Evening star., 1902-01-15

acquired with the view to the construction
of a road and such other means OF making
the water front available as the develop
ment of the back country may ultimately
require.
Along the Anacostia, from Giesboro'
Point to Massachusetts avenue, there Is
wide margin of flats which must be re-
claimed as discussed in connection with the
Anacostia Park. The greater part of the
reclaimed lands will best serve the interests
of the community if utilized for commercial
purposes under private ownership, but the
portion in front of the government hospital
should be added to the grounds Of that in
stitusion.
On the Washington Side.
'On the Washington side of the Anacos-
tia river 1t Is equally important that the
permanent public control of the water front
should be made part of the channel i'm
provement and that a consistent compre-
hensive project should be adopted for its
treatment in connection with the improve
ment of the western water front along
Washington channel, recently brought un-
der public control by the decision of the
courts.
Potomac Park should be treated with
great open meadows fringed by trees along
tho water" OF the Memorial prluge the
report says:
1.-THE commission recommends that when
an appropriation comes to be made the 10
cation should be changed so as to begin the
Washington approach at the Lincoln memo
rial site. and that the direction of the
bridge should be straight line to the Ar
lington mansion. The extreme width of
~ across which tffe bridge is to be
constructed and the comparatively fat to-
~, ..ly would seem to make q high
bridge inappropriate, and unless the clear
ance is at least eighty feet the bridge must
have a draw, since to shut of the harbor
of Georgetown would appear to be lnadvlsa-
bic. The construction Of draw precludes
the idea of a bridge of masonry, which is
the highest type of a monumental struct-
! ure. A continuous steel bridge, resting on
stone piers. would be much more dignified
than bridge composed in part of arches
and in part of draws, which would seem to
cut the bridge into two portions in mid
channel. 1t Is better to meet the exigencies
of the problem In an entirely frank manner,
and to accept inexorable conditions, rather
| than attempt disguise or subterfuge. If a
bridge entirely of masonry arches could be
constructed, then the commission unhesf-
| tatingly would approve such design, but
since that consummation is beyond reach,
! then architectural candor demands steel
bridge on masonry piers.
1.-THE monumental portion of the bridge
| should reach from the Washington bank
| to Analostan Island. where a great con-
| course to carry some great design in sculp-
ture should be constructed From the ISL
| and to the Virginia shore the bridge may
! be more simple in treatment.
| AnaIOstan Island.
| "Analostan Island, about eighty-eight
| acres in extent. lies on the westerly side OF
| the Potomac opposite the axis of the mall
| and south of Georgetown. 1t is long, mar
| row, triangular, swampy island and sand
bar, with it's smaller end down stream
| Covered in part by trees and in part by
| sedges and water plants, it forms an i'm
| portant and beautiful part of all the views
| over the Potomac, and should not be per
| mitted to come into disagreeable occupancy
| Add to this that it will be crossed by the
proposed memorial bridge and thus rem
| dered directly accessible, and it seems q
| very desirable and inexpensive addition tC
| the park system"
| The commission approves the project oi
| connecting this city with Mount Vernon by
| a boulevard. They recommend line No {
| discussed in Col. Hams report, with a few
notifications. While the construction OF
| this boulevard might be delayed, the land
for 1t should be secured at once.
Improving the Mall.
The Improvement of the mall is discussed
| in great detail. L'Enfant's plan for this
improvement is reviewed and the report
says:
"The grounds pertaining to the Capitol
were laid out originally to stand four
square with the rectilnear street system
of the city Since 1903, when Thornton
| marked the boundaries of these grounds
innovations, resulting in various curved
projections, have SO complicated the origi-
nal plans, especially on the western side
as to make necessary the removal of the
Bulhnch gates and fence, which so strong.
| ly~ emphasized the original frontage OF
1900 feet, that Is also the width of the
| mall. The restoration of this original fea-
ture of the Capitol design and the con.
! struction of terrace 1000 feet in width
form natural base, affording the broadest
possible support to the supermposed
structure, which, resting upon this base
a plinth, gains an apparent addi.
tional height of 40 feet.
1.-The slope from the upper terrace to 1st
street west should be relieved and enriched
by basins and fountains in which the
water. falling from one level to another
is poured finally into great central basin
at the street level. So L'Enfant intended
in his plan for a grand cascade formed OF
the water from the sources of the Tiber.
Union Square.
"On the western side Of the Capitol
grounds, where Pennsylvania and Mary
land avenues converge, the L'Enfant plan
shows a public walk, through which car
riages may ascend to the upper square OF
the federal house According to the plans
now submitted this great place of converg-
ence. the Capitol, is approached through a
concourse in the form of rectangle LOCO
feet long by $50 feet in width, its width
being measured by the terrace above de-
scribed. its length by two public buildings
to stand as sentinels to the Capitol. This
area. relieved by plots of green. forms the
connection between the Capitol grounds
and the mall system.
'"rhis great area, with It's parterres OF
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