The Washington herald., 1907-10-15
Favor Broad Vista
for the New Mall.
TREES NO BARRIER TO PLAN
Larger Woodland Path from Capitol
to Monument Advocated by Men
Familiar with Landscape Beauty.
Artistic Treatment More 20 BE De-
sired than Historic Reminiscenee.


Iished interviews relative to the treat
ment Of the Mall.
They appreciate the popular feeling
which voices the sentiment to save the
historic trees, but they are positive in
their expressions that the sylvan beau
ties of the Mall and the winding drive
ways and footpaths, suggestive of larger
woodland park. have served their pur
pose. The architects believe that for the
future Washington should give its en-
ergies to a more artistic treatment OF the
Mall. which, In time. will result in
splendid vista between the Capitol and
the Monument. with a park fashioned or
the idea of a broad, open space, with
trees on either side, giving opportunity
for landscape gardening effects lawns.
and flowers. fountains and statues in
the central plaza.
CaustIc Criticism.
Mr.. E. ". Dom, jr., of the firm OF
Wood, Dom. & Dening. yesterday spoke
as follows on the subject:
After reading the article which ap-
peared in an afternoon paper, October 5, I
here in washington with their noses so
close to the ground that their horizon is
q circle not more than three feet In diam
eter. The frantic denunciation OF the ef-
forts Of those who are broad-minded
enough 10 see the grand future Of this
city. and to plan for that future, was evil
IDENTIFY inspired by some one with no
knowledge Of architecture and a decided
indifference to the possibilities id the de-
velopment Of the Mall and other places.
we all will admit that a noble tree is
one OF Gods grandest creations; but trees
can be moved with perfect safety to the
tree. Wouldn't tree which was so high
" valued that trouble was taken TO move
IT, TO make room for some great Inn
provement. be OF more interest for that
very reason?
This city has been very badly handled
IN the past by the various people who
have had charge Of the parks. both as to
planting trees and laying out Of roads and
paths. and the only way to get things as
they should be Is to begin now to straight
en things out.
'One Of the best ways is to start now
to plant trees as they should be. Keep
they will be large enough to take the
places Of those which ought to be re-
moved 10 carry out the vista scheme. I
which Is the best and only treatment for
the Mall
Recently published interviews on this
subject lose sight OF the fact that the
scheme for a nobler treatment OF the
Mall was not gotten up by people who
did not know what they were about !
but by a group Of experts, the best in
the United States. and by request OF the /
national legislature. Their plan is open
to criticism IN parts, but as a whole Il |
Is admirable and absolutely IN harmony
with the original plans made By LEnfant
and Ellicott, and approved by George
Washington. Criticism Of this scheme al
this time Is entirely out Of place, unless |
something better Is suggested. and that
is impossible.
II We ever expect TO make this the
most beautiful city In the world, we must
begin now, and always have in mind the
goal az which we are aiming Can you
conceive Of a nobler sight than a broad.
green way, fienked on either side by
lines Of noble trees, extending from the
Capitol 70 the Monument, and beyond
the Monument the river and the hills Of
Virginia?
"One can get a glimmer Of the effect
10 be produced If he views the Capitol
from Pennsylvania avenue at about
Third street The trees frame the per
spective OF the broad way leading I'D
TO the building with the noblest setting
Of any in the world"
Mr.. Browns Suggestion.
Mr.. Glenn Brown. prominent archI- /
tect Of the city. makes this suggestion
relative to the moving or cutting down
Of historic trees:
The objection to placing the Grant
memorial in the designated place is on ac-
count OF the fact that certain historic
trees would have TO be cut down. This
statement is entirely erroneous. When
the Capitol grounds in this city were a.
tered in 1873, there were more than 200 his !
toric trees transplanted. Out OF this num- /
Der, according TO certain data at hand.
not more than hve trees were ruined.
Gould not the same plan be followed
in a reconstruction OF the Mall? Trees
could be transplanted. as admitted by Mr.
Smith, the eminent botanist now in charge
OF the Botanic Garden. The general plan |
Of the Park Commission could be followed
out, and in every particular Washington
would be the proud possessor Of a beauti- /
ful park. Not only a playground and a /
public breathing place, but a park OF such /
great beauty that its fame would spread /
outside OF the country, as has that Of the /
parks OF England and France.
In the square that Is designated to /
hold the Grant memorial, by actua. |
count there are not more than fifty trees
Of any historic value. Is the artistic /
treatment ot the Mail to suffer because
Of an obstacle which can be easily
remedied with the expenditure Of a few /
dollars? Under the designated plans, the |
Mall will contain more trees when COM
pleted than now. 1t viii afford an op-
portunity to plant trees along its broad /
avenues which VIII combine within its |
completeness sentiment both lasting |
and effective. The impressive and dis |
tinctive features suggested by the present /
Park Commission and contained In the /
general plan, viii claim at once the ar
tstie eye OF the visitor to the Capital |
City"
Counsel to Aid Poole.
The Department OF Justice has assigned /
Assistant United States Attorney Stuart |
Mcnamara to represent Capt. John H. |
Poole. engineer officer, L. S. A, who was
cited by Justice Gould on Tuesday last
to appear Friday next and show cause |
why he should not 5e restrained from |
cutting down the 'Crittenden peace oak, -
the Beck elm," and the other historic |
trees In the Botanic Gardens.
When the projected fate Of the trees
was published in The Herald considerable