Evening star., 1901-06-08

every year would NAH 7reater the demand
for a breathing space ID' those who have
to remain In town during the heated
term.
Gardener Downing's Design.
1t provided for rural and shady drives
and for grounds where abundant shade
would be found during the summer. 1t
was not designed with regard to spectac-
ufar effect when viewed from the top of
the Washington monument or from the
top of the dome of the Capitol. 1t was not
designed with a view OF having 1t invaded
by the construction OF public buildings
along it's border. 1t was distinctly park
for the people, and it has had It's beauty
marred only when the niggardliness of
CONGRESS permitted from time to time the
construction of a public building within
it's bounds in order to save the cost of
properly located site which might have
been purchased
that Downing's plans should not be disre-
sarded or altered, that Downings work,
admirable as it Is. dealt with the Smith
sonian and other reservations improved by
him as distinct units. whereas the present
park commission is graphing the problem
of treating the entire sketch OF the mail
as a single unit, under the comprehensive
plan. and that a different method OF treat
ment is to be expected.
Against Washington's Idea.
| formal straight-line treatment of the mall
| is at variance with the ideas of Washing
ton. who abandoned the plan that had been
suggested by LEnfant for the max
| ing of a boulevard down the center
| OF the park space. 1t was Washing
i ton himself who indicated the site for the
| Botanic Garden at the foot OF the Capt.
| tol and on the eastern end OF the MaH
| When the location of botanical garden
| was being considered, David Burns. the
| persistent old Scotchman whose cottage
| only lately was removed from near the
| foot Of 18th street. wanted the garden
| near his home. Washington wanted II
| near the Capitol.
| Burns had given the father of his country
trouble before because Of his persistence
| and on this occasion he made all the trou-
| BILE he could to prevent Washington from
| putting his plan into effect, but Washing
ton had his way, and the present site OF
| the Botanic Garden was determined upon.
| In this act Washington himself placed his
disapproval on the plan for straight ave-
nue. through the Mall. although he knew
of it and had every opportunity to adopt 1t
had he thought 1t wise one. 1t was not
until 1922 that anything was done to give
| the Botanic Garden an existence. and
| then the Botanic Society of this city took
| the matter In hand. and as a private en-
| terprise got permission to plant small
| garden along the eastern part of what Is
now the Botanic Garden. 1t was not until
| 1852 that as a government enterprise the
|
| Botanic Garden was established on a firm
| foundation.
Historic Trees.
! In this garden now there are many his
! toric trees Slips from the Washington elm,
which was destroyed in the reconstruction
| of the Capitol grounds. were planted near
/ the eastern entrance of the garden, and
now are growing in a healthy condition.
The Morrill, memorial trees are Just north
| of the main building Of the garden. Near
the western entrance Is the tree planted by
I HAYES when he was elected governor and
| before it was supposed he was to be Pres
ident of the United States. The Sherman
Voorhees, and 9th .r trees are near by, as Is
the British oak planted as a memorial Of
| troversy. These and many other historic
trees would have to be cut down, as they
are all within the 35o-feot space marked
| out as required for the suggested lawn
1t is explained that the memorial trees
might be saved by careful removal from
| the path of the vista to other portions of
the park. In this connection, 1t is said, that
the commission hopes eventually to give
the park more trees than IL now possesses
| by planting and transplanting IN the now
open spaces and by providing straight rows
| Of eIms in conjunction with the vista it
| self.
| The Illustrations accompanying this arti-
Gle present two Views of the proposed vista
| The larger one. giving a bird 's-eye view of
| the perspective formed by the projected
limits of the cleared space. was drawn