Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-05
MUST NOTED TREES
SUCCUMB TO THE Ak
Proposed Elimination of Some
Famous Landmarks.
PARK COMMISSIONS PLAN
Removal Said to Be Necessary to Pro-
vide Site for Monument.
IN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS
Alleged Entering Wedge Toward the
Imitation of Vercailles-Capt.
Poole's Statement.
IN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS

Destruction of a thousand magnificent
trees, among the finest in the world the
moving OF the Smithsonian Institution and
the buildings in the Botanical Gardens.
4. lowering the grade of parts of the Mall
eleven feet in direct opposition to the
original plans of Alexander r Shepherd
and A. G. Downing, the famous landscape
gardener, ard the creation of mock Yer
sailles in place of an American pleaSance
are foreshadowed by the erection of the
Grant monument at the eastern end of the
Botanical Gardens
At the last session of Congress permis-
sion given to the seIf-constituted park
commission to erect the statue on IAN un-
occupied part of the Botanical Gardens"
Without any flourish of trumpets almost
by stealth it is said, the commission Sc
lected for the monuments site spot at the
eastern end of the gardens. directly in
front of the main gate to which point
there used to be 4 walk down from the
Capitol before the terraces were laid out,
in 1872 by Frederick Law O,mstead. Far
from being an unoccupied spot, the site
selected contains more historic trees
than any other equal space in the
gardens. The terrace on which the pedestal
will be erected extends fifty yards each
side of the main walk and has already been
staked out by workmen under the direc-
tion of Lieut.. Poole of the Engineer Corps
while earth has been dug away from the
roots of a tree planted by Senator Howard
of Michigan. ready for the AK TO be struck
home
The Crittenden Oak
A mighty oak. planted in 1863 by Senator
John j. Crittenden of Kentucky. must be
another victim of the AK. unless the pans
be changed, while beside the Critten-
den tree stands elm planted by Senator
Beck. CritteRdeHs colleague. from slip
from tree planted by George Washing
ton In the Capitol grounds. From a sim
liar slip an elm was also planted by Boss
Shepherd That stands directly across the
walk from the other trees. and is also
marked for dest ruct!on, TO make room for
the terrace of the pedestal. Twenty feet
further west there is plenty of room.
The grcat oak is known as the Crit
tenden peace tree" and acorns from its
boughs have been sent all over the United
States, making II the progenitor of very
forest of mighty trees, rising in every state.
II is proposed to go right ahead with the
destruction of the trees, and this morning
workmen were busy making their prepara-
tions for bringing the monarchs low. Su-
perintendent Smith is doing all he can to
prevent the destruction of tie east end OF
the gardens by the ruthless destroyers of
beauty. But Congress is not in session,
and his appeals thus far have fallen on
deaf ears, the personal desires of the men,
hers Of the park commission being appar-
entity more rigid than the laws of the
Medes and Persians. THIS handful of out
siders who have decided how Washington
must have its appearance changed to con-
form To their ideas have arranged matters
entirely to their own satisfaction, and, in
order that they may be pleased the order
now Is that the trees must go.
Not the Only Danger
But the destruction of these great trees
az the end of the gardens is by no means
the greatest danger that threatens. Back
OF il all there is worse to come In the
clearing of the ground for the erection o.
the statue is seen the entering wedge for
the completion of the park commissions
scheme of changing the whole character
of the Mall.
The vista which now begins at the east
end of the gardens and extends westward
ends somewhat to the nC-th of the Wash
iugtOu monument. This do.s not in the
least agree with the desires of the mark
commission, which wishes everything at
right angles, with all variety eliminated
and beauty reduced to an exceedingly IyuI-
gar fraction. To satisfy their id ais for
g~umytriCal precision the Wis. a must be
swung around toward the south. so that its
western end may coincide with the nonu-
In"ut. making straight line from the gate
Of the gard MS t. the shaft.
This l'ue would be askeW with reference
10 tine east and west axis of the Caoitol
giving a strahismic appearance to a ground
plan when regarded at its eastern end. But
possibly that end is not TO be looked at
Stll!, that. also, is mir objection. For
10 swing the vista toward the south Ieay-
ing its east end at thc gate the great dou-
lie Mes of noble trees that now line the
walks OF The garden and the trees at the
Smithsonian lnstitution-one OF them a
willow oak, planted by Jefferson-must be
CO: down. Then when the trees are out OF
the way. the Smithsonian Institution itself
and the buildings OF the Botanic Gardens
ar. still interfering with the plans OF the
park commission
''No,fing easier to remedy" say the mem
bers o. the commission. Move EN-
That would be q beginning Contemplate
thc "cmoNal OF the trees and OF the build
. lngS. and then il is easy To see that the
commiss on has a clear field before IT, With
the work Of sixty years utterly destroyed
Ia" members can get to work and change
the fac OF nature to conform TO their
Id ais Their plans are ready.
Barren Dreams of Decadent King.
These plans are easy to comprehend
They are simply to reproduce, as fa- as
possible, the barren dreams of dacadent
king whose fOnGest aspirations We're graft
ned 10y the completion of the gcometrical
parterres. paths. lakes and avenues. which
tourists know Versailles for the crea-
tUn OF which millions Of pcople starved
and died under the lash of the tax-gath-
cFeT until their dercndants rose up and
drowned the memory of their voluptuous
tyrant In sea of blood from the veins
Of :uus" arlstuCrdts whose fathers and
grandiathors had told BATTERED monarch
that his munOtOnOus park was the realZa-
tiOu b.. every dream Of beauty
That is the plan.
Destroy tse trees; lower grades built up
at great expense by the original direction Of
Alexander r. Shepherd; cut back every
curve make sameneSs the rule.
Straight lines are TO be everywhere, with
here and there a little circle, for conven-
fence. but not for beauty Not a curve is
to be- allowed. Nature is 10 be put in a
strai ght-j lcket and strapped to the Procrus-
team b-d which the park commission bor-
rows from France.
Regarded as Disagreement