Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-18
Save the Peoples Park.

Mr.. Glenn Brown an architect OF
ability. In a well meaning but badly in
formed article, contends that the scheme
of the park commission does not demand
the destruction OF the trees. He says:
The objection to the placing of the
Grant memorial in the designated place
IS on account 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
We're altered in 1873. there wee more
than two hundred historic trees trans
planted out of this number. according
To certain data at hand. not more than
fiv' trees were ruined.
Gould not the same plan BE- followed
in a reconstruction of the Mall? Trees
could lie transplanted. as admitted by Mr.
w. X. Smith, the eminent botanist."
Mr.. W. r. Smith. the authority cited by
Mr.. Brown is properly charact rized as an
'eminent hotanist." but lie is much more
than this Next to Alexander r. Shep-
herd, the country is indebted to William
X. Smith for the adornment OF the Ma
tlonai capital by system of various
kinds of beautiful shade trees that a-e
the admiration of every citizen and visi-
tor. and have earned for Washington the
deserved title of The Forest City"
Mr.. Smith is today the most eminent
authority on arbOriculture and hortiCul-
ture in the country. What does he say in
rega to this absurd tree transplanting
proposition?
In an address before the Massachusetts
horticultural Society in 1898 he said:
1 nave never been in favor of expend-
ms large sums of money for moving
trees, even TO satisfy public demand |
have locked in vain for permanent sue
cess IN THIS matter II usually tal- n
young, healthy tree about the same time
10 grow up as il does a large one to die,
ate being removed. The experience OF
the Chicago people, years ago, with their
hsh-prlced, half-dedd trees, is an ex-
ample Around the National Capitol
VITA great care and skill. under the d.
rection of Mr.. Olmsted. liberal sums were
eAPi hufd 10 lower and remove large trees
OF various kinds in conside~ bic number
But none are left to tell the tale of their
trihuatIons. with the exception of A few
of the smaller ones
Mr.. Brown is here positively contra
olcted by the authority he relies upon
Mr.. Brown evidently knows nothing
whatever about trees, and he is there
fore not qualified to express an intellie mt
opinion in the matter
one or two others lave appeared in de-
Tense of the tree butchers. but most We
hement and blatant of all is one E w.
DOM Junior, who comes jumping into the
ring with coarse abuse of The Evening
etar anu the entire community of Wash
ington who are laboring to save the Peo-
pies Park from the hands of the vandals.
Hear him:
After reading the article which an
Peared In an afternoon paper. October D.
1 am forced to conclude there are neonIe
mere IN ashington with their noses SO
close to the ground that their horizon Is
circle not more than three feet in diam
eter Thr frantic de1unciation of the eff
iorts or those who predetermined
enough 10 see Che grand future of this
city ana to plan for that future, was evil
IDENTIFY inspired by some one with no
knowledge of architecture, and a decided
lndlHei enCe to the possibilities In the de-
Felopment of the Nal and other places.
We all will admit that a noble tree is
one or Gods grandast creations; but trees
can be moved with perfect safety to the
treA. Wouldn't a tree which was so highly
valued that trouble was taken to move II
TO make room for some great improve
ment. be OF more interest for that very
reason?
This city has 5een very badly handled
IN the past by the various people who
nave had charge of the parks both as to
planting trees and laying out of roads
anu paths ana the Only way to get things
as they should be is to begin now ia
stra ghten things cut.
one or the best ways is to start now
10 p ant trees as hey should be Keen
thlS up each year. and in a short while
they VIII re large enough to taka tho
places of those which ought TO he re-
moved To carry cut the vista scheme
winch Is the best and only treatment for
the Mall. -''
Recently published interviews IN tbis
subject lose sight of the fact thar tho
SCHEME for a nooler treatment of the
Mali was not gotten up by people who
oid not know what they were about hui
by gr"uo of experts. the best in the
United states. and by request of the ma
tional legislature"
Does not this conceited ignoramus. with
his contemptuous nose in the air who
pFoclaims In this fippant fashion that
trees can be moved with perfect sa fety
10 the tree, know that the highest au-
thoritles in arboricuture say that IT IA
Impossible to move trees of any SIZE with
safety
II Is seemingly impracticable to sound
the depths OF ignorance of Mr.. f. w.
Dohh' junior. with his upturned nose. but
"heh ne pirates about the city having
oeen very badly handled in the past by
the various people who have had charge
or The parks" he should b eadvised that
Inc parks in question were laid out by A
J Downing. the ablest landscap, gardener
the country has ever had. and whose
works on The subject have passed through
endless editions and are still hald as an
thoritat:ve textbooks. both In England
and America, Downing laid out the
grounds on the principle declared nv
Hogarth, that the curve is the line of
beauty and not the straight plumb level
esteemed by architects. The name and
iaine of Hogarth known to men of
Intelligence and culture throughout tho
entire civilized world but obviously Mr.
+ W. Dom, junior. has no place in this
list Evidently he never heard Of Ho
garth or A J. Downing.
Again he displays his ignorance bv as-
seriing that the scheme of grand. vista
Improvement was gotten up by a group
OF experts by request OF the national
legislature. Now. as matter of fac,
the national Legislature not only had moth
ing TO do with the scheme for the annoi,t-
ment of the park commission. but the
House of Representatives repudiated the
whole business with a good deal of no,
temper The appointment of the COM
mission was wholly the work of the late
Senator Mcmillan, chairman of the Sem
ate District committee: and In conse-
Quence of the refusal OF the House tc
make any appropriation for the supper,
OF the commission Senator Mcmillan was