Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-06
Still Trespassing on the Mall.

Evidences continue to appear from time
to time that those who favor the scheme
OF blazing a stra ght treeless course through
the Mall from the Capitol to the Monu-
ment persist In their undertaking, despite
the lack of law to that effeC; and in the
face OF undoubted public sentiment against
It II now develops that in the empace-
ment of the Grant monument care was
taken by somebody in authority-just who
is not at this time entirely plain-that the
site should be chosen in such a manner
as to advance the vista-boulevard pro-
ject. Furthermore, the location of this
memorial has been determined that the
destruction of several historic trees is in
volved. Apart from the sentimental OBJ
lection to such a sacrifice the lovers of
the capitals parks will see in this single
item another token of the intent to uproot
anywhere from 1000 to 1000 trees in the
Mall. monuments far more perfect and in
finitely more precious features of the
Citys attractions than any architectural
works of which mans genius is capable.
In some inscrutable manner the idea
seems lodged in certain minds that the
axis of the Mall should be moved from the
direct east-and-west line. which now forms
the center and that it should run from the
western edge of the Capitol grounds to
the center of the Monument. This would
not even adjust the reservation to the
radial system, for 1t would still remain
askew from the center of the Capitol build
ing itself. Yet in order to accommodate
existing and prospective structures to this
projected slantwise axis it is seriously
proposed to move the Smithsonian a con-
siderable distance to the south and all
building emplacements are arranged with
reference to the same line.
Were this not enough to set the minds
of all well-wishers for the beauty as we'll
as the prosperity of the Greater Washing
ton distinctly against the project the
scheme goes further and involves the ex
cavauon of the Mall in the western por-
ton to a depth several feet lower than the
present level. II the advocates of this
amazing plan desire to turn the Mall into
a lake they could not go at their work in
q more practical fashion, for certain
as the Potomac river flows in past the
Capital city the lowered Mall will flood al
high water. and indeed will during the
greater part of the time present an
pect of swampiness highly suggestive of
the tidal flats of the river front during the
old days.
1t is time something were done to put
stop to these piecemeal, stealthy advances
In extension of a scheme that is condemned
by the best sentiment of the city and is,
moreover, utterly lacking in congressional
approval. II the two houses of Congress
have not heretofore discerned in these sue
cessive measures a systematic effort to
fasten this ridiculous, destructive, mar
tistic scheme upon the District, possibly
the episode Of the Grant monument en-
placement will serve this desirable pur-
pose and finally check the trespass upon
the park which is today recognized by
landscape artists the world over as a fitting
memorial to the genius of Downing and a
worthy token of the wisdom of Washington
In proposing d capital plan.