New-York tribune., 1909-01-19
PLANS FOR THE CAPITAL.


Enlightened public opinion will applaud PTesi-
dent Roosevelt's offer TO the American Institute
of Architects TO appoint standing committee OF
representative architects, painters, sculptors and
landscape architects to advise the government IN
the selection of designs for public works or Il
memorial or monumental character Inc heed
of such a body is self-evident. The fedefai
government has spent since its organization
about S5O00O00O0 for public buildings. statues
and works of art. Ninety per cent of that sum
has been spent in the last twenty-five years, anu
a growing consciousness of larger obIlgatlons on
the part of the government, coupled with pop
ular demand for more artistic results. Will insure
still more liberal outlay in the next quarter of
a century 1t is estimated that projects in
volving the expenditure Of S40.O00,000 are now
pending in Congress 1t is clearly advisable,
therefore. that provision be made for systematic
and competent supervision of such projects ana
for their coordination whenever they need TO be
co-ordinated.
The appeal made to the President by the
American Institute OF Architects followed me
circulation of rumors in Washington that the
House of Representatives was prepared 10 sane
ton the erection Of a Lincoln memorial OF such
character and on such a site in the national
capitaI as would seriously conflict with the
broader plans drawn up for the architectural
DEVELOPMENT of the federal district. II has been
reported that the House intended 10 vote TO con-
struct Lincoln monument Of some sort TO MI
out the vacant space between the Capito ana
the new Union Railroad Station. In accordance
with the so-called Burnham plans memorlal
to Lincoln was intended to crown the develop
ment of the Mall and the reclamation OF the
Potomac waterfront A bridge TO Arlington was
TO be one of the essential features of that trans
formation. Those who have been hopeful that
the Burnham plan. which is in the main only
working out of L'Enfant's ideas. would be &C
cepted as a binding model have been alarmed
at what they considered minor lapses from It.
and are now fearful that major and highly IN
furious lapse will be committed 1hey VIII
doubtless be reassured by the Presidents an
nouncement that be will ascertain and have put
on record the opinion of a competent advisory
board as TO the site and character most suitable
for a really worthy Lincoln memorial
The scheme for the adorGment Of Washington,
fostered wit so much enthusiasm by Senator
Mcmillan of Michigan. was. of course. too elab-
orate and costly TO be realized in one generation
or even in two. Yet it had the great merit as
had L Enfsnt's original scheme, of setting goal
toward which the capital might grow. 1t was
indeed. less in advance of the times than l. En-
fapt's was in 1900 The country has seen Wash
ington develop from a rude Southern village
city only in magnificent distances-to a real cap
ital in size. dignity of aspect and admirable
adaptation to the uses for which it was created
It is now more than half finished, and can be
easily finished in the splendid image of its de-
signers The main thing is to commit no serious
faults by the way Time and the national spirit
will work out the problem. if only short-sighted
dera ngements of the natural order are avoided
To those who contribute TO the prevention of
such derangements the nation will owe a debt
Of gratitude.