The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-07
CAP |T0L SQUARE
W|LL Be A DREAM R !. L
Identifying Commission Secures
Services Of Landscape Gar
dcner Of Reputation.
HAS CHARGE IN WASHING ON
Will Submit Plans for Grading
and Rclaying Walks and Paw
inc Them WitllrBitulithic. if

The legislative commission named to
look after bcautifying the Capitol grounds,
and running anew the walks therein, met
in Governor Swanson's Office yesterday.
and set on foot plans to- make the his
toric Square one OF the most bcautllni
and attractive State parks in the South.
Governor Swanson, who is ex-otlicio
chairman or the joint commission, occu-
pied the chair aid Senator 4. G. 1far-
mon.5 Of tits city,eucted rs secretary.
Major NJ. NJ. Green of Fauquicr, and
Senator William Stands. of Southampton.
were also present. Hon. D. III. Pitts, oil
Albemarlc, the only absentee, being de-
tanned at his home by sickness.
Willie the proposed work is all yet in
the embryo State still it was well out
lined. and will be carried forward as
rapidly as possible.
Mr. George w. Brown, the lanscape
Gardner OF the United states government,
who has charge of keeping the grounds
at the National Capital in order, was
present at the instance of the commits
sion, ana his advice was followed in
most instances. except where the limited
appropriation (s2ONO forbade.
Major Green made a special trip to
Washington and got tho permission OF
the authorities there for Mr.. Brown to
come here and advise with the commits
sion.
Will Bring Engineer.
lie was finally engaged to submit plans,
and specifications In conformity With an
outline agreed upon, and he will return
to Washington and begin upon them.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Brown will return here,
with a typographical engineer to mako
a complete survey of the entire Square.
Mr.. Brown will submit his plans and
specifications to the commission Mt a
special meeting which will be called
Py Governor Swanson as soon as he
shall have completed them, and competa-
tive bids for tho work will be asked on
these plans If they are approved. 1t
is likely in the latter event, that ..Ir.
work to see that It Is properly executed,
1t is tho present purpose of the COM
mttee to lay all the walks with bitu-
llthic pavenent,sand to change the whole
scheme of their present location,
\ splendid driveway will be made from
the western entrance of tho square to- the
main southern entrance, ana possibly
around the entire building
Will Abandon Some.
Many of the present minor walkways
will be abandoned, and the entire square
regarded and II now scheme OF wakes
laid out II is more than likely that tho
iron fence will be removed from around
the Washington Monument, though for
the present. at least, the old bell house
!, will remain intact. There was talk in
The meeting of removing the entire
capitol fence, but tho present nppropril-
ton viii not permit this, Mr.. Brown Is
considered tho finest and most accom-
plishcd landscape gardner in this cotln-.
try, ana his supervised work ut cnpitols
OF Massachusetts, New York. Maryland
and many other states with the consent
Of Tho authorities nj Wnshngtnll,
Moml"rs Of thq&commission arc greatly
rloascd nj having secured his services,
and they believe under his advice the old
grounds viii be made beautiful to look
upon. They feel sure the entire work can
lie completed by October. some of tue
old, half dead trees will probably be
feiicd and other improvements not here
IN mentioned viii suggest themselves as
tho work OF Identifying progresses