Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-25

bledown or otherwise unsightly wooden
buildings which mar the water front or the
city, and fixed plans of either public or
private improvement on all structures and
undertakings there in the future, to the end
that the water front would present un.-
form appearance as to structures, such be-
ing the case in New York In recent years,
where the wharves and the buildings there
on are uniform and constructed according
to strictly enforced laws.
70. A subcommittee with unappealable au-
thority to tour and Investigate the alleys or
the city and determine upon what habita-
lions therein shall be RACED, the condemned
buildings to be down within one year from Il
fixed date.
Waterways and Public Buildings.
II. Protect by suitable retaining walls the
banks Of the stream which divides George
town from Washington, require abutting
property owners to fill In to level their
holdings or cause 1t to be done at the ex-
pense of the property itself and the latter
sold under the assessment system upon
failure to make the required improvement.
-. Cover the sewer which is called the
James Creek canal, or. II the waterway is
necessary to commerce. defect the course
of the sewer and cause the canal to be prop
erly dredged and suitably maintained.
%. Erect a hall of justice, as is proposed
on the square opposite the Library building,
selling the lot opposite the treasury for
private and business Improvement, its
area IL 100 ClFCuIilscItDtu 10 duINlt Oh an
adequate government building of today, and
1t could be put to more appropriate advan-
tage in private improvement. In this con-
nection the beautiful Paais de Justice of
Brussels should not be lost sight of. Situat-
ed upon one of the highest points in the
Belgian capital, its white marble walls are
pointed out to every stranger with the same
pride that Washingtonian undoubtedly
takes in the new library, and the architects
of the proposed hall of justice could We'll
take its construction and fine design into
consideration when preparing the plans of
the temple here. which will undoubtedly be
the richest and most appropriate in the
world.
SO. Improved water facilities at any cost
10 Reclamation of the flats of the East
ern branch of the Potomac which would
be quickly followed by private water front
improvement in the shape of wharves ware
houses and shipping facilities.
IL The exterior surfaces of the walls Of
the treasury building scraped and cleaned
L. An expenditure of not less than ST.
100000 for remOdeled Executive Mansion
Statues and Public Fountains.
'13 Prohibit the erection in the public
spaces of statues of military heroes until a
certain proportion thereof Is devoted to
those of men of letters, inventors. scien-
lists, artists and others connected with the
progress OF the nation, the advancement
Of civilization and otherwise conspicuous
in fields other than that Of war in coun-
try which Is not populated by war-wag-
Ing people. and which has set the pace of
the world in the worlds advancement to-
ward the perfection Of human endeavor
The United States is for peace with honor
but foreigner unacquainted with it's his
tory would be justified in the contrary
conclusion In visiting Its capital to observe
that the memory of the only men thus
honored Is that of those prominent In mill
tary and naval rank, with one or two ex-
cceptions. Certainly that of Samuel F.
Morse. the inventor Of the telegraph and
one of the worlds greatest benefactors,
should hold prominent place.
IN. More fountains placed in the parks
and their playing to be continuous from
the grounds of the White House enlarged
and the one on the north front to be il
Illuminated by electric light and to play until
midnight
Brilliantly Lighted Streets.
"Of course" continued Mr.. Willis, some
of these suggestions might be considered
very radical and somewhat sweeping in
their scope, but none are, to my mind, i'm
practicable. The proposed improvement Of
the mall and that quarter of the city south
Of Pennsylvania avenue would make a
marked difference in the city and give it
Increased and beautified park area, but
the Identification Of a city lies In scores |
or directions other than in parkage. and
In my frequent visits to the capital / have
made mental note of the few which 1 now
give you In view of what appears to be a |
sentiment favoring further improvements. |
For instance, this Is one of the best
lighted cities in the country. The streets |
however, are wide and shaded with trees |
and its thoroughfares ought to be brill |
iantly Illuminated. more so than other |
cities, because 1t is the capital. One of |
the strong points Of Paris is it's brilliantly |
illuminated Champs Elysee and boulevar ds. |
Adorned with little parks and reservations |
the opportunities for landscape gardening |
and flowers are without limit, and though |
they are beautifully kept and the different |
In manner rejecting the highest credit |
upon the city and officials a foreman in |
one of the parks with whom l conversed |
told me that the present appropriations |
were inadequate to maintain the parks and |
reservations in that high state of perfec- |
ton they warranted and the people de- |
sired. The Marine Band, the prize musical |
organization of the nation, ought to have |
for Its summer concerts a shell-shaped mu- |
sic stand with seats for the audience Even |
San francisco has such place in its |
Golden Gate Park, and thousands of peopIe |
on foot and In carriages hear the semi |
tanned by the street car companies Wash |
ington is the only large city in the United |
states that has no public band stand and |
grounds and the commission should not |
fail to make note of It,
THE opportunities of making the city |
the Mecca Of the country and of adding to !
its already pre-eminent advantages expand |
almost without limit as the subject Is con- |
sfdered, and l have no doubt that a full |
report as Is proposed will go a great way |
toward Its accomplishment"