Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-11-19
WILSON'S AVENUE.
Complete Description of the Plans as
Submitted by the Landscape Gard
ner-The Union Meet.

son Avenue by changing the fenc
and plowing, leveling and harrow
ing the grounds, was discussed, bu
it was finally determined that tn
plan submitted by Secretary Nc
Bride, should be placed in the stor
of Mr.. Il. McF. Patton, and tina
the members individually examin,
it and make u note of any and al
suggestions they would offer, anC
that the president then call meet
ing to compare notes, so that tn,
plan obtained, could be modified i
thought best, and working plar
secured before any work was done
A committee consisting of J. j
Murphy, Werner Breyman and e.
B. Moores was appointed to visit
the city council this evening, and
obtain authority to change the
fence, and improve the grounds by
plowing, narrowing and seeding
them to lawn grass.
The Union is very much encour.
aged with the progress already
made, and have assurance that
permanent improvement of the
avenue will commence in the spring.
Those who think this organiza.
ton is doing but little, should re-
member that it has taken much
labor and persevering efforts to ac.
complish what has already been
done in regard to improving Wilson
avenue, and such enterprises are
not easily carried forward, but
the difficulties are gradually being
removed and when all the prelimi-
nary steps have been taken and
full control secured, the society can
then proceed. They have obtained
the legal vacation of the streets
west and east of the court and state
house, Il matter alone which has
taken several weeks. Success to
ihe Decorative Union. All who
feel an interest in this work are re-
qUested TO examine the plans SUBJ
mitted by Mr.. Geo. Cootc, landscape
gardner of the Agricultural College
of Corvallis, as submitted below in
IL letter from Mr.. Coote to the Union.
PLANS AND SUGGESTIONS.
The grounds to be laid out consist
of an oblong space 205S feet long
and 361 feet wide, of uniform level
and bounded by streets on the long
sides. The laying out of the ground
must be so contrived AS to bring into
the greatest prominence the State
Capital building, and in a less degree
the Marion County Court House.
The one feature, which is adop-
ted in all such cases is that of
an avenue of stately trees and
to this the other features of shrub
berry, flower gardens and lawns
should be subordinate, but avenues
being the growth of decades of years,
and not to be forced into existence
before their own maturity.
1t follows, that while the avenue
is growing, the humber features of
lawn, flower garden and shrubbery,
must not only be provided, but
must be developed into all the
beauty which the situation and the
surroundings render possible.
In the plan submitted it is in
tended that the central avenue shall
be planted with the three beautiful
conifers of Oregon-ce cedar, hemlock
aud Douglas pine, in pairs opposite
each other.
The avenue is intended to be 100
feet wide, and the individual trees
forty feet apart. The straight lines
of the future avenue, are the only
straight lines provided for, in the
laying out of the grounds, and while |
the avenue trees are growing, |
they will he for some years,
lost sight of in the masses of
green foliage and shrubbery,
which will attract the eye of every |
observer. But no shrubbery growth
must be allowed to obstruct the
view down the central grassy space
which will lead from the Capt. iol
10 the Court House, only a few masses
If bright flowers of low growth can
De permitted to diversity the long
green stretch of turf, and while the
surface of the various strawberries
md gardens arranged on either side
If the central space may be raised
lere and there, and flowers and
Ilants of varying size be so set as to
leighten the effect of undulations of
surface In the masses of these side
gardens nothing should be permit
ed to break the level of the central
walk.
Ii will be noticed that in accord
'nce with this idea, the band stand
has been removed to the side,
md is balanced 10y conservatory
md aviary on the opposite side,
Provisions are made for four rose
,ardens. The planting of this queen
4 flowers may be so varied as to
ave some roses in bloom from spring
ine until the end of fall. In or
er To supply the pattern beds, with
verbenas, coleus, hello ,
rope, trOpoelums, and other sum-
ner flowers il will be most desir- ,
ble To have greenhouse To grow |
hem in. The national place for
his structure Is on the piece OF
round In the rear and To the east #,
the Capitol building. II is rec
that the drives aud u
'alks through these gardens he sur |
iced with graVed over layer of q
rick rubbish and broken stone. a
In planting the strawberries the r
eost possible use should he made of O
right foliage and lowering shrubs. q
iauy natives OF our Oregon woods, n
Ill lend themselves perfectly TO
lese purposes, for Instance the dog O
ood, Wlcs, sprea Syrlnga, huckle- q
'rry aud elder 81
Certain portions Of the beds should d