The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-23
A BETTER IF NOT A
GREATER WASHINGTON.

GREATER WASHINGTON.
The project revived at this session Of
Congress TO purchase all the land in the
city of Washington lying between Penn
sylyania avenue. the Mall, and Fifteenth
street, to the end of greatly beautifying
the city and bringing architectural
harmony out of the present condition Of
something like chaos, opens subject
that has striking possibilities. II is pro-
posed that. for the present. the buildings
now occupying the land in question shall
be RACED and the land converted into a
park extending from Pennsylvania avenue
TO the Potomac River Ultimately, such
public buildings as are needed for the
business of the government shall be
erected thereon.
This plan, or something like it, has
received popular and public Endorsement
for years. The one thing that has stood
in the way of its full realization has
been the reluctance of Congress to appro-
pirate the money necessary The whole
subject is such a large one. SO eompre-
hensive in its possibilities. and of such
direct interest to the whole people OF the
United States, that it deserves far more
prolonged and more thoughtful and seri-
Gus consideration than IT has received.
The plan of purchasing the land south
Of Pennsylvania avenue is not nearly so
expensive d way as might seem at first
blush. Real estate men have figured that
the solid contents of the land included in
the plan comprise some 2,S5IZi2 square
feet. OF this the government already owns
g5S.65g square feet in blocks and buildings,
and streets and alleyways take up l2i5.-
lSS square feet. This leaves only Llsg.Si2
square feet to be purchased.
Here, more than any place else. should
be the model city of the United states
Here millions of dollars have been cX-
pended for buildings Of great architcc-
tural beauty in which the business "f
the government. the work fo- the pvo-
pie. paid for by the people, is conducted.
1t is right and proper that these buildings
should be worthy of the nation which Is
in the forefront Of the naGous-an eX-
emplar 10 all.
Washington is the mecca of the Amer
lean people No citizen Of q hamlet, now
soever remote. but has his attention early
directed to this, the seat Of government
ana most Of the citizens of this land deem
il duty-as they should find Il pleas
ure-tO come here at some time in their
lives and see where their busiuss Is con-
Quoted and how worthily their public ser
wants are cared for.
No other city in America but has been
cursed al some time in its career with the
blight of party politics. Few cities have
been able TO elect officers who are not
more or less deeply pledged 70 private in
terests. which. being cared for, must mil
itate against the public good. Here We
are free from that our municipal gov
crnment has no friends 10 placate, no
party ends to serve il the granting of
public franchises; 10 reasons TO advance
why in all that makes for the public
veal Washington should not have the
best. And it ought to be the best, Even
the greatest enemy OF psternal govern
ment. or any tendency that way, could
not object to any reasonable expenditure
which the government should authorize
to make this, the Capital. the model city
of the land.
great nations OF the earth. here are the
peoples representatives and hither come
the people themselves. No one can fail
to carry away from Washington rs 1t is
a splendid enthusiasm and u higher feel
ing of Americanisn. Here they and q
library. second 70 none in the wide world;
a Capitol. massive. artistic. and d;gnitied
betting the nation whose laws are made
there. They find wide streets, beautiful
parks and noble monuments and. or
every hand statues Of the men who bulk
large in the nations glorious history.
These things surely work good for the
benefit of the whole nation, and the feel
ings they inspire 90 to the making OF
better citizens; of men who, returning
hence to their homes in the West or
North. or East or South. carry with them
a feeling of pride that this is their city.
Logically. then. Washington should be
a high example in municipal government
Here should be not only the capital Of
the nation. but the best-g0verned, best
ordered city. We spend vast sums of
money in our Agricultural Department to
select the best seeds for the farmer to
grow; we spend other sums caring for
the American forests. for our fisheries,
for the animal industry. for collecting
data from consuls abroad. and dissent
mating it to those interested. Why not
spend money in making not only the most
beautiful. but the best lighted city, the
city with most parks, the city with clean
est streets, best transportation facilities
best schools, best everything? Make it a
city where the suffering attendant on
poverty is reduced 20 a minimum, where
the aids TO culture are easily accessible
where, through cleanliness. decency Of
government, and maintenance of order
the highest degree of happiness is obtain
able.
Washington. the model city, That is
the object lesson that the nation could
so easily hold out. With our vast riches
and by pampering no one. the work could
be done, and its result would be that all
through the land, cities would be bettered
and citizens benefited With the high ex-
ample Of a model Washington before
them. the sharks who thrive on municipal
graft would find their occupation gone;
the people knowing the best and how
easy it was Of attainment would be
satisfied with no less and would follow in
the way we led.
ARMY AND NAVY.