Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-01

The Parsons plan for the development of
the Mall and its connection with the Rock
Creek Park. an outline of which is pub
l.shed today. is broad application of the
principles which governed the city founders
and should have governed the actions of
the city builders at all stages of capital
making. If fully adopted. with liberal ap-
preparations to give it appropriate form, 1t
will make Washington assuredly the most
beautiful city III the world. 1t will develop
a park which will compare favorably with
any. 1t will solve problems which have
hindered IN the proper development of he
city for decades. 1t will provide building
sites for all the possible future needs of
the government. 1t will eradicate nuisances
which now effect strange mingling of the
ornamental and the shabby the progressive
and the deCadent
Considered broadly, Mr. Parsons project
should have been executed years ago, when
lands were cheaper than today and when
certain settled interests had not acquired
hold on the public spaces. The Mall has
remained for many years as a naturally
beautiful park. great source of pleasure
to the people and an ornament to the city,
yet never fully brought to its highest nossi-
bilities. Its trees and lawn spaces have
shown only the bareSt degree of cultiVa-
ton, although always the best of care. Yet
it has been a prize which the people nave
highly valued, and which they are defer
mined to guard. as far az possible, from
further encroachments by builders and
street makers.
Mr. Parsons scheme tlisregards the sug-
gestiOn that i straight. broad thoroughfare
be cut through the Mall from end to end
spelling the beauty derived from curves
and irregularity, and largely reducing its
total park area. He plans a series of ar
tistic drives which will afford convenient
access from one part to another and yet
will preserve the semblance of park and
forest which a rigid street would utterly
destroy. He even suggests the material
expansion o. the park space by extending
its boundaries on the north and south to
Pennsylvania and Maryland avenues, re-
s-ectively.
In addition this project indorses the gen.
orally favored plan of locating the public
buildings upon the space between the Mall
and Pennsylvania avenue, instead of plac
ing them upon the park space scatter
ing them throughout the city. Thus It ac-
complishes the most desirable object of pre-
senting a distinct principle for the future
building policy of the government in such
gress and thereby made the basis for prac-
teal works.
The plan for connecting the Potomac and
Rock Creek Parks is developed along broad
and satisfactory lines. This feature of The
enterprise which was committed oy Con-
gress to the care OF the chief of engineers
OF the army is usually considered apart
from the general topic of Mall treatment,
yet it deserves attention along with any
suggestion for the betterment and devel-
opment Of the park spaces. 1t is desirable
that these spaces should be placed in some
degree of communication, not by Streets but
by distinctive park driyeways. Their value
would be greatly enhanced by such treat
mcnt and it is well that Congress last spring
provided for tLeir development toward this
end.
1t is to be hored that General Wilson, 10
whom this inquiry was entrusted. will be
able, before mis- retirement from active ser
vice in the coming year, to witness at least
the formal approval of the project. in which
he has taken most earnest interest at all
stages. 1t would satisfactorily round OUT
a career which has been largely devoted TO
the betterment of the capital If thus
through his prestige and aid enterprise
so promising of great future developments
could be assured of execution.