Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-02
NOT avid Waste NOW
Change in the Surroundings of
the Monument.
PARK TO THE RIVER SIDE
Attractive With Drives and Lawns
and Shrubbery.
AMERICAN REPUBLICS SITE
Beautiful Surroundings In a Locality
That Was Recently a Neg
lected Section

1t Is regarded as likely a good many peo-
pie were surprised TO hear that a site south
OF Pennsylvania avenue and west of 18th
street had been selected as the place where
the magnificent building for the bureau Of
American republics Is to be erected There
is to be expended on building and ground
nearly one million OF dollars thus making
1t one of the notable structures in the city,
and. In fact, in any city.
But 1t will not be the mere expenditure
OF dollars that is to attract attention to 1t,
| for In addition to its being the business Of
nee for the American republics in this
country, it is also the intention to have
| there a permanent museum illustrative Of
the products and the industries Of that
great stretch of country that extends from
ocean to ocean and from the Isthmus Of
Panama to Cape Horn.
What It Once Was.
The importance of this building from both
points of view will no doubt add to the sur
| prise felt by very many when they con-
slider the location selected 1t is at the foot
| of 18th street, or, rather, what used to be
the termination Of that thoroughfare. AL
though only short distance south of the
| State Department, which faces on the same
| street, and within sight of the White
House, yet every one knows who Is famil-
| lar with Washington that Van Ness Park,
as the square selected has been called for
| almost century, is in, or was in, a local
| fty that had become run down at the heels
and generally shabby. There was a long
| stretch of swamp In the direction of the
river and south of B street. while on all
sides were the tumble-down cabins and
patched houses of the shiftless
The unusual feature about that condition
was that in locality II should be so near
| the prosperous part of the city and within
| easy distance of homes of opulence. But a
glance at the waste of neglected commons
| to the south and the untidy and even for
bidding surroundings of recent days gave
a sufficient explanation. The swamps OF
the old-time fats along the river in that
locality were in themselves forbidding
enough to keep people away, and that is
what happened.
Remarkable Change.
Then the further reputation came to II Of
unhealthfulness. and large section to the
north. and in part Of the city that was In
the early days one Of the most popular
place of residence, shared in the disfavor
which was due to the neglected condition of
the southern portion. 1t has been several
years since the flats disappeared, and also
the swamps, and now the entire locality
has been changed. or nearly so, into
beautiful park. .. -s d. "gs'-.-~-t ~.
The old reputation of the place still
cirgs to 1t. and a great many people who
have lived all their lives here have not
yet got it out of their minds that malaria
and other ills have their home there, and
In many such cases they are equally igno-
rant of the bacillus theory Of malaria and
of the spleTfdid, improvements which have
transformed the entire region west of the
Washington Monument
Along the River Banks.
In fact. new place has been created.
There has arisen out of the river and out
banks as fair stretch of lawn and drive
ways and shrubbery as the eye can rest
upon. 1t continues down to the bank of
the river. so that for the first time in the
history of the city. at least IN compare
lively recent years, it is now possible to get
down to the river and gaze out upon its
broad bosom without going beyond the old
limits of the city. -
This new domain added to the public
pleasure ground of the city begins on the
south side of B street and west Of 18th
| street. and continues all the way down to
the banks of the river. long stretch Of
about nine city blocks-that is. from l7th
to 26th street. The entire section has not
deal has been done. and the work is going
on steadily, so that In a year or so 1t viii
practically be completed. 1t will form a
noble addition to the magnificent sweep OF
space, stretching from the Capitol west
ward toward the river. is finer than, any
thing of the sort that is to be found in any
city in the world
Accessible to the Public.
The change that has taken place is thus
merely outlined, for 1t is impossible to give
any idea Of the almost regal sweep of this
recreation resort for the people. When
viewed amid such surroundings the site Sc
cured for the building for the bureau of
the American republics has quite another
phase than when 1t is looked upon through
the eyes of past generation or the recol-
lection or what the place used to be- The
new building, on account Of. the museum
which it will contain, will no doubt become
one Of the points of interest in this city,
and there will go that great procession of
sfghtseers who pass through the capital
city at all periods of the year.
.There Is probable also another change as
soon as that comes about, and that is the
locality will be supplied with line of
the city. Such facility might also be
continue through the new park and down
to the waters edge, SO that this pleasure
resort will be available for those who have
not carriages to go about In
Street Car Lines. go
There is no question but that in some
form or another this method of affordlng
the people the means of reaching this riv-
erside park will be determined upon in the
near future, and while 1t Is a new thing to
have street car lines in parks here, still,
the park itself. in its present form at least.
IL new. and therefore 1t need not be sur
prising that new questions should arise In
connection with its development, and espe-
cially along the lines of making il of the
most service to the public.
Lighthouses at Auction.
From the London Mail