Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-06

them into transverse roads of ample width
screened by embankments of earth sur
mounted by trees on either side and con-
nected at the center Of the park and in
the exact line of the vista by bridges
arching twenty feet above the present road
bed
In this scheme most of the pleasure
movement would cross the park by slightly
curved but tolerably direct drives located
close to the transverse roads. and nearly
parallel with them thus carrying out more
completely the generally elliptical scheme
of the park. This plan, whenever 1t can be
used conveniently, has special artistic
value, particularly when, as in this case,
blending veil of shade trees can be made
to diversity the slightly formal appear
ance OF the Oft-repeated ovals.
This arrangement of drives and masked
transverse roads and bridges kept in close
relations with the vistas, 1t will be readily
seen. will naturally force the main scheme
of park development into series of ovalS
commencing at the Capitol and extending
to the White House, where the same idea
is repeated in the already constructed ell
ipSe of the White Lot and the adjacent
public territory. 1t is a fortunate circum-
stance that the positions of the transverse
roads cause the ovals to steadily diminish
in size. dropping progressively to lower and
lower grades they approach the Wash
ington monument. Thus IN the widening
sp-ead of territory they impart to the land
scape a finished and consistent perspective
a harmonious cadence and rhythm Of effect
and finely heightened appearance Of dis
tarce.
Rais:ng the bridges and foliage Of the
hidden transverse roads Will likewise tend
to give an agreeable undulation to the nat
uraly fiat surface of the park, while the
changing contours and blending foliage Will
increase the length of the vista. An adj
justment of the roads in this way will tend
to give a desirable concavity and breadth
To the interior lawns, which are everywhere
kept more or less below the levels of the
roads and allowed to wind away from eye
in the long graceful curves. of the elr.pse,
in this point resembling the country roads,
that bend and vanish in charming mystery,
for it is proposed to screen all these drive
ways with outrageous trees.
Outside OF the ovals-the simplicity and
effectiveness of the symmetry of which con-
sttutes the keynote of the park-we find
the drives seeking the points of interest
and convenience by long chrvins lines, which
are so arranged as to mass together, as
much possible. wide stretches of lawn
and in that way increase the large and Dig
nified quality of the design.
Owing to the concentration of the most
distinguished park effects about the main
vista and ovalS, and owing to the proper
demand that walks bride paths and drives
shall be close to each other so as to afford
easy human intercourse and to avoid the
great Inconvenience Of losing ones way-a
risk that accompanies a more wandering,
loosely constructed System-I have placed
the roads near the lines Of the ellipses.
am convinced that a greater variety of eff
fective views can be secured IN this way
than in any other. $50
Nor must the need OF solitary places be
overlooked. Fer those who u ts,sl to wander
in seclusion many walks will be found eX-
tending far away from the ovals on other
and more remote territory.
The treatment of lawns is simple. 1t is
Planned to leave holiows meadows and
wide expenses of green sward. excepting
either side Of the pathways and roads.
There the shade of trees is encouraged.
and fortunately easily attained. Extended
masses of foliage already exist, portions Of
which. when displaced by the construction
of the transverse roads, can be transpanted
after proper root pruning, to assist in en-
phasiZing and extending the effects of the
main vista to the monument.
One OF the most important features OF
the plan will be found in the new site
signed to the Pennsylvania railroad station,
now serious obstruction to the develop
ment of the new park. Its present lOca-
ton. If retained, would utterly destroy the
harmonious arrangement of the ovals and
sunken transverse roads. which are the dis
tlngushing characteristics OF the present
design The passage OF trains through a
park whether over or under or on the level,
is always to be deprecated. 1t destroys
the restfulness and isolation of the place,
and 1t should be prevented by any arrange
ment that IS not absolutely inimical to the
comfort and business necessities of the pub
lie. A lightning express is quite incompatl-
The proposed SHE for the station, it will
be seen, is large and commodious and stu
ated directly in front of the transverse road
at 18th street which is made wide as
Pennsylvania avenue. and only 1900 feet
from its nearest borders The station as
now situated. in the heart of the proposed
park. would completely destroy the unity
of the park design; for it stands at the
greatest. Under the new arrangement
proposed. every advantage in the way Of
electric cars and convenient and cOmmodi-
Gus foot and carriage ways could be Sc
cured, they could all be brought directly
under the roof Of the station.
l dwell thus strongly on the Importance
Of new location for the railroad station
because l believe that if all parties genuine
ly and periodically interested In securing
really great park We're thoroughly alive
to the real merits of the question, it would
be readily conceded that the railroad
should be banished to parts where it would
be invisible. II not wholly inaudibie, from
the main drives of the park, and especially
from the bridges over the transverse roads
Its removal is a serious necessity.
Concerning the parkway from the Wash
inston monument to the Potomac and the
Geological parks. it should be said that as
portion of the banks of Rock creek,
formal arrangement of footpaths drives
and bride roads is secured whereby the
house lots are reached by two roads, one
of 800 feet In the middle Is occupied by
park drive, by footpaths and bride road,
each of which takes a direct course paral-
lei with the adjacent houses, as shown in
the accompanying detail pfan Il
When the parkway reaches the steep hill
sides of Rock creek it IS allowed to seek
the easiest grades. 1t occupies b large por
ton of the picturesque slopes with the
winding curves of it's drives and bride
paths, ending at the boundaries of the
Geological park at the junction OF Cathe-
dral avenue and Connecticut avenue, where
1t completes its course in an entrance SO
enlarged as to include all three avenues.
There are some things that can be done
with the design Of park and some things
that cannot. If Il unified and consistent
scheme of treatment is to be evolved; and
the more thoroughly and intelligently these
possibilities and limitations are studied. the
more certain the final successful develop
ment of an artistic and enjoyable pleasure
ground will become
In my endeavor to make this report con-
else. l have necessarily been obliged to
omit any enlargement on many points of
interest and Importance, my object being
chiefly to outline the general principles of
the scheme. relying on securing at a future
time an opportunity to explain the full de-
tails OF the proposed arrangement.
In conclusion, l feel constrained to re-
affirm and re-emphasize the idea, to which,
In this report, have continually eudeaVor-