The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-03-24
Congress Urged to Help Washington's Citizens
And Citizens Encouraged to Help Themselves
FfUe Art Experts
For BeautfjEyIng
TIE Entire City
By GLENN BROWN.
One Of the National Capitals Ablest

Architects.
Paris is a striking example Of the
fact that a city beautiful will soon be-
come a city wealthy That is. beauty
attracts wealth and commerce 20 a city.
Therefore, in reply to your editorial 8
query, What's the matter with Wash
ington?" it is evident that one answer
is that the Capital Of the United States
would be more impressive and more
prosperous IL Il were more beautiful
To achieve this end Of greater beauty,
which is an ideal sought by every city.
l would suggest that the people Of
Washington and the people Of the en-
tire country unite their efforts 10 have
Congress establish an advisory board of
five experts TO consult with Govern
ment officials about the erection OF all
public buildings. the style and location
Of all statues and the development and
identifying of the parking system.
1t can not be justly claimed that
Washington is the most beautiful city in
the world. She may be the most beau
tiful in America, but there are Euro
pe8n cities that surpass her in this re-
gard.
Paris has spent S20OCO0OOO in improve
meuts and embellishments and so much
has this expenditure been justified by
the increased wealth and business
brought there by the natural attractive
ness Of the beauty Of IT that she con-
templates the expenditure CT 500 600, 900
more for the same purposes London,
Rome. Vienna and Berlin are working
along the same lines.
They all know that into a beautiful
city the enriching streams Of commerce
inevitably flow.
This being so, it is. I think, apparent
that Washingtonians should do all in
their power to beautify and. therefore,
enrich the Capital BY the use of an
advisory board, the city could be de-
veloped in perfect harmony. There
would be absolute cooperation between
all the branches of the Government in
the matter Of making Washington a city
perfectly beautiful and attractive.
To secure this advisory board. for the
establishment of which bills have al
ready been introduced in Congress and
will be introduced until passed, the peo-
pie of the country and this city should
work together and work hard and in
tclIigently. II can be secured by hard
work Congress, in the end, must see
the advisability of it.
works of art for the National Gov
eminent is an obligation conferred
upon Federal officials by a higher
power, to be executed in the in
terests of the people of the United
States The benefit of this trust.
If properly executed. consists. on the
ideal side, in the distribution of the
educative. refining and ennobling in
fuences Of art, while. on the material
side, It represents a good business in
vestment. Beauty draws to itself the
wealthy, leisure and cultivated classes
so they may enjoy the constant pleasure
to be derived from beautiful surround
ings. Athens. Rome. Florence, Venice,
and Paris have found the beautiful a
wonderful business investment. our
country would find il an equally val
liable asset
In the early days our public men aD-
DTeCiated the Importance of the trust
committed to their care and conscien-
tiously fulfilled their obligations. The
Continued On Page Fifteen.l