Evening star., 1902-01-15

distribution OF the L Enfant plan, with such
enlargements as the conditions of today
have made desirable. The areas adjoining
b streets north and south. averaging more
than 400 feet in width from the Capitol to
the monument. afford spacious sites for the
great museums and those buildings devoted
to scientific purposes.
The axis of the Capitol and the monu-
ment is clearly defined by an avenue
mile and half in length, 900 feet broad.
walled on either side by elms planted In
formal professions. four abreast. This
avenue. differing from the great thorough
fares. becomes a long eXpanse OF undulat-
ing green bordered by shaded roads. park
like in character. Beneath the shade of the
supporting rows of elms one may walk or
drive between the monument and Capitol
protected from the sun. These two plan
tations of elms traversed by paths are SINH
lar In character to the mall, which is
justly regarded as the most beautiful fea-
ture of Central Park in the city of New
York.
THE American elm was chosen because
of its architectural character and because
In the District of Columbia this tree is at
its best, notable examples being found
In the Capitol grounds.
The CrOss-Axis Of the Mall.
"The area included between 7th and 9th
streets, bisecting the mall. naturally form
the city and the river front, should be
treated as such. This treatment, neces-
sary because of the city traffic. also serves
to relieve the monotony of the great length
of the mall; and the space when laid out
as garden will become a great resting
place for the thousands of people who live
In its immediate neighborhood.
For the proposed new National Museum
building no finer or more commanding site
can be selected than the square fronting on
B street south, where the gentle elevation
Of the ground affords opportunity Tor
structure that shall dominate this subordl-
nate cross-axis Of the mall.
Pennsylvania Avenue Division.
''The area included between Pennsylvania
avenue and B street north as extended is
now so used and occupied as to be blot
| upon the city. The direction Of Pennsyl-
vania avenue creates diagonal fronts In the
case of a number of the blocks facing on
that thoroughfare; and this fact, taken In
| connection with the further fact that the
north side of Pennsylvania avenue presents
| an irregular cornice line tand must do SO
| pied), makes 1t impossible to attain archi-
| tectural symmetry. The northern side of
| Pennsylvania avenue is devoted to the bus
| mess or the city, and, therefore, the con-
| tiEued location within the area south Of
| the avenue of that certain class of public
| buildings adapted to the business uses OF
| the citizens seems desirable.
| Because the space between Gth and 9th
| streets face upon square, is midway be-
| tween the Capitol and the White House.
and at the conveyance of those streets and
| avenues where business is concentrated
| public opinion has long marked IL as the
| proper site for the much-needed District
| building. In fact, the District has already
| acquired for this purpose the space be-
tween the avenue and the front of the pres
| ent Center market, and Congress has re-
| tanned an option to the purchase of the re-
! naming area
| Providing for Center Market.
| I'm order to install the great Center mar
! ket of the city within a territory adequate
| to enable the business to be conducted
within the market itself without encroach-
| ing upon the public thoroughfares, the en-
| tire triangle bounded by Pennsylvania and
| Louisiana avenues and 11th street has been
set aside. The new market should be con-
| structed with streets running through it, as
| in the admirable examples at Paris, Buda-
| pest and other cities of continental Europe.
| In this way the market will become an
| architectural feature of the avenue, pro-
| tected by law against those outlying in
vasions Of the streets and walks from
| which We in this country have so long suf-
| fered but which have been successfully
overcome in Europe.
| THE post office building, already too
| small for the business of the department
which it temporarily houses, should be de-
| voted to the needs of the local post office
| and to those bureaus that are awaiting
! such development as in time will call for
| individual buildings. The Post Office De-
| partment proper should occupy a separate
building.
The proposed hall of records. requiring
| a large storage space and location in
proximity to the departments might prop
ely occupy portion of the area between
| 18th and 14th streets, while that between
14th and 18th streets, extending from the
avenue to B street, would accommodate an
armory for the brigade of the District
militia. The armory building should be
| the proper frame for the White Lot, inn
mediately to the west, and the principal
entrance to this building should be op-
posite the center of the circle, which has
| been set apart as the great drill ground
of the District.
Treatment for Minor Areas.
''The triangular area included between
Maryland avenue and street south, and
extending from 4th to 18th street south,
corresponding to the space south Of Penn
sylvania avenue, offers opportunities for
additional sites for public buildings Of a
minor character or it may be treated as
| additional park space. as the demands may
determine. In a similar manner the
| lozenge-shaped space between New York
| avenue and B and 32d streets may be
treated.
"The triangle west Of 18th street extend
| ed and Immediately adjoining the Potomac c
river, is intended to be treated as wood,
laid out with alleys after the manner OK
Lenotre, from whose works L'Enfam drew
| inspiration. Under this treatment q por-