Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-27
WASHINGTON AND IT'S PARKS.
sugEe.tions Made nv Mr.. Saunders 3 Quarter
of . Century Ago.

sugEestions Made by Mr.. saunder. Quarter
of Century Ago.
People Who appreciate the parks Of Washing
ton and who are now engaged in promoting the
project TO build around the city a boulevard
will he interested IN n communication which
was written TO the Patriot about twenty-five or
more years ago BY Mr. VIM. Saunders. we'll
known citizen a member Of the parking com
mission and one Who has always been active in
identifying the city.
The public city park is with US, wrote Mr.
Saunders. comparatively modern institution ;
twenty-five wears ago il was unknown Like
school houses and churches the park is evil
dehee OF superior culture and refinement, and
equally with these reflects the general intelli-
genee Of the community. for il is only when
thsy reach proper appreciation Of the laws
that govern health. the influence e. the finest
natural surrounding upon manners and
mo-4is-when the individual realizes that his
happiness and welfare is largely dependent
upon the health and prosperity Of the COM
uunity with which he is Standardization all
this IL clearly recognized il leads to q thorough
Conviction Of the necessity of public parks,
with their attending recreative amusement in
rtructive accom- ailments and sanitary Dement'S.
1t 10 very evident that Washington must soon
lose caste among cities unless provided with
parks In keeping with the extent and splendOr
81 her public buildings and consistent with her
position the capital OF the nation. This want
has long been felt a. much. perhaps. by visitors
and strangers a. by the inhabitants themselves,
and all the more because city on this
continent Is possessed of the same capabilities
CT Is surrounded BY equal facilities for the
elaboration Of system Of representative parks.
whether regards the e1emplihcatlon OF
various styles Of landscape gardening and
ornate scenery or with reference to the his
torical and educational features with which
they may be invested.
ZONE OF PARKS.
The city IL surrounded BY zone or belt of
parks which only require to be connected by .
circuit roadway drive that will bring them
into Communication with each other. For pur-
poses Of Illustration We will make tho Capitol a
starting point in our proposed circuit. Pro-
eeedmg BY way OF North Capitol street-which
We will suppose 10 be graded and paved, also
heavily eurbed and provided with lamps sur
mounting massive. artistically designed col
umns, planted with a proper kind Of shade
trees and otherwise improved as broad.
straight avenue connecting city with country
We reach Hardwood Park and the property of
the Military Asylum. contiguous grounds,
several hundreds of acres in extent,
originally possessing great natural beauty
and the improvements of which have
been conceived and executed with admirable
taste % adaptation; the gracefully winding ave-
nues and roads in fine keeping with the
gentle fluctuations and curvatures of the origi-
nal surface the natural vegetation is fairly
utilized, art and nature are 80 welded together
that thew form q pleasing mold. As an example
OF what NAV be termed the natural style Of
landscape gardening they cannot well be ex-
eelled. and II the improvements are completed
In the same spirit that has far influenced
operations the characteristics OF this style Will
be amply exhibited in this section of our circuit
horizon Leaving these grounds by the Rock
Greek Church road. short distance above the
9TH street road. our course is continued TO Piney
Branch and follows the windings of this stream
until reach the waters of Rock creek and
enter into the highly picturesque scenery for
which this region is famous; far SURPRISING the
Wissahickon drive in the great park OF
the Philsdelphians. both in its extent and
variety OF surface: indeed when this tract is
secured. IS it undoubtedly will be sooner or
later for 8 grand national park, il will present
greater facilities for extended drives through
forest views, along the streams and watered
valleys and winding around rocky banks than
can be forrd at equal distance from any
city Of Importance in this country This por-
ticn Of our circuit embraces the so-called "pic-
turesque style" Of landscape adornment. which
b always more q style OF adoption than of arti-
6cial creation.
ALONG THE RIVER.
Leaving the undeveloped beauties of this To-
eality our drive is continued by following the
course Of the river more or less closely to
Georgetown, where We reach an open and ex-
tended view Of the waters and wooded banks of
the Potomac. skirting the grounds of the ma
tional observatory. which are thus included in
our circuit, the monument, Smithsonian and
other public buildings come in sight, and. en-
tering the reservation south Of the Executive
Mansion, the Treasury. State and other depart
ments are easily reached. bridge spanning
the canal At q suitable point will form a connec-
ton with the monument lot. and here it may
be safe 10 remark that but very few OF the citi-
zens Of Washington have any idea Of the beau
tiful scenery that Is presented to the view from
these grounds. Standing on the bank the eve |
Sees the river expanded into the serenity and |
calm seclusion Of an inland lake. The poetical |
mind will reflect upon its river existence !
and trace il to its brooklet source in |
some sequesterei nook, from which it |
smerses and meauders into the open light. re- |
freshing itself BY occasional dip under a
shady bank and again sparkling in the sun; or
II frets and foams down the rocky cataract !
indistinctly visible through the wooded canopy |
I'll o. 10 nears ths haunts of man it expands in
proportion and assumes u placid maturity-a
fitting emblem Of human progress. So much
10 our appreciation Of the beauties of nature
dependent upon the association Of ideas. From
the monument lot TO the Capitol the reserva-
tions form q series of parks. where the i'm
prOyements are already far advanced toward
completion in the more highly decorated
mode Of treatment and where the geo
metrical or architectural style OF garden
ing can be most fully displayed in
connection with the building The grounds
and buildings Of the Agricultural Department
are rapidly being finished; the main features of
the designs for these Improvements have been
transferred and the details will gradually be
filed in The srboretum now being formed, |
comprising, as il does. the greatest number Of
species and varieties of hardy trees and shrubs
that have ever been collected and classified in
one park. will in a few years become Of scien-
tife well OF scenic interest. These i'm
proyements have also been made and the roads
and walks located with view TO a proper con- |
neeti0a with bordering reservations and TO
conform with the style of treatment already
inAugurstsd and To which they are best
adapted"