Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-23
Representatives Speak in Ad.
vocacy of Improvement.
FOR UPBUILDING CAPITAL
Congressman See Need for More
Public Buildings.
THORoUGHFARE IS NEGLECTED
Its Development Not Keeping Pace
With Other Sections of the
City, It Is Declared.


AS the time approaches for the
convening OF the Sixtieth Congress
interest is growing in the PROPOSE
ton for the purchase of the prop
erty on the south side of Pennsyl-
vania avenue from the Botanic
Garden to the Treasury for sites
for government buildings. With
the arrival in the city of senator's
and members of the House the
ranks OF the advocates of the plan
are swelling, as is evidenced by the
many Endorsements it receives.
Representative LeGage Pratt. one of the
members-elect of the sixtieth Congress-
is most outspoken in his advocacy of the
Pennsylvania avenue improvement prepo-
sition.
Il am in hearty sympathy with the pro-
posed improvements of the squares on the
south side of Pennsylvania avenue" said
Mr.. Pratt to a Star reporter today, land
concur without reservation in every word
of approval and Endorsement of the plan
which has been indicated by others in the
columns of The Evening Star
NV first visit to the National capital
was made in 1872. and during the long
period intervening few have been the
years that l have not made either brief
or exte ended visits to this city From
the early 70's far into the SOS the original
scheme for making Washington the city
beautiful was slowly unfolded. During
recent years the developments have been
comparatively rapid, until now, with the
exception of Pennsylvania avenue, we are
approximating the ideal Why one of the
greatest, Rrandest and most historic ave-
nues in the world should be so long neg
lected has been a matter Of serious guam
dary with me.
A Great Duty.
There are few duties imposed upon
men. institutions and governments greater
than that of anticipating and providing,
In 50 far as 1t is possible to do so, for the
probable requirements and necessities of
the future. Those who from lack of
courage. inclination or interest undertake
to shun this obligation are not numbered
among those who help to make the world
go round. To anticipate the future needs
OF our National capital, and to do now
those thins which will insure a proper
preparedness for future governmental re-
visibility and wisdom of increasing to
the fullest extent possible. its attractive
ness. Is present duty and should be per-
formed without hesitation.
Let the worn-out and ragged fringe to
the majestic avenue be stripped off and In
Its place put on bordering as beautiful
as the highest in architectural and land
scap'ng arts can supply. These are my
sentiments"
Old Friend of the Plan.
Representative William Richardson of
Alabama is equally positive-simllarly en-
thusiastic
II am he said today. IAN earnest advo-
cate of the Improvement and beautifica-
ton OF Washington city. 1 have expressed
these views by my votes for several years
past. I believe that Washington ought to
be made the most beautiful and attractive
capital of any of the nations of the world
/ favor the condemnation Of the property
fronting on the south side of Pennsylva- =
MIA avenue for the erection of government
buildings. / believe that If this plan is
adopted 1t will not only add more than
but that 1t will facilitate the transaction
OF puolic business. l am not fully ad-
vfsed to the plan for beautifying the
Mall. and therefore would not like to ex-
press opinion on that subject. How
ever. can say that / am an advocate for
whatever plan or scheme looks to the
beautifying of the city. l recognize this TO
be patriotic duty"
Representative Edward l.. Hamilton of
Michigan told Star reporter today:
While citizen l am interested in
having our National capital expressive Of
our country my services in Congress have
not brought me into sufficiently close re-
lations with the subject of beautifyins
the Mall TO enable me to speak with suffi-
cient knowledge. However, in nv judg-
ment, that part of the city south of Penn
syivania avenue is standing argument
in favor of Improvement. The clearing
away of present buildings and the erec-
ton of such government buildings as NAV
hereafter be required. upon properly pre-
pared sites. would do more to improve
Washington than any other thing | can
now think of. But l am not in favor of
going into this or any other scheme of
Improvement without the most careful
consideration of the expense involved
A Voice From Maryland.
Representative j. F. c. Talbot of Mary
land is in favor of the government ac-
Quiring the property on the south side of
the avenue with view to the ere ,ion of
department buildings thereon.
"I have been for years. and am now
he said today. lin favor of the govern
ment purchasing the squares on the south
side OF Pennsylvania avenue and fronting
on that thoroughfare. and erecting on the
tract Such department DulidlngS as may
he needed in the future, or. IL 1t should
be deemed best for the Identification of
the capital to do so. use the tract for
additional park purposes.
1T was a great mistake" said Repre-
sentative NJ. z. Driscoll of New York
that in the original location and con-
struction OF administrative buildings they
were not located close together instead OF
being scattered all over the city. as they
now are II may be well to commence
the concentration of those buildings now
and the property south of the avenue is
most available for that purpose AS soor
as the proposition is suggested l presume
prices OF real estate in that locality will
go up. But perhaps 1t may be as we'll tC
maxi thorough job of it now as at any
other time later on, because values are
not likely to decline. That is the way 1
appears to me now. although | do not wisi
to be considered as committed TO any par
ticular plan"
A More Beautiful City.
IT am in favor of better and NOR
beautiful Washington" said Representa-