Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-26
WANT TREES SPARED
SuIzer and Mann Object to Site
of Grant Monument.
SELECTED SPOT UNSUITED
Botanic Garden Should Be Kept for
Natures Works.
INAPPROPRIATE FOR OTHERS
addresses in the House in Con-
domination of the Report of
the Committee.
SELECTED SPOT UNSUITED
INAPPROPRIATE FOR OTHERS

Representative Mann of IllinOis yesterday
afternoon spoke on the floor of the House
in criticism of the action of the House
committee on the library in reporting ad-
versely the Mann and Sherley bills to pro-
vide for the erection of the Grant me-
mortal on some other site than that in
the BOTANIC Gardens selected by the Grant
memorial statue commission. In the
course of his speech Mr.. Sulzer said:
Mr.. Chairman. by the courtesy of the
gentleman from Virginia CMr. Lamb 1
shall take advantage of this opportu-
nifty to say few words regarding a mat
ter that | deem of Importance to the
city of Washington to the country gem
orally, and especially of sufficient gravity
from every point of view to command the
immediate attention and consideration of
every member of this Congress. Some
time ago legislation was enacted providing
that suitable memorial be erected in
the city of Washington to commemorate
the memory and achievements of Gen.
Grant. No one in all this land is more
in favor of erecting an enduring monu-
ment in the Capital city of the nation to
the great military chieftain of the civil
war than | am 1t is fitting and proper
that II should be DONE and l want TO see
ii done. The government owes Gen. Grant
debt that can never be paid. So long as
the government shall endure his glory
will be sung in song and story.
First Site Selected.
But. sir. the question now is. Where
should this memorial be located? The
commission delegated to locate the site
for the monument selected, In the first
instance, a site in the ellipse Immediately
in front of the White House-between
the White House and the Washington
Monument. That site. in my judgment.
was very proper location and in all
respects most suitable. Afterward. for
some reason or other, the commission
abandoned that site and selected the Be-
tanc Garden as the proper place. In my
opinion. that change was most unwise and
the gravest kind of mistake. The b.
tanic Garden for great many years
has been one of the historic landmarks of
the District of Columbia. and under the
guiding genius of its eminent director.
William r. Smith, it has been useful. as
well as ornamental Thousands and
thousands of people coming to this city
every year visit the Botanic Garden and
enjoy its many beauties. 1t is one Of the
pleasure resorts of Washington. especial
~ to every man. woman and child that
loves flowers and trees and plants and
shrubs.
1t is a monument to the energy of Mr.
Smith. and no part of it should be desc
Grated or destroyed. For years trees have
been planted in this garden by the most
distinguished citizens of our country, and
by eminent citizens of other countries, SO
interest
ing and beautiful places for visitors in all
the city of Washington. Every spot in 1t
Is reminiscent and historical No part of
~ should be injured or destroyed. and Il
is the most unsuitable place that could
be selected for a great monument to a
military hero. The place selected in the
Botanic Garden by the commission for
this Grant memorial Is near the street to-
ward this end. Already excavations have
begun and the work of destruction will
60 on unless we stop it. Anyone who will
take the time to visit the Botanic Garden
will see at a glance how Inappropriate
the place Is for a memorial, and how it's
erection there will necesstate the lasting
injury and destruction of large number
OF valuable and beautiful and historic
trees-especially one great beautiful tree
planted by, John j. Crittenden of Ken
lucky, in 1867. from an acorn which he
brought from that famous commonwealth
to commemorate his noble efforts in en-
deavoring 10 bring about peace and stop
the deadly conflict between the north
and the south.
The Crittenden Oak.
That tree IS one of the most magnif-
cent in all the garden, and is known as
the Crittenden peace tree. It's destruction
now would be a shame-a piece of van
dalism. That little acorn. planted by the
patriotic hand of Senator Crittenden has
grown into a great oak one of the finest
trees in the garden. That tree is an his
toric landmark and should be sacred from
vandal hands That little acorn-planted
there in 1862 to commemorate an heroic eff
fort for peace-today, in this great oak
tree. eNemplifieS that peace in it's fullest
senses and IL would be desecration-a la
BILE deSeCratiOn-tO destroy il. II the
monument goes up the tree must be cut
down. II cannot be saved by removal
According to the judgment of experts who
have investigated the matter and who
know the most about the subject it is i'm
possible to dig up and transplant any of
these great and beautiful trees that must
he destroyed to make way for the monu-
ment. If they are transplanted they will
surely die. If the monument work goes
ahead these historic trees will be lost.
Il am opposed to cutting down these
famous trees and destroying one of the
chief beauties of the Botanic Garden. 1t
ought not TO be done. Congress should
stop il. and stop II at once. AS l said, I
do not believe this site Is the best place in
Washington for the Grant monument. 1t
Is an out-ofthe-way and obscure
place If erected there. ii cannot be seen
from the avenue. and this magnificent
Grant memorial should be in a place with
sufficient space around it so that 1t can be
seen from all sides and from all direc-
lions. The selection of this site in the
Botanic Garden is a mistake. and the COM
mission selecting il should be condemned
by resolution of Congress. and hereafter
We should be more careful in appointing
men on commissions to select sites for
monuments in this city.
Most Suitable Site.
The most suitable site in Washington
for the Grant memorial Is the first site
selected. in the ellipse bet ween the White
House and the Monument. That was
Gen. Grants park. He laid it out and
spent much of his leisure there during
the time he was in the White House. Be
yond d doubt ii is the most suitable and
the most appropriate place in Washing
ton for thi, monument. and the Congress
should to il that ii is erected there
and kept out OF the Botanic Garden.
Now i want TO say that | am in SYM
patty with those who desire to make
Washington the city beautiful be-
lieve il is such today. and destined 10
grow more the years come and go.
Every citizen in the land should be in
terested in making the capital of his
country the most beautiful city in the
world. but we can never do il with COM
missions composed of men such we
have appointed heretofore. In the future
we should select men who know some
thing about art and trees and perspective
and less about law and science and statis-
tics. ! am a friend of William r. Smith,