Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-19
PARK PLANSAP PROVED
Architects ofthe Country Urge
Executiongof' the Project.
APPEAL :: FOR 9. ACTION
A STATEMENT OF THE WHOLE
CASE NOW ISSUED. P
Senator Newlands' Bill to Prevent Mall
Encroachment In
dorsed.

A marked degree of interest is displayed
proposals now under consideration for the
emplacement of public buildings in this
city, and strong effort is being made by
the American Institute Of Architects to Sc
cure early adoption of the plans filed by
the Senate's park commission. Especial
stress is laid just at present on the effort
to prevent the immediate infracton of
those plans in the placing Of the new build
ing for the Department of Agriculture in
such a manner as to trespass upon the lines
laid down by the commission for the de-
velopment of the mall A statement of
the whole case has been prepared and is
now being circulated among the architects
of the country over the signatures of w. S.
Eames of st. Louis and Glenn Brown Of
Washington, as president and secretary,
respectively, of the American Institute of
Architects, acting thus by order OF the
follows:
Several years ago the Senate committee
on the District of Columbia appointed a
commission to study and report on the i'm
provement of the District of Columbia. The
first intimation the members of the COM
mission received of the work before them
was their appointment; and as tie problem
was new to them, they realized that the
pO6hAiAh6 ohVoiu NC d Noiipeeioh VI iiiFSoti-
CATION ''6
First, to discover the limits of the work
to be undertaken, and the actual condt-
ton of the city and surrounding country.
Second, to study the various suggestions
that had been previously made.
Third, to investigate similar work in Eu-
rope.
Fourth to secure and examine the litera-
ture bearing upon the subject, to discover
who had already studied the city and it's
buildings most thoroughly, and to discuss
the various points of importance with
them.
During a year and half the commission
zealously and without remuneration pur-
sued the system of study outlined. and Ii
owes much 10 the friendly suggestions ana
advice received both in this country and
abroad.
Tribute to Senator Mcmillan.
The members Of the commission were at
first unacquainted with the officials in
Washington with whom they must act, and
were pleased to find exceptional men with
deep sympathy inthe work who, instead OF
debating, opened the door for the most
thorough investigation and stood guard
that the commission might be free to exer-
else its best judgment. The aid Senator
Mcmillan gave was of the rarest quality.
1t would have been truly difficult to find
more fitting man than Senator Mcmillan TO
represent the government; with great
wealth, having managed the affairs of
great industries. his long term in the Sem
ate, his knowledge of public affairs and his
thorough acquaintance with the District Of
Columbia and its needs all pointed to him
as the fit representative of the government
in the movement. His enthusiastic aim
was that the very best results should be
attained 5S1f ~
Over and over again in the hstofyoof our
country the pursuit of great ends has de-
veloped the spirit of harmony so essential
to accomplishment. Politically this spirit
was shown in the wars of 17I6, 1851 and
1898. To accomplish artistic results this
same spirit was manifested in the worlds
fair in Chicago At the first meeting of
the artists who were to design the Column
bian exposition the spirit Of brotherhood
was manifested. This spirit inclines one 10
look forward with pleasure to the good re-
suits produced by another, creates a readi-
ness to give and receive instruction and to
subordinate self for the good of the final
result. This was the secret of success dt
Chicago, and the secret of the success
which il is expected will be attained in the
work of the rark commission
An Ideal Situation.
In studying the topography of the city
and its surroundings, the breadth and mag
nificent possibilities of the problem were
quickly appreciated; before the eye opened
a great amphitheater formed by hills, with
the beautiful city in the valley and two
splendid rivers encircling the site-nothing
could be more inviting to an artistic mind
journey down the Potomac and UP the
James, where many of the old conditions
remain, was OF great value. as it put the
commission more clearly in touch with the
spirit of the founders of Washington city
In attacking new problem the first tend
ency is to solve 1t on new and startling
lines, but study proves that no lasting
suits are attained by things new and star
Ting. Art is a gradual growth The strong
est man does the best work with the means
already provided
,aI Il
city and park landscape in Europe, the
commissioners returned home prepared to
formulate scheme for the development of
the District of Columbia
1t surprising to find how broadly
and thoroughly Washington and l. Enfant
had grasped the subject. This is clearly
shown in the skeleton map of the city
which they have left us. After careful
study and consideration it was thought
best to adopt the broad principles of Pres
ident Washington's scheme.
Personnel of the Commission.
This decision when the character and
ability of the commission are taken into
consideration, should have the greatest
weight with the country. 1t is we'll to note
the character of work which has qualified
the commission to speak with authority
ID. H. Burnham, director of building and
landscape of the Columbian exposition,
Chicago, chairman of the group plan of
Cleveland and of the park commission for
improvement of the water front in Chi
cago; architect for the Pennsylvania sta
lions in Washington and Pittsburg c. F.
McKim, architect of the Boston Library.
Madison Square Garden, Columbia College
group, New York; the new PENNSYLVANIA
station, New York; gold medal conferred
upon him by King Edward for distinguish
ed merit in architecture, the most distin-
guished honor that Is conferred upon an
architect, and only conferred after a thor
ough canvass Of the Individual work ac-
complished by the recipient
Augustus ST. Gaudens, the most noted
American sculptor-who is acknowledged
by all people of culture as one of if not
the leading sculptor of the world TODAY
We may mention the Shaw monument.
Boston; the Sherman and Farragut monu-
ments, New York, and the Adams tomb.
Washington. as examples of his work
Many honors have been conferred upon
him by foreign countries
f. L. Olmsted jr.-H is sufficient to saw
that MIR. Olmsted Is member of the firm
who had charge of Franklin and other
parks in Boston, Central and other parks in
New York. Biltmore, North Carolina, Belle
Isle Park, Detroit. Washington and jackson
Parks. Chicago. Washington Square Balti-
more. and parks in other cities from Maine
to California.
The four commissioners were on the board
of works at the Columbian exposition. Chi
cago Mr. Burnham and Mr. McKim are
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