait
prNCf of fhn TTp1fn
I quaint him with the proposal Of the Institute;
. that the President OF the United States should,
er-oftcfo. be considered as the patron thereof.
! This committee reported on the 18th OF NOvem-
Der following, THAT the President of the aited
states. after making some general remarks on
the Importance OF the undertaking, was pleased
to reply that he would with pleasure contribute
towards the Institute. ard cordially assent to
the wishes OF its members"
TIE society was Incorporated by act OF Con-
gress approved April 20. ISIS, section of which
! act provides: That the said corporation may
procure, by purchase or otherwise, suitable
building for the sitt1DgS OF the said Institution
ana ior the preservation and safe keeping OF
library and museum: and also tract OF parcel
OF latd Tor botanic garden, not exceeding
five acres: lh'Orjdp5. That the amount OF real
aid personal property to be held by said cOrpo-
ration shall Lot exceed one hundI cd thousand
DOLLARS
Congress subsequently provided this tract OF
Iano 1cr the use OF the society as We fad by
reference 10 the act or May S 1920. whicn nro
V1des: That there DE granted, during the
pleasure OF Congress, 10 the Columbian Insti-
tnte FOR the Promo: lon OF Arts and Sciences,
The use and Improvement OF a tract or land In
The City Of Washington, hot exceeding five
acres TO be located under the direction OF the
President OF the United States. for the purpose
OF enabling tie said Columbian Institute to
effect the OBJECT OF their Incorporation: Pro-
r,ded, That " henever the said institute shall be
dissolved. or cease to exist, OF TO employ the
SAID tract OF land for the purposes Aforesaid
an right. title and interest hereby graHLei to
the same Shall revert to and vest IN the aited
States, as conpct ely as II such grant had DeVa..
been made"
THE PRESENT sIr2 Assigned
nder the authority OF this acs, a portion O.
TIE NAH, near the Capitol, was assigned to
tne use OF the Institute by the President OF the
United States. who appears to have taken much
'hlerest 10 ns operations, although Its success
Wss Constantly hanpered by lack of funds
and a want Of public spirit among our own cii-
z zen, II being evident from the data before US.
that more interest was taken In its Prosperity
oy non Residents than by those who were near
az hand AID able to enjoy the pleasures 1t
Afforded them. 1t can be seen, however, that
cei ,ain progress was made In the right d.
fecioD, as II appears tue tract OF ground author
lied 10 be granted them was actually occupied
ara ara used oy the society, since an additional
congress, approved May 20, 1924, which pro-
vfdes. That there be granted, during the pleas
IRE CT Congress. TO the Columbian Institute for
the promotion OF the arts and sciences the use
and improvement OF the tract ofpublc ground In
Washington city, which Is bounded on the east
by the Botanical garden In the occupancy OF
the said Columbian institute; on the nortn by
PennSy lvania avenue; On the west by the Tiber
and canal, and on the South by the Maryland
avenue" Provided, THAT whenever the said
institute shall be dissolved, the land shall revert
10 the United States. as hSiore. The operations
Oh the society were carried on more or less
successfully for several years, and 1t Is to be
ceepty regretted we have not more knowledge
O. Its results than arc now attainate. DurIle
us existence quite an active interest was taken
oy prominent bOtaDiStS In the DEVELOPMENT OF
this Eranch OF science, and 10 this CON necttOn the
Following may Lot prove entirely out OF place:
On The 9th OF September, 1927, an Official circu-
lar was Issued by the Treasury department and
sent TO portion Of the conSulS of the Unite
states 10 the following effect: 1.-The President
Is deslrcus oI causing 10 be introduced into the
Unlted States all such trees and plants from
other countries, not heretofore known In the
Unl-ed states, as may give promise under
proper cultivation, OF fiourishiDg and becoming
useIUl, as we'll as superior varieties OF such as
are already cultivated here. 1t is
proper TO add that no expense can at present
De authorized Ia Relation TO 1t. It Is possible,
however. That Congress may not bo iadtspoS.i
70 provide small fund for it. . Toe
Secretary @! the Navy has Instructed the con.
nianderS VI such o1 the public vessels OF tn.
United states as may ever touch at your port 20
lend you their assistance
(SieBed}, RICHARD Rrs4
Attached 10 this circular are elabo-ats drf,a
Ions tor putting up and transmitting seeds and