The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-02
Lafayette Square Property
Owners Make Argument.
STICK TO L'ENFANT'S IDEA

Would Dwarf White HOuse and After
Entire Original Scheme for Capitals
Development.
Formal objection 30 the proposed cen
demnatlcn Of the property fronting on
Lafayette Square as the site Cor the new
State and Justice Department building
vas filed today with the Senate Commit
tee on Public buildings and Grounds. The
committee having decided-to consider full
argument, the DIRECTORS to the oondemna-
tiOn Of square 167 filed complete witt
ten summary Of their reasons. They pro-
duce the old maps and show that the
commissions plan abandons the archttec-
tural development Of the region, or axis
between the Monument and the White
House. as 1t was intended TO be developed
by General Washington arr Major I'm
FAINT, who made the National Capitals
plan
Effect on White House
In the old plans the Presidents house
is placed at the head OF this axis and
public buildings are located on the south
=
view from the White House toward the
Monument. The directors show that the
Treasury Department and State Depart
ment have been built with a viw TO this
plan and that their grade on Pennsylvania
Avenue is too low TO permit public build
ing TO be placed TO the norta OF them
They contend that public buildings around
Lafayette Square would be merely a for
NAL quadrilateral and would dwarf the
White House.
The old plan with the buildings all
south subordinate. everything 10 the
White House, which is made the head OF
the axis.
The property owners show that the ne
cessary grading to bring the White House
region up TO proper level would cost
only about 81 500 600 as compared with the
cost Of the six squares around Lafayette
Square. aggregatlng 81. d00. 000, leaving a
large saving in favor Of using the sites
originally contemplated for public build
ings.
Would Cloud Property Titles.
They mention other considerations. such
as the cloud that viii hang over the re-
naming five squares around Lafayette
Park for twenty-five or seventy-hve yearc.
after the taking Of one Of them. whereby
all real estate in the remaining 1--WE blocks
embarrassed.
Attention is called to the fact that the
Park Commissioners plan will remove all
the trees IN Lafayette Square, bat the
greatest emphasis is laid on the superior
ity Of the Enfant and Washington plan,
from an artistic standpoint because fl
creates and preserves a magnificent vista
with the Monument at one end and the
White House az the head. which axis OF
line Of view should be developed with
-the grandeur. power and dignifed mag
nifcence Of architecture"
L'Enfant's Plan Changed.
The general impression that the ParE
Commission has merely carried out the old
plan OF the city is opposed by this argu-
ment, showing that most material varia-
tions are proposed. The engraved plan
Of the city. as approved by General
Washington IN 1872. shows the White
House at the head Of the axis. with pub
lie buildings framing the vista 10 the
south The Park Commission proposes
70 give this region over to trees and
grass and to coudem squares I67. l65
l55. 200. Zl9 and 22I. being the six SQUARES
west. northwest. north. northeast and east
OF lafayette Square. The White House
would stand on the south side CT this
qDaafliateral and cut of the view 20 The
south. and there would De no archife-t,rra1
development Of the great line OF view
between the White House and Monument
as INTENDED BY Major LTnfsnt and Gen
eral Washington
L'EHfant and Washington first selected
the best points for the White Houee
They went over the Topography OF IN
"nole District. and were free TO select any
point they desired The point they did
select was, in their judgment. most conn
1ahalng. with a noble view towards the
river, which view they intended to de-
Velop and adOrn with great department
buildings. All OF the old maps. h is stat
ed, show this very clearly.
Reasons Asked for Change.
The objoetors urge that square 1s7
should not be taken until the commission
gives some good reason for the radical
change proposed. It is stated that there
IS no explanation or reasons given in the
report for the changes from the old plan
and that a careful perusal OF the report
OF the Commission reveals no enthusiasm
for the proposed condemnations around
Lafayette Square.
The argument further shows that thin
proposed change IS inconsistent witt
opinions heretofore expressed BY Mr.. dim.
sted, OF the commission and also som,
of the best work Of Mr. Burnham. who
has made application OF the vista pIau
with the best artistic results.
Property Owners Represented.
The argument is submitted in behalf OF
Mrs Beale. widow OF General Edward F.
Beale; Mrs Lee. widow Of Admiral Lee.
Mrs. Reed. sister OF Rear Admiral Dahl
gren; Mrs Mary J. Blair. widow OF James
l. Blair: Mrs. Ellen Parke. widow Of Cen
eral John G. Parke; Mrs. Mary c. Morris
whose husband. Captain Morris. com
manded the frigate Cumberland in the
tight with the Merrimac; Minna Blair
Richey, daughter OF the late Montgomery
Blair.
All Of those ladies reside in square 1e7,
and are among the property holders who
OPPOSE the suggesfed changes