The Washington herald., 1910-06-29

Many of the citizens Of Washington are
up in arms against the suggested use OF
Potomac Park as an Amy infantry post
They recognize that the suggestion,
coming, as it does. from army men.
has weight, and they are fearful that
this splendid reservation. which has al
ways been talked of as a public park,
VIII be permanently diverted from such
Use TO that OF barracks, a parade ground,
and other accessories of a military post
Members Of the Chamber of Commerce
and Board Of Trade see special objection
to the suggestion OF army officers regard
ing Potomac Park
William F. GUIDE. president Of the Cham
Der, said last night he was utterly op-
posed 10 the project from every point
of view. He declared that the in
tention Of Congress in retaining the
island known as Potomac Park was 70
make II magnificent open space I'm the
middle OF the river. between the two
channels. to be devoted forever TO public
use as beauty spot for the city. as it
should grow bigger and more populous.
would Deface Island.
Turning this island into a second Fort
Siyer, declared Mr.. GUIDE. would
amount 20 breach of faith on the part
Of the government, and would turn over
TO the army one Teservat ion of all which
in future years would make Washington
the delight of the country and the world
To one who has been in Europe and has
seen what has been done in the cities OF
the Old World in the way Of parking small
| islands in he rivers abuttlng the big
d eel
ing this beautiful island turned into a
military post
Potomac Park has great possibilities
/ in the way Of Identification Admitting
! that under present circumstances II Is a
/ little remote from the street car lines,
| that II Is not up 10 grade, and that Il
| viii probably lie there unlmproved a
/ quarter OF a century. stln the city viii
grow to il, and when the time Of i'm
/ prvement cmes Potomac Park viii
/ blossom out naturally into the most at
| traetive place In Washington
Fine Island Park.
Tapped by the waters of the river. II
! viii give a fine view up and down the
/ Potomac. Fitted up with driveways and
walks, lined with shade trees. adorned
with pavilions. and stretching away to
I =.
I broken here and there with shrubs and
! towering plants. there can be no doubt
| of its ultimate beauty Then there will
/ be the bridges connecting IL with the
main land, with statues, arches. perhaps,
! and works OF art here and there It is
/ the one place Of all about Washington
! which ought 10 be protected from any
/ use other than that Of a public park
i cannot find words TO express my dis
approval OF the suggestion made that il
be turned into military reservation"
Mr.. Cox Opposes Suggestion.
! William v Cox. prominent member
/ OF the Board of Trade and its former
! president. holds similar views 10 those
! expressed by Mr.. Guide Mr.. Cox said It
was a foolish plea for the government
/ TO make that it could not afford TO buy
| a place for an infantry barracks. but
/ must take Potomac Park.
] "Congres s. he said, and the citizens
/ Of Washington have worked many years
/ first 10 get the reservation and gradually
/ 10 bring il along 10 where IL is, and now.
Z .ts he time approaches for the compile
/ ton of the work Of improving 1t for
public use, comes up this suggestion 70
turn II 10 military purposes"
Mr.. Cox said the citizens of the city
ought to start a campaign against the
| project that would leave no doubt in the
] minds OF the government or the country
that they intend to have Potomac Park
as public breathing space for all time
! TO come.
Similar expressions were heard all about
| Washington yesterday Men with milf
tary education and leanings were inclined
10 agree with the army officers that the
1 81 r,Iu
post, but many of them were opposed
TO taking 1t for the purpose. Business
men who had anything to say on the
| subject were dead against the PROPOSE
/ ton. It was pointed out that the gov
| eminent had already taken two of the
most available places near the city for
military uses, the war college grounds
and Fort Myer. and now II it is to take
over Potomac Park, what VIII be left
to the city near the river?" asked one
| prominent banker very earnestly.
Suggests AnaIostan Island.
Thomas Grant, secretary of the Cham
Der of Commerce. came forward with the
suggestion that Analostan Island afforded
far greater advantages for an army post
than Potomac Park He said IL was
larger. for one thing. was near Fort
Meyer. and. with the possibility Of re-
claiming land at the lower end, would
afford the government a much better
place for its army post than the river
island ever could.
Mr.. Grant thought the government
could acquire Analostan Island By con
domination proceedings at a comparative
~ low price, and that the government of.
ficials, as well as the infantry branch oil
the army. would be much better pleased
with the one than the other.
BY taking Analostan Park, Mr.. Grant
said the government could keep faitf
with the people Of Washington and save
Potomac Park as park, carrying oui
the original design. He thought that il
the same army officers that inspected
4 Potomac Park should so over Analostar
Island they would find Ii far better SUITED
to their use than the island below.
President GUIDE and others were no
decided yesterday just what steps ough
TO be taken to nip this unfortunate sug
gestion as they termed it. in the head
but they were agreed that such step.
ought TO be taken, and in due time, prob
ably the subject VIII be thrashed out al
a meeting Of the directors of the Cham
Der, and possibly by those OF the Boars
OF Trade, with definite action determined
upon to stop the seizure by the army O
Potomac Park.
Oufsuo for Columbus KNIGHT