Evening star., 1907-10-13
HOPE FOR TREES
GROWING BRIGHTER
Gen. Dodge Realizes lmpor-
tanCe of Preserving Them.
CONEERS WITH OFFICIALS
CONFERS WITH OFFICIALS
Chairman of Statue Commission
Takes a Hand.
WIRES THE STAR FROM IOWA
Decision as to Changing Site of
Pedestal of Grant Memorial May
Soon Be Reached.

Gen. Grenville NJ. Dodge, chair
man OF the Grant memorial COM
mission and president OF the Soci-
ETY. OF the Army Of the Tennessee,
is consulting with the War Depart
ment as to the course to be adopt
cd to preserve the historic trees OF
the Botanic Garden.
From Council Bluffs. Iowa, Gen.
Dodge has telegraphed as follows
to The Star:
Il am in consultation with the
War Department, and appreciate
the reasons for saving the trees in
the Botanic Garden. | cannot de
termine what can be done until |
hear from the department.
With Speaker Cannon. Frederic Law
Olmsted of the park commission and Gen.
Dodge of the Grant memorial commission
united In an effort to save the Crfttenden
and other historic trees 1t seems certain
that the threatened destruction will be
averted Attorney Syme. by his applica-
ton for injunction, secured the needed
respite. during which efforts, fortunately
successful. were made to interest those
who would be able 10 pull the strings OF
fate and interfere to stop the projected
wanda Ism.
commission Charles Moore. secretary of
the Senate committee for the District of
Columbia says: The representative
bodies of the citizens of the District of
Columbia and the press also have given
encouragement and support to the work
and have furnished suggestions of great
value because based on experience of the
needs Of the people
That is exactly what the press is still
doing. and II is earnestly hoped that its
efforts WI be welcomed by members OF
the park commission and their value ap-
precigted as being based on experience
OF tire needs OF the people
Errors May Be Forgiven.
Much can be said in praise of the work
OF the park commission. The task which
1t assumed was Onerous: its scope i'm
mense. II could hardly be expected that
any group of four tallible mortals could
bring omnisclence to their labors and pro-
duce fawless results Yet their plan en-
braces so much of good that the errors
may he forgiven. But on that account
these errors need not be accepted. The
time for correction is now, before a false
step is taken that cannot be retraeed.
Once let the ruthless AK bring down the
lofty trees of the Mall and no amount
of grieving can restore them. Washington
has It's own condit ons and is not to be
twisted to an exotic model. nor denuded
of it's foliage to resemble city where the
only reason that such trees do not exist
Is because they cannot be grown there.
IT was to the efforts of the part com
mission. chiefly 20 those of MIR. Buruham
alone. that the project of the new union
station was rendered possible. for it was
hiT- BUrrham who won from President
Cassatt his consent to remove the Penn
sylvania railway terminus from the Mall
to the spot selected north of the Capitol.
That one achievement would weigh down
the balance In favor of the commission,
even IL no more stood To its credit. But
that gives the commission no right to
take the trees from the Mall. The mem
bers cannot give with one hand and rob
with the other
Beautifcation of River Front.
Again. the plans for the Identification
OF the river front, by the building OF
suitable docks and piers. found every
where in Europe. but nowhere in the
United States, are worthy OF great praise
and cannot be carried out too soon
There is greater need fo- good docks
than for the denudlng OF the Botanic
Garden. Washingtonians would be
pleased TO see the commission turn Its
attention to the river front and leave the
beautiful expanse of shaded lawns alone
The Improvement of Rock Creek and the
erection of bathhouses for all the people
are also among the projects laid out fol
themselves by the members of the com.
mission and now awaiting their attention
These needs are not precisely clamorous
but they are certainly as exigent as the
obstruction of the Mall which Is now
considered beautiful by Washingtonians
but which. under the plans for it's i'm.
provement. would be no more attractive
than stretch of four-track railway over
an alkal plain
That the commission should have cen.
tered It's attention upon the east end OF
the Botanic Garden is, however, no source
Tor ~onder since If is at that point that
It's battle for the life or death of tb4
Mail must be fought. With the erection
OF the Grant memorial at that potnt fhs
victorious blow will have been struck fo,
Wit the statue there II can be pointed r.
o! the commission an unanswerable
argument Tor the completion of the NAL
reconstruction. OF which the memorial Is
Planned as the chief ornament. the nro.
posed bleak and barren Union Sonare
being The triumphant climax of an AmerJ.
ean Foutainebleau, without tree ir
sight ' ~
Memorial a Huge Affair