Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-14
FOUNTAINS OF WASHINGTON.
So Numerous That the Average Resi-
dent Hardly Notices Them.

A visitor paused In the small triangle at
Pennsylvania avenue and 18th street on a
sunny afternoon recently, and. watching
the diamond-like spray from the pretty
bell-shaped fountain In its center flashing
In the bright sunlight said to a resident:
IF we had such.a beautiful little garden
spot with fountain In the center of my
town we would do the point-with pride act
for sure. 1 don't suppose you folks notice
it here at ALL.
Scarcely" responded the Washingtonian.
because, mainly we have so many Of them
in different parts of the city. and, further,
because we have so many larger and more
beautiful ones
There are thirty fountains in the reser-
yationS or, you will better understand
1t, in the various small and large city parks
! of the capital and there are very few cit
les and certainly none the size of the cap
ital, which can boast OF thirty fountains
which play every day. These fountains are
of the features of our city life, and. to
my mind one of the most attractive of the
many superior features of Washington over
other cities. You will find them scattered
all over in the various sections of the city,
though perhaps they are more frequently
met with in the northwest. If that board
fence which obscures a similar triangle on
the other side of Pennsylvania avenue. and
behind which the city hall is going up,
were removed you would another tri-
angle like this one, with fountain in the
center. A solid column of water is spout
ed, however, and it is not as pretty as this
diminutive water sunburst, which, to my
mind, is one of the prettest water-sprays
in Washington, despite It's smallness
mo, | cannot tell you the total quantity
of water spouted daily by the thirty or
more fountains in Washington. l have not
included the bronze figure fountain at the
base of the steps of the Congressional
Library In my enumeration and which Is
one of the largest and best-known In the
EO into tnu
ask and one which the casual observer
might think could be readily answered, but
1t Is not known, for the reason that meas
urements of discharge have not been made
In many years. 1t must, however. be suf-
ficiently large to supply good sized COM
munity with water supply. for, so far as
am aware. the fountains don't kick as to
working hours, and spout night and day.
Yes" he continued. in reply to ques-
ton, perhaps the visitor, and the average
resident, too. would suppose that our
| largest fountain was the Bartholdt. which
graces the center of the lawn In the Botan-
| ical Gardens. but it isn't. except in point Of
| size of the bronze structure and figures
Our biggest water spouter and largest
| sprayer OF crystal drops for the edlfcation
OF resident and visitor alike Is the fountain
| in the basin in the south grounds Of the
White House, and a water-splasher 1t is
| one of the largest in this country. There Is
also large and beautifully arranged foun-
| tain in front OF the White House. In the
| north grounds. And. by the way. the foun-
| tain effect of one OF these superior park
| ornaments in Central Park. in New York,
| Is lost because of insufficient bursting water
effect. Another fountain one of the most
| artistic In this country. and designed by a
| lady whose name I do not now recall Is
| situated at the base OF the famous stone
/ steps at the end of the mall You see, in
| Washington we believe In letting the water
| flow freely. In fact, one of the conspic-
| nous features about fountains In American
| cities IL the absence of water-they are out
/ of order or the supply Is insufficient, or
/ some other reason exists for the absence of
| water. so only the effect of the bronze work
| Is apparent No such difficulty exists In
| this city"