Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-14

vi we iaESe IreeS or the Captoi ground had been
partially undermined It was absolutely necessary
that openings should be made toward the Capitol
on the level OF the street The question is il
worth While 10 attempt TO design a plan hy whicl,
these openings could be made leaving ridges be
tween them TO sustain part or the old trees? /
was ADVISED that Congress had assumed that f.
would not be worth while, and, after n careful
examination OF the trees, fully concurred In this
judgment. The trees had been grown under most
uhl9NoraDle CIRCUMSTANCES, had been much mis-
used, and were all in decaying condit inn-I mean
the oder and larger trees the loss OF which has
peen 50 much felt They had hut few years Of lie
ieiI III tleln ana had been planted upon plan
adapted 10 a ground Of half the extent and 10 q
building OF less than half the dimensions 0f the
present l was instructed To Law out the grounds
with reference 10 permanent arrangements in con
nectlon with the larger building and upon tit,
larger scale Before doing SO had thorough eN-
pert survey or the trees made. the condition ami
prospects OF each being noted. Nearly All Of the
larger tftS on the east ground were found 10 be II
aecaylng condition. such as were not We're
MARKED 10 be LETT where they were il pra,tiC bc
and, where they could not be left to De trans
planted If remember rightly there were nun
In diameter
.how many of them are now living?,
more Than nine- itnthS, CeTtIiniy-nOt one died
IN consequence OF It's removal TWO OF three have
oeef oadly Inquired 10y storms, Others 10y gas leaks
poI nearly ali are now in a much more noursuing
condition than before their removal"
You have been speaking OF the east ground
only said the reporter
True: On the west there were three avenues
IKE this: (Mr. OlnSted Illustrated hy drawing "A
TouSh diagram OF the west ground as il
originally appeared, with an avenue though
the center in addition TO the two now existing
upon each side OF these avenues stood rows OF
IreeS-mostiy Old silver naples. These thin wedges
oil green between the avenues had no landScau,
value. The plan adopted. at my suggestion, threw
our the center avenue, trees and all Now there
are two approaches from the west, one from Mary
lanu avenue and one from Pennsylvania avenue.
WIN simple quiet uiibrokcn spread OF turf be-
tween them. This. think. has some value. The
rows OF OLD trees were left the Old avenues re-
taiiltu nut provision was made for the future 10y
10 slaa 4
widening the walks. Several OF the old trees stll
remain, and you can see what their condition is.
ana from IL Judge what the condition must have
been of the trees that have been removed Nearly
every storm brings down some OF their limbs
MOVEMENT IN WHICH WASHINGTON LEADS THE
WORLD.
Mr. Omsted in answer TO the reporters inquiries
expressed himself much admiring the general
appearance OF Washington city In its later aspect
"The tendency OF all fouriShing cities now is he
observed, "tO divide into more and more distinct
districts OF residence apart from districts OF work
ana trade and In these to spread QUITO increase
more rapidly in extent relatively 10 population than
cities have done hitherto 1t results that streets
are made wider. building sites larger and trees and
yaIueis are multiplied In this movement Wash
lngton Is leading the world, and In the main, lead
Ing it fnely more than any other OF cities 1t Is
acquiring diStinctivey American characteristics as
OF state OF society that has escaped from the ne
ceSslty OF town walls and from the restraints OF
ElonopollZlng landlords that can afford to march
on In open order. and TO Straggle little into the
woods and meadowS'
"Progress In this rus-urban direction ~ continued
VIZ. OmSted, 'may be seen to have been very con-
siderable during the last twenty years in nearly all
the notable towns OF Europe-Rome Florence
M1lan Genoa, Paris, Brussels, Frankfort, London
ana Liverpool, for example. In all OF these the
country is coming into the town and the town
stretching out into the country; and if we look
back century or two it will appear proba-
bic that we are now In the middle OF a move
TO live In the compact blocks hitherto
OF towns viii be thought great hardship, if not
positively barbaTous. In time the beauty OF towns
VIII De found to lie largely in form OF scenery
which the interest will consist. not In what now
call their decorations but In the grouping OF stately
bodies OF foliage with architectural masses.
HINTS ABOUT TREES AND sHRuBBERY
"You ask If have no criticisms to make upon
what has been done," he antinued. "From NV
professional point Of view there are two defects
that may be worth noticing. [ am afraid that the
street trees have not yet been given sufficient
spaces OF soil, and that unless these are soon en-
larged their growth Will be checked and they will
become weakly and stunted as their roots attempt
TO push beyond the pits in which they are planted
on account OF the health OF the trees. also, the
fashion OF substituting concrete asphalt for brick
as surface for the sidewalks is to be regretted
The other defect to which refer grows out OF an
excessive use of herbaclous decorations on the
street fronts or private houses. These are
to be seen i'm perfection only for short
period and during those parts Of the year
visited the ground given to them is apt to appear
positively 1orlom. Another thing. 1t is difficult
TO keep deep grass slopes In nice order in this
e,limatemlmpossiSIe CHINA s ! may say, except by a
upon long, graceful lines, instead OF being
made formal, stiff, abrupt and angular, as
seems to be the fashion for the time, will
be much nicer. There is room for great improve
ment In this way and also I'm more general use of
evergreen shruhbery and vines In the selection OF
planting material for private places along the
streets it is very desirable that plants should be
selected that appear to advantage early I'm the
spring and late in the fall If not during the entire
winter ThecOntrlStS 10 be now observed I'm this
respect as one drives through the streets are in
Structiye"