Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-11
Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted of the park

| commission is willing to save the historic
trees in Botanic Garden. His attention
was drawn by The Star to the threatened
vandalism, and he has asked Capt. Poole.
engineer officer in charge of the work of
preparing the pedestal for the Grant
statue. whether the site can be changed.
Mr. Olmsted would be willing to have the
statue placed few feet east or west of
the position now proposed. but neither to
the north nor to the south. According
to statements previously made by Super
intendent Smith of Botanic Garden. a
change of few feet to the west would
save the trees.
Wired Mr.. Olmsted.
When the matter of preserving the his
toric trees from destruction first came
up, The Star telegraphed to Mr.. Ohm
sted at his home IN Brookline Mass,
but Mr.. OlmStead was away from home
at the time. AS soon as he returned.
however, yesterday. he telegraphed at
once to Capt. Poole. In charge of the
erection of the statue in the absence OF
Col. Cromwell. asking If 1t were posi-
| BILE to change the site of the statue. in
an easterly or westerly direction. suffl-
ctent distance to save the trees. Mr..
Olmsted does not think 1t possible to
move the site of the statue to the north
or to the south. but thinks the other plan
feasible.
Capt Poole is in Pennsylvania today.
but Is expected back at his desk Mon
day. when he will consider Mr.. Olmsted' S
dispatch.
Gen. Grenville NJ. Dodge. chairman OF
the Grant memorial commission. Is at
| Council Bluffs Iowa and the letter OF
! Acting Secretary of War Oliver asking
him to come to Washington and straight
en- out the matter of the site of the statue
has been forwarded to him there.
| In the meantime all operations at threat
ening the life of the trees are at stand
still. even the trench dgging for the
! foundations having ceased. pending the
result Of Attorney Syme's injunction suit
No Change in Plans.
| This concession on the part Of Mr.
Olmsted will not interfere in the least
with the general plan of the park com
| mission. With the memorial a few feet
to the east or west the proposed vista
from the Capitol to the Monument Will
not be disturbed. With this slight shift
| ing the huge memorial with its 200 ward
base would still be the eastern end of the
new Mall system, making the beginning
of the improved" area, and the statue
would stand as a sentinel, waiting for
| the rest Of the "axial relations" to be
| brought up to fit
Before the park commission took hand
| In placing the Grant memorial, a site had
| been tentatively selected in the White
] Lot. but the commission objected on the
| ground that 1t would be encroaching on
| historic soil. This site now chosen is
! in line with the commissions own plans
| and. If the statue is erected there, with
! trees all about 1t, one Is permitted to
| wonder how long 1t will be before the
| commission asks that the trees be cut
| down so that the statue may be SEEN
But. however that may be. the trees are
| likely to be spared for the present giving
| their defenders time in which to prepare
for any further attacks that may come.
Mr.. Mcfarland Pleased.
! When Commissioner Macfarland was
told of the Olmsted telegram. he said:
II am delighted to hear that the trees
are to be saved. l felt sure that the
commission would save them IL possible
A noble tree is better than any work of
man. and should never be sacrificed for
| any statue Of man. One of the glories
of the National capital Is the beauty of
| its trees. 1t has more trees and more
| beauty of trees than any other city in the
world. The policy of the Commissioners
| has always been to jealousy guard the
/
! crease their number. We shall ask Con-
! gress for more money for this purpose so
as to increase the number of trees that
| can be planted annually
Change Grant Monument Site.
To the Editor Of The Star:
| Has 1t been suggested how meanly is
the spirit that would place the authorized
memorial to the all significant characte,
of Ulysses S. Grant in such poor position
as proposed? So placed, the wonder would
| find voice for always against the silly
| choice. The virtues of the nations life
1 that Grant. as chosen leader of its powers
| so successfully signified-deserve the
proudest place-at head of Pennsylvania
| avenue. The Peace monument, fast de
| caying shows the place where the Grant
memorial should have place. This wa,
| joins the most important features of oul
| boosted goverDment-the legislative an(
| the executive. Through this way the
citizen sOldiery passed In grand review
returning from their loyal work to peace
| at home and family. R. j. MEIGS
SEQUEL TO TRAIN FATALITIES
Conductor Held for Deaths of Two
at Norfolk, Va
NORFOLK. Va, October n-Rober
| Addition, engineer. and John Sawyer