The times., 1899-05-07
THE CITY'S PARKS IN
THEIR Spring GLORY
Beauty Spots of the Capital
Green and Blooming.
Washington Takes First Place in
Landscape Gardening.
Public Reservations Where Thou
sands COngregate-The Presi-
dents Flower Beds.

A hundred years of gardening. carrying
out a most magnifcently laid plan for a
park ten miles square-into which was in
cidentally to be builded the Capital City
of the Americans--has been accomplished,
and nature has once more given her en-
dorsement to mans handiwork by filling
ner allotted space in the city abundantly
with leaf and flower adding dignity, grace,
and beauty. together with an atmosphere
Of freshness and warmth, that fills even
the unappreciative with impulses of adora-
tion. =
Washington has put on her spring suit.
and, although her style has not changed.
the quality Of her covering seems richer
her green more glowing and her blossoms
more transparent. The suddenness CT her
adornment has made its completion more
striking, and the tenderness OF the verdure
| lends to its loveliness.
The beauty which nature could lend to
the city was not overlooked in the Sc
lection OF its site Both President Wash
| ington, whose first survey OF the present
| Capital was made from the Potomac. in a
| canoe followed out of a great poplar tree,
and the famous civil engineer L'Enfant.
| who later surveyed the grounds on horse
back, and who afterwards planned the city,
were both impressed with the part nature
could be made to play in its adornment.
! And so. from the first. Washington's
parks have been a chief consideration
Their development and care has never
| been neglected, and the park department
| today is one Of the important branches OF
the municipal government.
| The Superintendent of Public Buildings
and Grounds, with headquarters in the
War Department building. has direct SUI
pervision of all the parks of the District.
| Under him and next in authority Is the
public gardener. who directs personally
the planting and care OF the parks. A
somewhat extensive propagating ground
where trees, plants, and shrubs are started
and nursed into hardihood before being
transplanted for ornamental purposes. is
| in full operation back of the Washington
Monument, and thousands OF plants are
taken from there each year.
The City One Great Park.
Under the present sudden and lavish
adornment of Dame Nature, the whole city
seems indeed to be park. In this re-
spect, Washington differs in most pleas
| ing manner from any other city of the ma
ton. The pride and boast OF other cities
Is generally centered In one or more large
areas of parking located in its outskirts.
Philadelphia is proud of her Fairmout, the
Largest in the world" San Francisco has
| her Golden Gate park, Boston her Common,
| Chicago her Lincoln and Jackson parks,
| Cincinnati her Walnut Hills. Baltimore
her Druid Hill, and New York her Central
Park. But Washington, besides the gem
| eral park appearance of her streets and
avenues, contains 301 public parks, COW
ering total of over 500 acres. Besides
these there are outlying pleasure grounds
| to be reached either by a sail on the broad
Potomac, or a whiz over the hills on
| trolley car.
It is not necessary, however. to take
long ride to find a park In Washington.
They are everywhere accessible. The lux
uriant shade trees Shelterfng the walks
on either side of the smoothly paved
streets, are but indexes to park beyond,
and the searcher after rural beauty will
not find it long stroll in any direction on
any street to a Washington park.
The grounds surrounding the various
Government buildings have also been made
to add beauty and attractiveness, and
where there has not been room for grass
plot or flower bed surrounding the build
ing, one may generally be found in the
court surrounded on all sides by the inner
windows.
An annual report is made up each year.
giving a minute and detailed description
Of each reservation, telling the number and
kinds OF trees, shrubs. and plants 1t con-
tains. and other general Information.
There is an aggregate OF between $4,000
and so, coo trees and shrubs. not including
the shade trees along the streets, in the
District parks.
Where Parks Abound.
Along the line of Pennsylvania Avenue
alone there &c parks; SO more can be
found along the line of Massachusetts, Av-
enue, SO on Virginia Avenue, II on New
Hampshire Avenue, 2 on Connecticut Ave-
nue., on Rhode Island Avenue, 9 on Ver-
mont Avenue, IA on New York Avenue.
two each on Ohio. Louisiana, and Indiana
Avenues; 6 on New Jersey Avenue. 16 on
Maryland Avenue. II on Delaware Avenue,
10 on North Carolina Avenue, II on South
Carolina Avenue, lion Georgia Avenue,
on Kentucky Avenue. 8 on Tennessee Ave-
nue., 10 on Florida Avenue. 8 on Canal
Street. and on Water Street.
One OF the first public reservations to
receive cultivation was Lafayette Park, To-
Gated opposite the White House on Penn
sylvania Avenue, and at the present time
its state of development and beauty places
1t perhaps head on the list. 1t has an area
of six acres. 1t contains a choice selection
OF evergreen and deciduous trees and
shrubs including many fine specimens OF
Washington.
The equestrian statue of General Jack
son, by Clark Mills. occupies the center Of
the park. The statue Is mounted on a
white marble pedestal and surrounded by
four field pieces of artillery captured by
General Jackson. The southeast entrance
to this park is graced by the statue of Cen
eral Lafayette and his compatriots. Di-
rectly opposite the main entrance to the
Executive PppnSylyalil
edge OF the park. is large square bed OF
most beautiful variegated plants.
number of blossoming trees in the park
are in their full glory at the present time,
and, taken in connection with its surround
ings, this park presents an appearance of
grandeur and refinement unsurpassed
Many of the high officers of the Govern
ments have their residences surrounding
it.
The White House Grounds.
The cultivation OF the Presidents Park,
which surrounds the White House. is also
in most perfect state. The constant
work of the most skilled gardeners. with
the extensive conservatory to draw from,
encourages nature to do her best, and the
result is enchanting.
The Mall, extending from the Capitol to
the Washington Monument, is another OF
the beauty spots of the city. The grounds
here are more spacious. the trees larger
and the atmosphere more rural
The many beautiful circles which form
the juncture of the diagonal avenues ra-
dating from the Capitol like the spokes of
wheel, have as a rule been centered
with statue of some famous general,
which can be seen towering up in the dis
tance from many of the streets. Around
the statue is banked shrubs and flower