Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-06
APPROVED BY PUBLIC
Stars Protest Against De-
struction of Park Trees.
REGARDED AS AN OUTRAGE
Strong Language Employed to Elk
press Indignation.
OPINIONS OF OLD RESIDENTS
Rare Specimens Doomed to Annthila-
ton if Plans of Monument Com
mission Are Carried Out.
OPINIONS OF OLD RESIDENTS

The protest of The Star against the wan
ton destruction of thousand magnificent
trees in the National Botanic Garden ana
vicinity In carrying out the plans OF the
Grant monument commission for the loca-
ton of the Grant statue was received with
the most pronounced approval by hundreds
Of leading citizens of the District OF Co
lumbia last evening. When it was learned
that this widespread work. of destruction
was by the old self-constituted guardians
of the beauties of the capital, known as the
park commission, the public condemnation
of the whole proceeding was redoubled.
There was general regret that Congress Is
not in session In order that some action
might be taken to prevent the commission
from continuing its work of playing havoc
with the beauties of the Capital city.
Everywhere citizens, upon learning of this
attempt to wipe out the beauties OF the
Mall, which had been planned by some OF
the greatest landscape gardeners OF the
world expressed their readiness to join
any movement that might be proposed for
the purpose of preventing the consumma-
ton of the destruction which has been be-
gun.
Many of the Oldest residents of the city,
who are familiar with the beautiful con-
ception for a park embodied in the Mall as
originally planned. and who are familiar
with the nature OF the trees that have been
planted there, declared that with the ami
hilation of that plan the most notable col
lection of trees in this country will be de-
stroyei.
Collection of Rare Trees.
1t Is we'll known that in the development
of the Mall the variety OF rare trees ex
ceeds in interest any other collection In
similar area. Long ago 1t was suggested
that these specimens should be marked,
in order that the children Of the schools
of this city might have opportunity. for
the study of horticulture. To a limited ex-
tent the trees have been designated with
neat signs. but there are many hundreds
of varieties that have been collected from
all parts of the world planted there. 1t is
de clared, and cared for these many years,
that are known only to the scientist.
There has been much comm mt over the
fact that the commission should take this
time Of the year, when 1t was known MEM
bers of Congress are not within reach. to
begin its work of demolishinS the symme
try of the great park that provides
breathing space for large section of the
city. 1t was generally believed that had
this work been undertaken while Congress
was In session 1t would have been stopped,
even If 1t had been necessary to pass
joint resolution. But apparently there Is
no way at this time to call halt to the
work of the vandals in cutting down the
ancient landmarks that are SO closely as
ISOLATED with many of the greatest names
of the country.
The old park commission was formed in
1901, when a subcommittee of the Senate
District committee invited Daniel H. Burn
ham of Chicago and Frederick Law Ohm
stead, jr., of Brookline, Mass, to act as
such commission. These two later re-
quested Charles F. McKim OF New York
and Augustus Saint Gaudens of New York
to join them. 1t is not learned whether
any one has been selected to fill the place
hxy h. of int
Gaudens.