Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-30
An Improvement Committee Need

To the Editor OF THE EvENISes STAR:
have often thought how much the interests
OF our beautiful city. which are so much ne
elected by Congress, might be promoted if a
number of our most Intelligent and energetic
citizens were 10 form u permanent committee
or association tor the Improvement and COM
pletion vi the national capital. Though much
has been done since the time OF Alexander
Shepherd. Il great deal yet remains to DE done.
Here We are. after these many years of hopeful
expectation, still waiting for free bridge over
the Potomac, for union depot away from the
mall, Tor Rock creek park for the completion
o. tine w ashinston monument for the removal
OF the hideous Standpipe ON 10th street. for
better roads around tine city. &c. &c. An asso-
cldtlpn OF some hIy Ol our best citizens. OF
Judgment. energy and taste. could do much to
secure these Improvements (which have been
quite too long delayed by urging upon Con
gress their Importance and the advantages
thereby to be gained
We have celebrated the completion of the
Washington monument, and yet its base i I'M
finished and IT'S surroundings are in a soVenly
and wretcted condition. such a gigantic pvr;,-
mid should have an appropriate setting or
frame 50 10 speak; suppose the pOSSessOr OF Il
large oil painting should twist straw around il
and thus exhibit ii to the public. The W. monu-
Inent presents II precisely parallel ease. And
further, ii il disgrace that the public gardens
OF the mall are still dSfigured and made useless
by railroad depot and lis tracks. As To monIl-
lucnt-, our line sites taken up with a num-
Der OF sOInbre, mORotOnOuS bronze statues.
Without much Significance or force. THE
A'ENAS" Siak MAJ repeatedly called atten-
ton 10 the deSirability of having fine
monumental fountains erected in our sGuarcs
anu circles, bat far 10 action in this matter
has been taken. We have not "a single.
grand and imposing fountain, q real
work of art, and nowhere would such "a work
particularly II IL of marble show to great cr
advantage and be More appropriate than in this
green city oi ours Instead of rearing IL special
SIN bronze monument ia honor OF some soldier
or statesman. would ii not be in better taste To
InmOrtaliLe him, II need be. by adjoining "a fine
ARTISTIC fountain with his medallion portrait or
bust? Tine Improvements on the river flats pro-
coed but very slowly, the mud there will prob
aDIE DC stirred up IOr Years 10 come. and the
Present generation will hardly enjoy the shade
o. "a riverside park. Every sincere friend OF this
growing metropolis must feel sad when he con-
templates the splendid possibilities Tor Wash
1nStOn- and the lack of effort made to realize
tAtfA- Take for Instance the prospective Rock
creek aGC riverside parks. II they were laid out
Dy men pi Judgment and fine taste, they might
be made perfect Eiy>ian fields. gardens OF de-
light Tor the " observation-disclosures :s we'll As for visit
Ing tourists from all parts OF the country Thus
DUJ only would artistic and poetic taste he.
gratincQ- but IL would pay 10 make the national
metropolis in the highest degree attractive If
Washington offered extraordinary attractions
what would there be 10 pre- vent il from having
gay season in summer also. instead Of the
Present exodus OF it deniZeus 10 the seashore
anu tine mountains.
l have in my mind and could easily suggest
many other Improvements. but We nav he
satisfied, II those to which have alluded are
carried out
VIII not THE EVENING STAR, which is a
power IN the community, take up this matter
ana advocate IT with energy. That seems to
M 10 be the best and most practical method OF
fastening the time when Washington shall
give universal sat SiacfiOn fms he'd city and
"a metropolis every way worthy OF the Ameri-
ILL Ha'IOh- I. l. ).