The Washington herald., 1908-04-12

The season Of the year IS approaching
when the parks of Washington are in
their best estate For the next two
months these sodded public places. with
Towering shrubs. trees. land plants. viii
be fresh and beautiful with their wealth
Of green and color. Each year these
parks, little and big, seem 10 be more
attractive under the intelligent care Civ
en- them by the officer in charge of public
buildings and grounds and the capable
corps OF helpers he has gathered around
him.
At all seasons Of the year. but especially
in spring and early summer. the govern
ment reservations Of the Capital. as they
are called in official documents, are much
admired by visitors who see them for the
first time and compare them with what
they are accustomed to in other cities.
City Has Large Park space.
Washington has more parking space.
better arranged for public observation,
and lending Itself TO better purpose 10
the art of the landscape gardener. than
any city In North America. It's parking
spaces are scattered over the entire city,
in big and small parcels OF ground which
have been converted into beauty spots,
sodded. adorned with shrubs and flow
ers. some Of them the sites Of statues
and some Of them with flowing foun-
taiRs. The effect Of these reservations,
With the wide parking space provided fer
in front Of the residences which private
enterprise has made beautiful. gives a
beauty and grandeur to Washington
which no other American city possesses.
The variety and dimensions of the city's
parking spaces are Impressive In the
central group Of parks, including the
Capitol grounds, Mall Monument
grounds, and the White Lot. there ere
$3.50 acres. of which 35s.I acres are
unoceupled by buildings and under the
care of The officer in charge Of public
buildings and grounds.
Potomac Park has 1394 acres. a large
part of which Is now under Improvement
The Geological Park has 10 acres, which,
with the deep valley OF the creek and the
wooded heights on either side. is one Of
the mOst picturesque public grounds to
/ be ound anywhere Rock Creek Park
has 1888 acres, improved with an ex-
tensive system Of driveways and ad-
-
parks together contain 2sSl.9 acres. in
itself large allotment OF public space
for city the size OF the Capital
Group of semi-pubIfc Spaces.
In addition TO these public parks is a
group of semi-public grounds about the
public institutions which add much 10
the beauty Of the city. They are the
grounds about the Soldiers Home. OF
5e2 acres, the park about the Government
Hospital for the Insane, Of 1888 acres,
and numerous other parks Of a similar
nature, which in the total are 2,4s54S
acres.
But the public spaces which come most
directly under the eyes Of the visitor,
and the resident as well. are the smaller
squares. triangles. circles. and tTapeZoids
which lie at the intersections OF the
streets and avenues throughout the city
The squares ana circles, Of which there
are twenty-six. ranging in size from one
acre 10 twenty-fhree acres-Garfield Park
contain all told I2l. % acres, with an aver
age size OF ass acres. Several Of these
squares and circles are among the most
attractive public spaces in the city. La
fayette Square is possibly the peer Of
them all, and If not. Lincoln Park. which
is larger. might be accorded that dignity
Among the circles Dupont and Iowa are
among the finest These are the sites OF
most Of the statues and public foun-
tains.
Triangies and TrapesOids Numerous.
In addition TO these more pretentious
reservations are the 275 smaller triangles
and trapezoids. ranging in size from 800
square feet TO $500 square feet, and near
ly all of them in a high state of improve
ment, with close cropped lawns, central
beds Of blooming plants, and many Of
them having walks ianked with shrub
berry which blooms some time in the year.
giving to the small spaces a rare beauty
all through the spring, summer, and fail
months.
The government allows between sl50,000
and $20o.000 annually for the care Of pub
lie buildings and grounds. and OF this
sum about $4,000 is laid out upon the
parks alone In the last annual report
of the superintendent of buildings and
grounds 1t is stated that over f.e90,0e0
plants were propagated in the government
greenhouses for planting IN the parks.
There we're actually planted 265 trees
1883 shrubs. 81, coo bulbs. and S79 s49 fiow-
ering and foliage plants. These figures
are independent Of the amounts spent
upon the Geological and RockS Creek
parks and the permanent Improvements
put into some Of the parks in the way
OF driveways, fountains. and statues.
The work of propagating trees ard
plants is carried on by the regular force
OF laborers employed by the superintend-
ent. and the cost Of the material used in
the adoFnment Of the parks is small in
comparison with what private individ-
uals would pay for the same material
with which to adorn the grounds about
their houses. The sum Of money named.
therefore, reaches farther than would
appear at first thought
Planting Trees AIong Streets.
Supplementary 10 the general system
of parks and an essential part Of the
Identification Of the city, IS the planting
and care OF trees along the highways
OF the city. This work is carried on by
the municipal governments under the SUI
pervisi0n Of the superintendent OF park
ing. The municipality has planted ana
regularly cares for about sz.09 trees
There is added 10 this number each year
an average Of nearly z,et9 trees along new
streets and IA the suburban portion OF
the city as it is opened
The shaded streets of Washington ars
one Of the important elements Of is3