Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-15
AN IMPOSING NATIONAL CAPITAL
Projects for Carrying Out Its Grand
Plan.

Special TO Cincinnati Commercial oazests
The Senate is rapidly working toward plan
for providing necessary public buildings and
sites for them which will add more than any
previous impr ovement to the grandeur Of the
nations capital 1t has always been grand in
Its plan. The filling in Of the details was a
slow matter till long after the war. But in the
last twenty years the strides forward have been
rapid. The promise now 10 that progress in
the immediate future will eclipse every ele-
ment Of the past.
So rapid is the growth of public business in
every department that the great executive
buildings, and even the Capitol itself, are all
overcrowded. In fact the crowding is 30 great
as TO caase great inconvenience and positive
DELAY Several Senators have this matter under
eonsideration and plan worthy OF the nation.
and which will prove effective both as a meas
ure OF economy and relief. The project in
wolves the purchase of a large tract of ground
between the Capitol grounds and those about
the White House, extending along Pennsylvania
avenue from the Capitol to the Treasury and
back as far as the Smithsonian grounds and the
other parks In its range. Ii is proposed also
10 ouy q similar strip south of these public
grounds as FAR as Maryland avenue, which
visitors will remember as the one running
west from the Capitol to the long bridge.
1t is proposed to condemn aad purchase this
entire tract and reserve ii for sites for future
public buildings
A resolution looking TO its purchase Was in
troduced in the Senate today by Senator Glib
son or Louisiana. Looking TO the future of the
national capital, nothing more important than
this resolution has been introduced for many
years. and nothing "a important since the gem
eral plan OF improving the city was decided
upon.
As all visitors to Washington know the sec
ton which it is proposed to secure for the gov
ernment Is, although in the very center Of the
city, common and unsightly in the extreme.
on obtaining 1t the purpose Is TO remove the
tulidiBgs and throw ii into a park. Ii will thus
ane the south side of Pennsylvania avenue
from the Capitol to the White House.
The next step in the comprehensive plan
which seems to be taking shape in the Senate
is to provide for the erection of such public
buildings as are now necessity IN this park,
fronting on Pennsylvania avenue. The mere
statement OF the plan is sufficient to indicate
to all familiar with even the general outline of
Washington the grandeur of the scheme. While
1t will accomplish wonders in the proper de-
velopment OF the nations capital il will at the
same time. prove measure of great
economy, since in ten years the in
crease in the value Of land
will more than reimburse the government for
the whole expense. The city has reached a
point where the present parks can no longer
be used for public buildings. Each site costs a
Bredt iucrease upon the preceu1ng one. Inc
ultimate saving to the government is one of
the strongest arguments for the plan. Senator
Gibson's resolution provides board for ascer-
tanning the cost of the ground in question and
reporting to Congress-. 1t is to consist of the
Secretary of the Interior. the chief Of engi-
neers and the District Commissioners.
Senator Sherman's bill providing a splendid
park for the capital along the upper valley Of
Rock creek, next above the new geological
park, is now in the House committee and is
likely to pass. 1t will be one of the grand
features in the proper building up of q worthy
capital.
The geological park itself, which was author
lied at the close of the last Congress, is being
rapidly put in shape. 1t embraces 200 acres
next north of the boundary at Rock creek.
Senator Butler has in mind a plan for an
immense audience room that can be used on
state occasionss and accommodate a fair pro-
portion of the crowds which gather. This is
one OF the greatest needs of the capital on all
public occasions Of general interest. The
securing of the grounds proposed by Senator
eilbson would give proper site near
the Capitol for such hall of assembly.
This might be and probably would
be constructed in connection with a
hall of records, which is needed quite as much
as any other additional building. The whole
country, which now takes such pride in WASH
ington, is interested in comprehensive plans
for the proper development OF the capital and
for affording the government the needed facil-
tiles for the performance of the public business.
HVR