The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-03
Park Commission Ideas
Embodied in Laws
of Past Session,
BUILDINGS FOR THE MALL
Potomac Park aud Anacostia Flats In
proveme1ts-Union Station Scheme
Not Abandoned-EitheI Site Known
to Be Acceptable TO Both Parties.


Friends Of the Park Commission plans
for the Identification Of the future
Washington express themselves as en-
tirely pleased with the local legislation
of the session just passed as far as it
ia any way affects the plans
One or two Senator's and Representa-
tives have said during the session that
they DO not favor the plans Senator
Hale's speeches against them were the
most widely quoted from the Senate end
OF the Capitol Friends Of the plans
say, however. that this opposition IS
not in any way remarkable They. point
out shat the scheme is a vast and at
first perhaps startling one. and that
it would be more remarkable il there
were no opposition
Working Out Naturally.
As against the speeches Of Senator
Hale and others TIE conspicuous fact
is noted that every important building
bill or other measure affecting the
growth of the city during the past ses-
sion has been in harmony with the
plans This the Park Commission advo-
Gates say means that it is already work
ing out practically. though quietly along
natural lines.
The Agricultural Department building
is not yet provided Tor, but it is not
doubted that :, viii be The building is
10 be situated in the Mall in accordance
with the Commission plan and its con
Inn ND ry4-f4 nv Ela IS,
harmony with the plan.
The Smithsonian Building
The Smithsonian building is provided
for. also on the Mall The building de-
scribed in the recent legislation Is to
be of terra Gotta but white marble
structure Is expected to re the result OF
the final legislation
The Aaaccstia fats Improvement is one
OF the chief Of the Park Commission
projects. Congress has now appropri-
ated $4,000 10 begin the work on lines
that viii involve the expenditure OF 81
100000 and the most complete and per
feet solution CT the fats problem.
The District Building is 20 be located
south OF Pennsylvania Avenue. and viii
be the first step toward carrying out
the project OF making this en.Ire section
public property. The building viii be q
handsome one.
Potomac Park Improvements.
The appropriation Of $4,000 for Po-
tomae Park IS a long step toward the
Parking Commissions plan not so much
because of the sum Of money to be ex-
pended, but because Il IS beginning
and a recognition Of Congress Of the
necessity for this Improvement. The
improvements CT the park are 10 be en-
tirely in harmony with the Commits
sion 5 plan, although there was al first
an erroneous idea that they marked a
departure.
The increase in the limit of cost for
the highway bridge viii allow Of a
much finer structure than was az first
contemplated
The White House improvements have
been designed aud viii be executed prac-
tically under the supervision OF the
Commission They VIII cost a third OF q
million dollars.
Plans for Both Sites.
The union station bill did not becT-g
law during the session just ended, tut
It is stated on good authority thai the
railways win not begin their eIlmina-
ton Of grade crossings under the pres
ent law, because Of the almost certainty
that the union station in some form wiz
lie provided 70. next year Either the
Massachusetts Avenue site or the c
street site for the station would be IN
accordance with the plans Of the Com
mission, and buildings have been
planned for both sites By Mr. Durham.
the architect of the Pennsylvania Rail
road. who is also one Of the Commits
sion.
Height Of Buildings.
The GrsEt memorial 10 be placed in
the Botanical Gardens IS in complete
harmony with the Parking Commissions
idea The Lincoln memorial is one Of
the Commissions plans.
The bill regulating the height Of
buildings did not become a law, though
passed BY both houses in different
forms Il viii be one OF he first bills
10 &c through at the next session. IN
accord with the spirit OF this bill the
District Commissioners Intend 10 use
their discretion during the coming
year in preventing the erection OF any
structures near public buildings that
viii not harmonic with them. The
projectors Of the building At the corner
Of Pennsylvania avenue, C and Seven
Ieenth Streets. have consented 20 re-
duce the height Of the structure first
intended by one story, and II s not con
sideTed that it viii in anyway destroy
the beauty Of the State, War and Navy
building or Confsct with the plan ulJi-
mately 70 Eli thfs entire section with
public buildings
Important Measures Defeated.
These are In brief the steps actually
taken up to the present tine in fur
therance Of the big Park Commission
scheme. a number Of bills introduced
during the past session, which would
have been acceptable to the friends OF
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