Evening star., 1907-10-15

This emphatically worded resolution was
adopted at the meeting last night of the
Northeast Washington Citizens Associa-
ton, and 1t suffices to show the keen
interest taken by the citizens of the city
in preserving all of the beautiful and
historic trees which go so far toward
making Washington the real City Beau
tiful." Besides this voice of an organi-
zation of citizens each passing day sees
more and more weight of public opinion
getting itno line with the fight, in which
this newspaper is participating, to pre-
serve the Crittenden and other trees on
the proposed site of the memorial to Gen.
Grant in particular, and in general all Of
the natural beauties of the Capital.
The Crittenden tree grew from an acorn
which was planted by former Senator
Crittenden of Kentucky, and Rear Ad-
miral ]. c. Watson, retired. grandson
of the late senator. has taken hand in
the effort to preserve that spreading oak
and its ne ghbOring trees Another strong
protest was voiced today by Mr.. Charles
c. Glover pr S!dent of Riggs Bank. Mr..
Glover has labored earnestly to build up
comprehensive system of parks and to
preserve all of their natural beauties. 8.
Sowerbutts, real estate broker. also regis
tered a demand that the Mall should not
be defaced.
Denounced as Vandalism.
Interest in the project for saving the
trees in the Botanic Garden was shown
by pract cally every one in attenuance at
the meeting of the Northeast Washington
Citizens Association last night. The ques-
ton was brought to the attention of the
association oy Mr.. William j. Frizzell,
who said he thought the destruction Of
the trees would be a terrible piece of van.
dalism. He said he hoped every resident
OF this city would take an interest in the
fight to save the trees. Mr.. Frizzell pre-
sented the resolution, which WAS unani-
mOuSly adopted.
The adoption of the reso. ution, President
Tucker said, was in line with the acton
or the association several years ago. when
1t was intended to destroy many of the
trees in the Mall.
A Protest From Kentucky.
From Kentucky comes a voice Joining In
the chorus of protest against the destr,lc-
ton of the trees. Rear Admiral ]. c.
Watson, L. s. N. retired, a grandson of
Senator Crittenden. now a resident of
Louisville, has written a letter to Mai.
Gen. j. Franklin Bell, chief of staff, u. s.
A, asking him to do all that lies In his
power Ito save the shapely historic Crit
tenden tree and the two fine trees in the
Botanic Garden in Washington which are
marked for destruction because they are
said TO stand where 1t is proposed to build
the foundation for the statue of Gen.
Grant
Il am told" says Admiral Watson.
some little alteration "a few feeD in the
location of the proposed monu nent will
save the trees.
The Crittenden tree grew from an acorn
planted there by my grandfather in 1851
or early In 1862. The acorn or nut from
which the tree grew was brought by Mr..
Crittenden from Frankfort. Many Ken
tuckians are greatly interested, and l am
sure Justice Harlan will Cooperate with
any needed influence. Please save the
trees.
Time for Action.
In his comment upon the matter 8.
Sowerbutts, real estate dealer of ia Mon
roe street, Anacostia, said: The policy
of certain semi-oficial bodies. without
full authority from Congress, to deface
the natural beauties of the Mall is very
much to be regretted. Now is the time
for the citizens OF the capital to take Q
decided stand to prevent the desecration
of what is undoubtedly our most impor-
tant public park and reservation, which
should be surrounded but not actually
occupied by monuments and public build
ings. Energetic action in the right d.
rection a the present time by the vari-
Gus civic associations will not only tend
to protect that important park from
desecration, but will very materially as
sist In the movement to clear out that
undesirable section between the avenue
and the Mall. which is the natural loca-
ton for our monuments and public struc-
lures"
No Need to Sacrifice Trees.
Charles c. Glover. president of the
Riggs Bank, has been prominently identt-
fed with every movement to add to tho
areas of public parking in the District.
and each year sees him actively cham
pionins this phase of municipal affairs be-
fore Congress. More than two decades ago
Mr.. Glover was largely instrumental In
securing the first large appropriations for
the reclamation of the Potomac flats and
for the extension Of the water works, and
more recently he has been strong advo-
cate of securing the purchase by the gov
ernment of several tracts OF land sufii-
cient to square Rock Creek Park with the
west side of 10th street and the purchase
of a block of about 100 acres OF land
abutting upon Massachusetts avenue ex-
tended.
Naturally Mr.. Glover is deeply inter-
ested in all matters pertaining to the
parks, and to retaining the natural beau