Evening star., 1900-10-01
M ALL lMPROVEM EN- I
STEPS TAKEN TO CARRY OUT THE
CONGRESSIONAL MANDATE.
Landscape Architect of RenOwn mt
Work on q Broad Scheme
of Retirement.

Gen Wilson, chief of engineers, and his
assistant. Col Bingham, the engineer ofh-
Ger in charge of public buildings and
grounds. have completed arrangements for
a prompt and complete compliance with the
legislation enacted by Congress at Its last
session having for its object the prepara-
tion of a comprehensive scheme for the
systematic Improvement, on an elaborate
scale, of that section of Washington city
south OF Pennsylvania avenue and north OF
b street southwest, including the MALL as
we'll as the suitable connection Of Potomac
Park (the reclaimed flats) and the Zoo
logical and Rock Creek Parks north of the
city. To that end they have enlisted the
knowledge and skill of Mr.. Samuel Par
sons, jr.. of the firm of Parsons & Pente-
cost OF New York city, to whose artistic
efforts much of the beauty of Central Park
is due. and who is universally recognized
as one of the best landscape architects OF
the United States.
Under authority contained in the act OF
Congress approved June g. 1900 Mr. Par
sons has been regularly employed to pre-
pare plans for the proposed Improvement
He has made several long visits to this
city and has looked carefully and thor
oughly over the entire ground, both alone
and in company with Col. Bingham, who Is
more especially in charge of the work
under the direction of Gen. Wilson.
Inc principal SUBJECT OF lTEeSuSdtlOn Is
the advisability of utilizing the squares
Immediately south of the Pennsylvania
avenue sites for public buildings, the
construction of avenues through what is
known as the mall and the building OF
an extended driveway or boulevard leading
from the lower harbor through the mall, "
past the Washington monument into
Georgetown. and thence along the banks
of Rock creek TO the Geological Park, and
thence on into Rock Creek Park
MT. Parsons has given the subject earnest
consideration and study and is now at work
on the plans at his office in New York city
He is in constant correspondence with Gen
wilson and Col Bingham and is having the
full benefit of their intimate and thorough
knowledge of the subject They have i'm
pressed him with the Importance of his
task and have given him the benefit of all
the official records, including copies of al
the plans heretofore submitted. Notwith-
standing the magnitude of the work de-
voIving upon him. Mr.. Parsons has prom
ised TO submit his plans to the officers ir
charge IN time for their transmission tC
Congress at the coming session.
II is believed that these officials are Civ
ing attention TO the many plans which have
been suggested for the treatment of the
lands in question during the years of the
discussion on the subject. One of the latest
of these was proposed by Mr.. Glenn Brown
Of this city in the course of article iT
the Architectural Review, reproduced ir
a recent issue of The Star. In this connec
ton the following letter received by The
Star from Mr. Irving II. Guild, editor of the
Architectural Review, Is OF interest:
1T is pleasure to see the daily press
take up in an appreciatlve and discrimina
tive way such questions as this, which ap
peal so strongly TO architects and those
whose training and culture lead them tc
look upon them as of the first Importance
but which are usually passed over with lit
tie attention by the general public. Any
scheme for the beauufying of Washington
must now, at best. be a compromise witt
existing conditions but 1t would be a cry
ing shame to allow political or other in
fiuences to stand in the way of obtaining
the best solution of this problem that tn,
professional talent OF the country can sup
ply. The Stars editorial comment is in
deed an encouraging assurance that thi!
question is appreciated outside professional
circles and trust Ii will be found SO IL
official circles as we'll