Evening star., 1901-07-05
THE PARK COM MISSION
INTEREST OF AMERICAN ARCHI-
TECTs IN THE WORK UNDER WAY.
Record of the Proceedings to the
Present StaKe-The Capital
to BE Developed.

fnSm the American institute OF hrCWteNtS S1~-
terry Bulletin.
Probably the most important single
element In the future art development
of this country consists in the proper
selection of sculpture and painting. ana
in the design of landscape ana us
combination with buildings which may De
acquired or erected by the government OK
the United States These art objects OF the
government constantly before the peo-
pie and to nine-tenths of the population
represent the best that can be produced OF
acquired. This reason makes II most III
portant that only refined and artistic work
should be secured II We wish to produce
the refining influence which the peauliiui
will exert upon the masses
About six years ago many persons VINO
wore interested in the future development
of art in the United States formed the Pub
lie Art League of the nited States, with
the single object of securing an art COM
mission which would pass upon all sucn
matters that might come before government
officials for solution. In the year 1871 lhe
board of directors of the American Institute
of Architects approved the bill Tor me
arts commission. which had been presented
to Congress by the Public Art League Inc
agitation by the Public Art League In the
papers and periodicals, and before congress-
,ntfoubtedly prepared the way for the sue
cess attained by the American Institute OIL
Architects in obtaining the recent appoint
ment of park commission
When il had been settled that the amer
can Institute of Architects would hold LIS
thirty-fourth annual convention IN WASH
tngton city on the one-nuhoi ~ ~. " 80,
of government in the federal city. the
committee of arrangements fixed the dals
during the session of Congress. ana AT
the time of the celebration OF .he
oue-hundredth anniversary. when the
governors and other representatives from
the various states would De present.
and arranged for series OF papers on Inc
Grouping of Buildings and Landscape az
the Seat of Government. 1t seemed Ht-
ting time and place to call forciple atten-
tion to the fact that the grand scheme OF
I.Enfant as to the treatment OF parks. anu
the harmonious. utilitarian and artistic
grouping of government structures. hau
been ignored and fitting time to suggest
that now a development on the general lnes
of the original plan should again be en-
forced and so fixed by enactment OF Con-
gress that it would be practically impossl-
BILE in the future to deviate from the ger
erai scheme. The papers presented al inc
convention of the institute and the discus,
sion which followed were not considered
nv any of their authors as a mature soiu-
tion of the problem, but were prepared 50
as to call attention to the grandeur Oh the
old plan the errors which have been COM
mitted in departing from TINS plan. anu
the possibilities OF the grand ana s arls.ic
eNerts that may be attained by returning
to its fundamental principles Ihe speakers
and the institute as body were uhahi-
mously of the opinion that the pest results
could only be attained by the appolIt Itheiit
of a commission composed OF architects
and landscape architects A commission
with broad views influence and authority
in the art world. and well ana 1a.oraois
known to the people Of the country. "A
commission whose decision WouIo pe
unanimously approved as the best solution
of the problem. The president OF the
Ar,I fartS mn
the following committee to confer WIN
Congress on the subject: w. A. Boring OF
New York G. F. Shepley Of Boston, Mass.
George B. Post of New York. r. al. Day oi
Philadelphfa Pa: W. s. Eames of st. Louis.
Mo. E B. Green of Buffalo. n. T., anu
Glenn Brown of Washington. D. C.
The committee. after the adjournment OF
the convention, held meeting IN confer
ence with Mr. Charles Moore. clerk OF the
Senate District committee. ana are" up
resolution which was presented by Sena-
tor Mcmillan. chairman OF the senate cUlii- L'.
mit1es of the District of Columbia rms
resolution SENATE resolution NO. l3S) was
referred to the District committee OF the
Senate and returned with It's appfo'ai
and a favorable report
Coneress adjourned without acting upon
the resolution. During the special session
of the Senate called after the Adjournment
of Congress. March 8, 1901, the senate
nassed a resolution empowering the Senate
District committee to employ experts To
consider and draw up scheme anu re POI.
on plan for the future improvement ana
development Of the parks OF the city OF
Washington. As the ornamental approach
es grouping of buildings and statuary are
among the most important elements IN the
development of the parks. the consideration
OF these topics the Senate committee nat
uraliy thought a part of the power confer
red by the Senate resolution. The comihft-
tee of the institute. together with Its pres
ident Mr.. R 9. Peabody, and Mr.. +. L.
Olmsted jr was invited to meet a Subcom-
mtttee of the Senate District committee.
composed of Senators Mcmillan. Gallinser
and Martin. The advisability OF the ap-
pointment OF a commission to take charge
of and make report on the subject was
duly considered. and the institute commit
tee recommended the appointment Of Mr..
d. H. Burnham Of Chicago and F. l. Ohm
sted- jr.. of Brookline. with the power to
select q third member. The Senate COM
mittee. acting upon the suggestion of the
institute. appointed Messrs. Burnham and
Olmsted. who accepted the appointment.
and. to the satisfaction of the architectural
world. selected Mr. Charles F. McKin as
the third member of the commission.
The success attained by the institute in
securing the appointment of commission
of this character deserves the commenja-
ton of all lovers of art In the country as
IL Is commission which has proved its
artistic. executive and practical ability in
work accomplished by it's different MEM
berS. 1t is commission of education ex-
perience and refinement. which has shown
itself In love with art and nature The
members Of the commission have been at
work for the past six weeks studying the
problem with enthusiasm. and with Il grave
1eellns or their responsibility to the COM
munity and the profession The results of
the wise recommendations of this commis-
sion are not question Of doubt They may
De awaited with confidence. When its re-
port Is presented We feel that 1t will so
commend itself to Congress that il will he
adopted as the system on which the r,Iturt
oeveiopment of the city will DE executed
me institute can do no better work :s
INDIVIDUALS or body than 70 ,
urge upon senators and representatives tho
Importance Of congressional approval al
the scheme and the continuance nf tbe
sion OF all landscape treatment cbara..
ana location Of buildings and statuary ar,
other details which may be found nacns
sary to carry il into execution
Depression In GermaDx
From the st. Joseph Gazette