Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-06
MALL IMPROVEMENT
Mr.. Parsons Scheme Forwarded to
Congress.
COLONEL BIKGHAM'S COMMENTS
Gen. John M. Wilson's Indorse-
ment Of the Project.
THE SECRETARY'S LETTER

t Secretary Root today forwarded to Con-
! gress, with his personal commentator, all
! the maps and papers comprised In what Is
! known as 1.-The Parsons scheme Tor the
! DEVELOPMENT OF the park system of the DIS
| trict of Columbia including the treatment
| of the mall and its connection with the
| Geological Park. These papers include the
! report of Mr. Samuel Parsons. jr., the land
scape architect, in explanation o. his pan
as indicated in an accompanying map eight
/ by ten feet in size; letter from Col. i. A.
F.! Bingham, corps of engineers. transmitting
the same ard similar letters from Gen.
John NJ. Wilson. chief of engineers, and
Secretary Root. They are given below in
chronological order and show each step so
far taken in this important matter.
Mr.. Parsons report, which is addressed
to Col Bingham, under date of November
| IA, is as follows:
MIR. Parsons Report.
l have the honor to submit the following
report. in accordance with the terms o. the
agreement made July 49, 1900, wherein. I'M
der sundry civil act approved June Il, 1900.
the chief of engineers of the United States
army is authorized to make an eNamna-
ton and report to Congress on the first
Monday in December, 1900 plans for the
treatment of that section of the District of
Columbia situated south of Pennsylvania
avenue ard north Of p street southwest.
and .or a suitable connection between the
| Potomac and the Geological parks. and
wherein it is also agreed that your land
scape architect will prepare plans and re-
ports which will be purely practical sug-
gestions to the proper landscape archi-
tectural treatment CT the grounds above
mentioned and wifi not include working
| pans or details. but will describe as proXi-
mately as possible the lines upon which the
work should be actually laid out on the
| ground
| In seeking to solve the problem of design
| ing a park in the heart of Washington. Il
park which will be worthy not only of Il
great city. but of a great national capital
| it IS highly important at the very outset,
| to discover and define the natural limita-
| tions that grow cut OF the original struc-
| tural lines of the landscape and out of the
! demands both of the residential and of the
| business interests of the city.
| 1 think that these propositions will not be
denied by persons who have really con-
| sdered the subject: % A park, as pleas
| ure ground. should be set apart and isolated
as completely as art contrive it, from
sound and sight of the surrounding city;
| and t2) On the same line of endeavor the
interior of the pleasure ground should be
made to suggest woodland and meadow
scenery. so laid out as to afford convenient
and agreeable access by means of carriage
and bride roads and footpaths to all points
Of interest and landscape charm.
| Such a treatment would also assume that
| while every condition necessary for the
comfort and enjoyment Of the public should
! be kept clearly in view the landsca no
should be made to take coherent and ar
/ tistic shape from the original, peculiar
genius or idiosyncracy OK the place
Under these terms public buildings could
not be generally Included as part and par
Gel of the essential scheme Of the park.
| but they would properly find specia! terri
| tories or their own on the borders of the
main pleasure ground. where they could be
/ screened with thickly planted trees and
! given landscape treatment suitable to
! their character
| Before proceeding to the consideration of
| the controlling lines Of the design | feel
! that it would be proper to explain that in
! undertaking this work OF advice and sug-
gestion, l have cudeavored to assume the
liberal attitude of the citizen of the Unit ed
States who in his earnest desire to secure
for his country noble and perfect park
contributes his keenest enaeavors to Sc
cure not only the most charming lawns
and vistas. but also the best adjustment of
steam, electric and other roads for pleas
| ure and traffic conveyance
These are days of gigantic national and
! financial development. | do not think 1t
Is asking too much of the general public
that 1t should assume sufficiently disn-
terested attitude to secure for the national
capital such an ornament and delight as a
i great park designed in noble manner
In order to explain what l consider an
ideal plan. l beg leave to call attention to
| the peculiarly fortunate outline and con fig
uration of the proposed park. At present
| 1t Is intended to cover approximately six
hundred acres, which lie in a space bound
cd by pennsylvania avenue and b street
| southwest with the Capitol looming IN
| at the east and Washington monument at
| the west. An oblong territory occupied
mainly by the botanical Garden, the Mall,
the Smithsonian Institute, the Agricultu-
| raj grounds and the territory around the
| Washington monument. already belongs to
the nation. and it is proposed to condemn
| by law and secure a triangle of land run
ming from Pennsylvania avenue on the
/ north, Il street north on the south and
| 10Th street on the west. l would suggest
that In addition to this land. in order to
| secure the ideal park. another parcel be
acquired. bounded by Maryland avenue on
the south and B street on the north and
! 18th street on the west, a range which
would be wonderfully effective as seen from
the base of the Capitol. There the view
would include in its very heart the cele-
| brated vista over almost level ground
| through grand old trees to the Washington
| monument, which would be the very kernel
| and innermost jewel or shrine of the land
| scape.
| No arrangement could be more fortu-
nate than this. Its steadily widening reach
and its unsurpassed vista would make as
1t were, a foreground and park for the Cap
| itol. emphasizing the fact that, owing ia
the special growth OF the city to the west
this side has gained paramount Importance
| But the difficulties We shall meet In un-
dertaking TO devise such an ideal park
| will not be overcome by securing sufficient
land There are existing streets, railroads
buildings and trees to be considered and
suitably treated before the task OF de-
Signing the park will be complete.
| The management OF the streets is a diff
cult problem If we adhere to the vital
principle OF isolating the park from the
city and recognize the fact that the grades
of the streets cannot be materially changed
owing to the proximity OF the subjacent
water. But the difficulty may be over
| come. as shown on the plan, by retaining
| only crnea afrAAta FOR fra 6ac and f,,s,,ips