Evening star., 1900-03-05
Whys and What?

Why do they call the proposed roadway
which leads from nowhere to nowhere, and
which, in doing so. will longitudinally BIZ
sect and measurabiy destroy one of our
finest and most accessible parks-why do
they call it 'boulevard?' The meaning of
that term. according to the lexicons. is
list originally a bulwark or rampant of a
fortified town. 3D. public walk or street
occupying the site of a demolished fortifi-
cation" There is. therefore, no excuse for
the snobbery Of Juggling into our vernacular
this awkward foreign term, which Is not in
the least degree applicable to the proposed
roadway, or to any other thoroughfare in
Washington, or in any other city in the
United States, for that matter. Let us
therefore drop 1t in all cases.
Again.-and this query is more important
than the other.-of what earthly use Is the
proposed roadway going to be- If made?
Its first effect will be to despoil the park.
That being done. what is the gain? 1t can
serve no purpose of either utility or beauty
No right-minded person will seriously claim
that a straight wide street cut through a
park or grove will be half as attractive
from any point Of view as serpentine paths
and driveways, like those in the Smith
sonian grounds. for example. But suppose
1t to be laid out. Then what? 1t can be of
little practical use, because it does not con-
meet or accommodate centers of population
To talk of 1t as street for parades is
simply absurd. Given Street of suitable
width. and the next essential requisite for
purposes of parades and like demonstrations
Is that 1t shall afford ample facilities for
witnessing such spectacles.-in other words.
It should be lined with rows of residences
or business houses. supplied with plenty of
windows, balconies. doorways, etc, for the
temporary accommodation of vast crowds
of sight seers. Suppose a parade should
take place on this co-called boulevard"
how are the people of Washington going to
get there? and what chance will there be
for seeing anything after they have reached
the place? These are questions that evi-
IDENTIFY have not been thought Of
But 1t is said that the newly made road
is TO be lined on both sides with magnificent
public buildings. When? and with what
public buildings? This idea is quite as
ridiculous as the other. just referred to- A
public building is presumably a place for
the transaction Of public business to which
those engaged in it and those having occa-
sion to visit 1t should have free and easy
access. How, then, is the public to get to
this hoped for double line OF splendid public
buildings, when once built and occupied :?
Certainly it cannot be intended that street
car tracks shall be laid the length of this
alleged "bouleyard: and as no line can.
in the nature of things, run parallel to it.
at least not near enough to afford accom-
modation to those desiring to get there, the
inevitable consequence will be that a hack
must be hired for the trip or the tourney
be made on foot. 1t is safe to say that
those who have to submit to the extortions
of bar +ol-
storms of winter or the heat of summer
Will curse loud as well as deep the memory
of both those who conceived and those who
carried out the idea =
After all. however, the great objection to
the project is that it in a measure DESTROYS
a public park, and for such vandalism there
can be no valid excuse. While other cities
are buying valuable ground and tearing
down the costly buildings with which il /,
covered, in order to provide breathing
places and thus insure the health and COM
fort of their population, how can those who
are interested in or hold in their hands tbe
future destinies of the nations capital ius-
tfy the taking for street and building mr.
poses of the ground long since dedicated as
pubic parks? A mistake such as would he
made in this instance is absolutely irrena-
rable. and unfOrgivable. Indeed. for such
an act the term mistake" is no proper
designation. 1t would reach the pronor
tions of crime and should stamp jte nar
petrators accordingly