Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-01
YEARS EVENTS In DISTRICT OF COL UMBIA

cuted without intermission up to the pres
ent time. All Of the trees are yet stand
ing, and there is strong reason to believe
that the beauty of the great central park
Of the Capital city will not be marred or
devastated by the woodman's ak. Justice
Goulds decision In the injunction pro-
ceedings inaugurated in behalf of the
Crittenden oak and other valued forest
monarchs on the site proposed for the
Grant memorial will be announced at an
early date.
The proposed destruction Of at least a
thousand magnificent trees. the removal
of the Smithsonian Institution and the
buildings of the Botanic Gardens and the
swinging round of the Mall vista from
west to south were exposed in The Star
exclusively in the issue of October s. Be-
sides this wholesale uprooting of trees
and traditions in the near future there
was promised an immediate beginning in
the work OF dissertation at the Botanic
Gardens. where the historic peace oak,
planted by former Senator John J. Crit
tenden OF Kentucky, a tree planted by
former Senator Howard of Michigan and
many other beautiful trees at that ter
minus of the Mall were to be sacrificed to
make room for the imposing memorial to
former President Ulysses 8. Grant. The
swinging of the vista meant an enormous
expenditure and the complete disregard
for the work OF the original builders of
eleven feet being intended at some places.
Immediately there was . great cry Of
protest. and hundreds OF WashinEtonians
uttered Endorsements of the stand taken
by The Star. Many of them spoke in in
terv1ews in the issue of the very next day,
October 6. Attorney Conrad H. Syms
entered the arena in behalf OF the trees
October s. when he secured the issue OF
temporary restraining order in the Dis
trict supreme Court compelling cessa-
fty.1iv,
ing Of the Grant memorial and giving the
friends OF the trees an opportunity to
rally to the cause. October TO- five days
after the first warning note In The Star
Speaker Cannon had been informed OF
the plans Of the so-called park commits
sion and the Grant memorial commission,
and he telegraphed the latter to suspend
work until President Roosevelt should re-
turn to Washington and the matter could
be submitted to Congress. Some Of the
inside history Of the parking commission
was revealed the same day and It was
shown that Daniel H. Burnham, Charles
F. McKim and Frederick Law Olnsted.
jr.. who constituted the commission,
had agreed to the elimination Of all curved
lines in the drives and pathways In the
Mall, the substitution Of straight lines
and a general lowering of the grades.
subsequently Mr.. Olmstead wired his will
ingness to see the Grant statue moved q
few feet either east or west
without authority was shown in The Star
October IL, when the fact was printed that
the three men were selected by Charles
Moore. secretary to Senator Mcmillan,
after the latter had introduced a resolu-
ton providing that the COMMITTEES on the
District of Columbia might consider the
development and improvement Of the en-
tire park system, and that experts might
be employed and their expenses paid out
Of the contingent fund Of the Senate. In
AAv1 Coll O. \
not nearly suff1ce to cover the necessities
OF the. commissions trip. and Senator
Mcmillan provided the difference.
By the middle of the month the chorus
Save the Trees attained even greater
proportions. Rear Admiral J. C. Watson,
g. S. n. retired, protested against the
chopping Of the tree planted by his grand
father, former Senator Crittenden. The
Northeast Washington Citizens Associa-
ton adopted resolutions Of the same tenor
Justice John NJ. Harlan Of the United
States Supreme Court expressed himself
as unalterably opposed to the de-
struction of the trees of the Botanic Gar
den and the Mall
From the canebrakes Of Louisiana Octo-
Der IS came the following telegram from
President Roosevelt:
1.-THE President directs that no trees OF
any consequence in the District OF Column
bia be destroyed for any purpose without
full consideration. and in event OF the
slightest question pelng raised bring the
matter before him. tSigned) NJ. c. Latta.
assistant secretary to the President
October 18 had been set as the date for
the hearing in Attorney Syme's injunc-
ton proceedings, but Chief Justice Cla-
baugh granted Mr.. Syme permission to
file an amended bill Of complaint. Gen.
Granville NJ. Dodge, chairman Of the
Grant memorial commission. telegraphed
Capt Poole. who was In charge of the
work for the War Departmen to sus-
pend work on the foundations Of the me-
mortal. Various suggestions for a change
in the site OF the monument were made.
The fate of the trees was argued before
Justice Gould in the District Supreme
Court December 20 The decision Of the
court was reserved until January 2.
Early in September the trees in all the
parks in the city were attacked by tus-
sock caterpillars, and for a time these vo-
racious worms threatened the foliage to
a serious extent.
In the report Of the Rock Creek Park
commission recommendations were made
that several plats OF ground, aggregating
about forty acres, be purchased for the
purpose Of squaring the boundary Of the
park with the west side Of 18th street ex-
tended. Plans for the general improve
ment Of the park were also discussed
DIR. E. NJ. Gallaudet petitioned the Com
missioners to have the Brentwood estate
reserved for public park.