Evening star., 1902-03-01
What is Contemplated for the
Future Washington.
RING OFPARKS
THE NATIONS CITY TO BE TREAT
ED ADEQUATELY,
Details Of the Commissions Plans Ex-
plained-Relation of
Parts.

Charles Moore in the Century Magazine for March,
Albert Gallatin. writing from Washington
In 1901, expressed the optimistic opinion
that the portion Of the federal city near
the Presidents house might in a short
time form town equal in size and popu-
iation to Lancaster or Annapolis, a predic-
ton based mainly on the proximity of the
locality in question to the well-established
tobacco port of Georgetown. Mr.. Thomas
TW1n1ng, an English traveller who visited
the site Of the capital city in 1895, thought
that Georgetown must share the advantages
or washington, but be independent Of its
failure. If Twining and Gallatin could revisit
the national capital and stand on one of
the antiquated bridges that span Rock
creek they would look down into the deep
ravine and see nearly the same conditions
that met their gaze when first their eyes
beheld that thread Of water twisting be-
tween steep banks Overgrown with trees
Officially the name of Georgetown is OBJ
soiete, but not until that portion of the
ROCK Creek valley which lies between the
ancient town and the modern city shall
have been developed into a parkway will
the line Of demarcation be obliterated and
Georgetown become in fact. as it is now
~ IL.
Certain Georgetown families still keep
alive traditions Of the days before the seat
OF government was removed to the banks
of the Potomac. These families have ever
held aloof from tranSitory Washington So
ciety as quite beneath consideration on the
part of those whose title deeds run back in
direct line to royal grants. On the other
hand, in Washington itself of late years
several social circles have developed quite
independently of Presidents, cabinet min
listers and senators. With few notable
exceptions, the great houses of Washing
ton are occupied by those who have no di-
rect connection with the government and
high officials are welcome guests at these
houses, not so much because of their posi-
ton as because they also are in pursuit Of
social pleasures.
Then. too, Washington has a winter pop
ulation numbering thousands of persons.
drawn thither from all parts of the country
by the comparative midness of the eli
mate and the fact that it is the only city
in the country where a man may have an
interest in what is going on without being
himself actively engaged I'm any pursuit.
Also, there are the retired army and navy
officers who regard Washington as the home
Of their declining years, and the scientific
people. a greater body numerically than is
to be found in any other city, at least in
this country. and the thousands whom pub
lie business pleasure call to the capital
for a few days or weeks at time. So
that Washington has become the represen-
tative American city, and any improve
ments which Congress may undertake in
the District Of Columbia will be made not
alone for the benefit of the comparatively
few permanent residents, but for the much
greater number of American citizens who
have a just pride in seeing that the capital
of the United States is made worthy of
the advancing power and taste of the
people.
Primarily the Seat of Government.
Primarily, however, the District of CO.
4@I &c.
ernment Of the United States. The city of
Washington. it's public buildings, its parks
and driveways, its great library, even it's
municipal government, all are maintained
to serve the purposes of the national legis-
lature and of those portions Of the eXecu-
tive and judicial branches of the govern
ment which must be located at the capital.
OF late a theory has been put forth that
the federal government simply finds local
habitation in the city Of Washington, Dis
trict Of Columbia, and that there is a re-
ciprocal relation between the government
on the one hand and the municipality on
the other. This view has support neither
in the Constitution nor in history. Indeed,
the capital was removed from New York
and Philadelphia for the very purpose Of
giving to Congress exclusive jurisdiction
over any territory which might be selected
as the seat Of government: and neither
Washington nor Jefferson, L'Enfant nor
Ellicott ever had even a suspicion that they
were not planning a city which in all it's
features should be the expression of the
stability, the dignity, the taste, and the
wealth Of the government of the people of
the United States So that while the Dis
trict Of Columbia may offer attractions to
private citizens or opportunities to busi-
ness and professional men, the District is,
first Of all. the abiding-place of the high
est representatives of the people. and its
development should be prosecuted in ac-
cordance with this fact.
Improvement Long Contemplated.
The work of Improvement is by no means
a new enterprise. For years Congress has
been laying the foundations. Those very
necessary measures of civic housekeeping
a perfect sewer system and an adequate
supply of pure water, are rapidly nearing
completion; and lands have been either
purchased or reclaimed for all the larger
parks so that what now remains to be
done is to develop areas already possessed,
and to make suitable connections among
them. The city that L'Enfant planned has
outgrown it's boundaries, and now the task
is to extend to the entire District of Co
lumbia as comprehensive and as well-con-
sidered treatment as he gave to the for
ests and plains with which he was called
to deal.
In a former paper the Senate park COM
missions scheme for the treatment of the
Mall and the Monument grounds so
as to restore the axial relations planned
by L'Enfant was outlined. Leading from
the Lincoln memorial site, the western
end of the Monument grounds, the i'm
provement plans contemplate roadway
skirting the Potomac and carried on
higher level than the wharves. so that one
may look down on the busy and interesting
scene of commercial activity. On reaching
Rock creek, the driveway turns up the
valley and skirts the stream, while the
street cars and the general traffic continue
to be carried on bridges spanning the mar
row ravine. and the great thoroughfares of
Massachusetts and Connecticut avenues
cross the valley on stone viaducts already
in process of construction.
The Rock Greek Parks.
Two miles of parkway bring one to the
Geological Park, Il well-developed tract of
40 acres, where the Smithsonian Institution
aims to preserve specimens of those ami
mails which advancing civilization threatens
with destruction. Adjoining the Geological
Park is the Rock Creek Park. throughout
the length Of which a single road winds
along one bank Of the stream to the bOun-
Diary Of the District. Across the park run i
few country roads; and on it's wooded knobs
stand a few ancient stone houses, among
them the Kingle place, one of the owners
Of which, on his wedding night returned to
town on an errand. and, within sight of
<ha Eol,t nd hear 0f ha of he