The Washington herald., 1909-07-11
Washington Owes Much to
Foliage Along Streets.
ATTRACTIVE TO STRANGERS
In Addition 20 Trees I'm Parks, the
District Has $4,000 Along the Ave-
Paris and VIII Soon Head the
List-Fnmed. for Beauty.
By E. c. r.. HUMPHREYS.

national, as THE City Beautiful" to its /
tens Of thousands OF trees that grace the 1
avenues. streets, and rOadWays. and the I
many parks that form large and small I
open-air breathing spots in every part
Of the topography Of the Old and new
portions of the city. II has been truly /
and forcefully said that the trees OF
Washington rank among It's chief attrac- |
tiOns and are the constant admiration Of
tourists from all over the world"
The Capital City Of the nation is famed |
far and wide for its many well-kept |
parks. squares and circles. the circles be- !
ing especially attractive 90 strangers, !
forming as they do, beautiful vistas from
all points OF the compass at the junction
OF avenues and streets branching out in
every direction. The more prominent OF
these circles are Thomas Circle. Iowa
Circle. Dupont Circle Washington Circle. !
OF the larger park grounds the Mall, run
ming from the Capitol 70 the Washington
Monument is the best known. IN il are
located the Botanical Gardens. National
Museum, and Smithsonian Institution
grounds. the grounds around the Agri-
cultural Department buildings and the
spacious Washington Monument lot"
The Monument Lot IS a vast. well-kept
common without trees, but nevertheless ii
is one Of the most attractive public
grounds IN the city. in the center OF which
stands the massive granite and marble
shaft TO the memory Of the first President
Of the country.
White Lot Nearby.
Adjoining the Monument 10, is the
private park OF the President. lying 10 the
south OF the White House commonly
known as THE White Lot" To the
north OF the White House. fronting Penn
syIvania avenue, are the public grounds
Of the Executive Mansion and just across
the street are located Lafayette Square.
one OF the handsomest and best kept
parks IN the city.
South Of the Monument Lot and lying
along the Potomac River and the Tidal
Basin Is Potomac Park not vet completed.
and through which passes the city's Ia
nous speedway so extensively used for
motoring and driving. This park. when
completed. viii be one Of the finest in the
country. President Taft has taken spe-
cial lancy TO this beautiful spot with It's
many and changing views, 20 the swiftly
moving autoist of valley. hills, noun
tains, and river stretching far away along
the Maryland and Virginia lines The
tiality 10 Potomac Park by having a large
band stand erected there. from which
weekly concerts by the United States Ma
rine Band were given in the spring
Across the river from the Potomac
Park. and which probably at no distant
day will be connected with the city prop
er by a handsome memorial bridge. is To-
Gated Arlington. the National Cemetery.
where lie buried with military and naval
rvsHa haf~ Tft.Ae
IN defense Of their country in the civil
and other wars. These grounds, which
can be considered as part Of the Nation
al capital. are extensive and well-woOded.
with natural forest growth and planted
trees forming a hin and plateau Of un-
usual beauty and attractiveness.
Capital Grounds Attractive.
Another Of the large and specially at
tractive grounds of the city are the
vast acreage surrounding the National
Soldiers Home. Then there are the
grounds about the Capitol building that
never fail TO command the admiration Of
citizens and visitors alike. OF the more
important and generally visited parks of
the city there are Franklin Park. Judi
Ciary Square. Lincoln Park. Garfield
Park and Mcpherson Square.
All Of these grounds are government res
ervations and under the direct care Of the
superintendent of public buildings and
grounds. an Office under the War De-
partment In addition 10 the parks enUm-
Grated above there are other small parks.
circles. and triangles all over the city
that contribute 10 its general beauty.
While the government has no list Of the
number Of trees planted in the govern
-ment parks and public grounds, an ap-
proximate estimate places the number at
, something over 5000 trees.
IN addition 70 the parks under control Of
the national government. there are plant
ed along the avenues, streets, and road
ways of the District and maintained and
under control of the District Of Columbia
government $4,000 trees, covering SIS miles
q mile Of trees meaning a mile in length
planted along the curb of both sides OF
the street. Paris. France, enjoys the dis
tinction Of possessing more parking and
trees in its parks and along its streets
avenues. and other thoroughfares than
any other city in the world. It being
stated shat its streets alone are adorned
with over 10000 trees. exclusive Of its
parks.
Soon VIII Head List.
Washington stands next 10 Paris. and
II the plans proposed 10 extend the park
ing system and the planting OF trees II
the city are carried out by Congress. this
city win in a few years head the list
Cleveland. Ohio. known as ''The Fores
City" some years ago was considered tht
leading city in this country in the mum
her of it's public parks and trees shadine
its streets. but the Buckeye State city ha,
had TO take second place with Washing
ton.
The District government owns and con
trols only two small parks. one located
in front Of the new Municipal Buildinl
and the other on Pennsylvania avenue
now running from Seventh TO Ninitl
streets. fronting Center Market All o
the small parking along the streets insid,
Of the curb lines in which the trees ar,
planted and those spaces in the middle o
some of the avenues and streets. notabl,
New York avenue northwest and Pennsyl
.vania avenue in the southeast. comes un
der the control of the District Engineerinl
Department and is looked after by III
superintendent Of parking and trees
For the current fiscal year Congress
appropriated the sum or $500 70
the parking and trees under control o
the District government. The previou
year the number OF new trees set Ou
numbered 33Z9 which was an increas
over the previous year OF 100 The aggre
gate number Of trees removed during tn
same period by reason of trees dying
injured BIZ storm and other causes
change AsAsl45rade Of streets, was 2O8.