The Washington times., 1901-10-22
PARK COMMISSION PLANS.
Elaborate Improvement Ofthe Mail
Said to BE Contemplated.
CITY system to lie Connected by
Driveway SI<irtinE Rock Creek-A
Conference with District odicinls-
Project Nets with Approval.

The Park Commission began its sessions
Yesterday in the Senate District Commit
tee room at the Capitol. This Commits
sion was appointed by act Of Congress to
study the present condition Of the pubhc
parks in the District and to report com
prehensive scheme for their Improvement
The Commission consists Of Daniel IL
Burnham. of Chicago, HI; Frederick l.
Olmstcd, Of Brookine. Mass; Charles f.
McKim. of New York. and Augustus ST
Gaudens. Charles Moore clerk of the
Senate District Committee, is secretary to
the Commission. Each of the men com
posing this body is eminent in the pro-
fession of parking engineers, and was
chosen for his expert knowledge and eX-
perience.
After its appointment last summer the
Commission spent some time in inspect
ing the parks of the District, and IN
studying the possibilities for their I'M
proyement and of their consolidation INTO
a system of parks to be united by Wlde
drives and boulevards. The Commission
was provided at that time with maps,
charts, and other data relating TO the
marks They were also made acquainted
with various schemes of improvement
that have been prepared in years past.
The Commission then spent some time
in Europe. visiting several cities and eX-
amining the park systems and improve
ments that have been worked out there.
Since returning to this country the Com
mission has been engaged in celebrating
a general plan of park Improvement for
the District The purpose of the sessions
of the Commission. beginning yesterday,
is to work out the details in conference
with the local authorities preparatory to
framing the report that will be submitted
to Congress.
The session yesterday, which lasted all
day, was taken up in a conference with
the District Commissioners, in which the
plans of the Commission were explained
in full Criticisms or suggestions on the
part of the Commissioners were requested.
At the opening of the session Commits
sioner Macfarland spoke briefly for him
self and his colleagues expressing their
satisfaction, in view of the fact that the
District was to be given the work of
such a commission. He thought the Dis.
trict was to be congratulated upon hay
ing body composed of the best talent 10
suggest a plan for the Improvement of
the public parks Mr.. Macfarland said
that it seemed as though the desires of
the District and OF the Commissioners
were about to be realized in a large way.
Several hours were spent by the Com
mission in thoroughly explaining their
plans, so far as worked out. In company
with the Commissioners was Prof. 5. 2.
Langley, of the Smithsonian Institution,
who is a member of another commission
that having charge of the Geological
Park The work of the Commission was
only gone over In part at o'clock in the
afternoon and luncheon was brought in,
that the conference might not be inter
rupted more than necessary.
The conference was secret and the
plans of the Park Commission viii not be
made public until they are reported to
Congress. 1t is known, however, that
the plan includes an extensive and elab-
crate beautifying of the Mall, and its un-
ion with the Geological and Rock Creek
parks by broad drive skirting the north
bank Of Rock Creek. The plan also con-
templates the rounding out of the bound
aries of the Geological and Rock Creek
Parks. so as TO give these reservations
better form. They also will be improved
Ear beyond their present condition.
During a portion OF the conference Cap
tajns Newcomer and Harding the assist
ants of the Engineer Commissioner. were
present, as were also David z. McCOmb,
Superintendent of Sewers, and w. A.
Mcfarland. Superintendent of the Water
Department
The Commissioners. after returning to
the District Building. expressed the great
est satisfaction with the plans Of the
Commission and said that they were
both comprehensive and in keeping with
the future prospective splendor Of the
Capital City.
The Commissioners win submit their
views upon certain features Of the plan
to the Commission IN writing. but it is
understood that they found little to criti-
else and that they Will have little to add
to the plans of the engineers.