Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-21
A TENTATIVE PLAN
Progress Made by the Park Commits
sion.
MANY OPEN SPACES 70 Be CONNECTED
Result of Thorough inspection Of
the District.
OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS

The park commission has so far pro-
crossed with it's work that a general tenta-
tive plan has been outlined for identifying
and connecting the parks of the District OF
Columbia and for the placing of public
buildings together, with a general scheme
of architecture for these buildings. The
park commission, consisting of MeSsrs.
Burnham, Olmstead and Mckim, has so far
advanced with its tentative plan that when
the members leave here to go abroad June
| IL it will be easy to adapt desirable features
of park adornment and arrangement that
may be found in the capitals of Europe to
conditions here.
All the members of the commission have
been over the ground here very thorough
ly. They went in carriages, on bicycles or
on foot, practically all over the District.
Parking Spaces to BE Connected.
The topography of the entire country has
been thoroughly studied, and maps are be-
ing made that will outline plan for con-
Meeting every large piece of parking space
that now exists, in such a way that
continuous drive through all of them can
be had, affordng varied and beautiful
views along it's course. The plan is being
formulated in such a way that little addi-
tional land will be necessary to carry 1t
out.
Inc map Will snow the pOSSlDullleS LUZ
obtaining a magnificent system Of parks In
the future rather than to define any per-
fected scheme of park Ornamentation.
Riverside drives can be had on the land
reclaimed from the flats, and from this To-
cality the driveway will enter the lower
Rock Creek valley and work toward Rock
Creek Park. At the place where the road
enters this valley panoramic view OF the
shipping along the Georgetown Wharves Will
be had.
Rock Creek Park itself will require slight
additions of land either to afford conven-
lent entrances from thoroughfares or to
take in small strip of land here or there
in order to round out the park to Its ma
tural limits But acquisition OF land
Is contemplated that will involve any large
expense The Soldiers Home and the re-
form school grounds will be connecting
links between Rock Creek park and the
Anacostia flats. which the plan contem-
plates Transforming into a park which will
reach down to the south Well-toward the
Arsenal and Potomac park to complete
what will be in effect be a grand boulevard
around the city. The upper Potomac will
probably be treated in such a way as to
provide driveway that will overlook the
Virginia shore and the river affording
splendid views of Alexandria and the lower
river.
The location of the memorial bridge will
come in for consideration by the commits
sion which will favor a bridge from the
old observatory grounds directly toward
the mansion house at Arlington
The members of the commission have
been in consultation with the secretaries of
war. treasury and agriculture, the Com
missioners of the District, Secretary Lang
ley of the Smithsonian Institution. the sup
cruising architect of the treasury and
others. and it is said in every instance they
have received the heartiest cooperation in
their efforts
style of Public Buildings.
The Treasury Department has already In
general way adopted a classical style for
public buildings to be erected in the future,
and this action is directly in harmony with
the views of the commission for additional
public buildings in this city The commits
sion favors the use Of white marble as the
material for public buildings to be erected
here in the future.
The Mall has been given very careful
and thorough study by the commission.
When the commission first came here the
members had conference with Senator
Mcmillan, chairman of the Senate commit
tee on the District of Columbia, and re-
quested that Mr.. Charles Moore to accom-
pany them on their trip abroad Mr. Moore
having previously compiled a large amount
Of data concerning their study on which
they have since worked. Since they have
been engaged on their problem of the parks
he has been closely connected with them
In their work. 1t was a question whether
Mr.. Moore could drop Senator McMnlan's
work for period Of a couple of months,
but it was finally decided that he con-
tinue with the commission in its work, and
he will sail with them June IL.