Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-05

enhance its charm. should be enough to
confu;e forever the projectors of the forced
artificial and unnatural plans with which
they hope to disfigure the Mall, which
should be the greatest beauty of Washing
ton. Year by year, under the care of de-
voted ard skillful men with a true apprecia-
tion of art and nature. 1t has become more
and more beautiful, giving distinction to the
city shared by no other on earth-surpass-
ing the cramped Champs Elysees. with its
dwarfed trees. as Central Park surpasses
the Bois de Boulogne. and Rock Creek
Park will SurpaSS both.
The ak is ready to strike the first blow at
the historic trees in the Botanic Gardens.
If this, as declared. is the first step in the
campaign of vandalism, looking to the de-
struction of one of Washingtons greatest
beauties the time has come for those to in
terfere who truly love the city and have at
heart its future as the most beautiful city
of the world.
Statement by Capt. Poole.
Capt John Fl. Poole of the Corps of En-
Slneers. who is superintendent of the State
War and Navy building is now acting as
executive officer of the Grant monument
commission. He holds that position by
virtue OF the fact that he is temporarily
in charge of public buildings and grounds
during the absence of Col. G. S. Bromwell.
who is IN Athens making an inspection of
the Grecian army. 1t is by the orders of
ing out the lines on the site selected for the
Grant monument in the Botanic Gardens
preparatory to building the foundation for
that structure.
.n conversation today with a Star re-
porter Capt. Poole admitted that the
building of the monument on the site Sc
leCted would neCesstate the removal of
historical treas. including the "Crittenden
peace tree. That was a matter of per-
sonal regret to him. he said, but the fact
is he had discretion whatever in the
premises and is simply carrying out the
law of Congress as construed by the Grant
monument commission. He explained that
the memorial to Gen. Grant was authorized
by Congress in the act of June %. 1902,
which appropriated the sum of SJO,OON. and
authorized the Grant monument commits
sion to select a suitable site and to con-
tract for the construction of the memorial,
the total cost of which was limited to
$4,000. Under the authority of that act.
the monument commission made a contract
in August. 1903. with Henry NJ. Shrady.
sculptor, and Edward P. Casey. architect
of New York. for the construction of the
memorial in accordance with designs sub
mitted by them and approved by the COM
mission.
Nothing to Do With Selection.
Capt. Poole said that he had nothing to
do with the selection of the site, but was
simply concerned in executing the duties
which had devolved upon him In connection
Win the preliminary WOrk on the 1OunOa-
ton of the memorial. Although he is only
temporarily in charge of the work he said
he is perfectly willing to assume RESPONSE
bility for all he has done. After the site
had been definitely located Capt. Poole
said. contract had been let for the foun-
dation work. He did not hnow that there
any serious opposition to the work
until last Monday, when the workmen who
had been sent to the Botanical Garden to
lay out the lines were kept out of the
garden by order of Supt. Smith. He called
on Mr.. Smith the next day and told him
that he was simply laying out the lines for
the foundation in accordance with the
action of the monument commission and
would be pleased to receive any suggestions
he cared TO make regarding the trees or
shrubbery affected by the work.
1t Is true, said Capt. Poole, that Mr..
Smith had suggested that the trees might
be saved if a change of ten feet was made
in the Grant site, but Capt. Poole said he
had informed him in the course of a per-
sonal interview that he did not feel au-
thorZed to make any change in the plans
He had told Mr.. Smith that he would have
saved the trees If It in his power, but
that he had discretion in the matter
and that there was no one in Washington
who had any authority to alter the plans.