Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-05

ciples Of the park commission report be.
cause 1t was simply the George Wash
| trict. He stated that everything that had
been done since 1902 had been generally
on the line OF that plan. HIS great re-
greet was that Congress had not adopted
tions for the acquisition Of all park lands
| before they were seised by spectators.
II the former plan Of the District Com
| missioners had been entirely carried out.
extraordinary improvements needed
would have been made promptly. the
Districts share in the cost to be gradu-
ally repaid.
complished during the past ten years,
when about twenty-three million dollars
had been expended In extraordinary I'm
provements. the railroad company ex-
pending nearly as much more ia making
the railway terminal, abolishing grade
crossings and providing the Union sta
tion.. besides vacating the Mall.
Means Slower Development.
He had subscribed to the Commits
sioners' plan. now pending. for financing
the extraordinary improvements. he said,
because under the circumstances it
seemed the best that could be done. Con-
sress having made 1t impossible for the
Commissioners to present estimates for
additional extraordinary improvements.
and the program of the Commissioners
being only two-thirds completed. or
course. the new plan meant much slower
development, but that could not be helped
In view Of the attitude Of Congress Mean
while the old bonded Indebtedness of u
about twenty-five million dollars in 1873
to about nine million dollars. and the
floating Indebtedness was only four mil
lion dollars. Congress having compelled a
too rapid repayment. which had pre-
vented larger appropriations for current
needs
The country wanted the National Capt.
tai to be beautifed, said Mr.. mcfarland,
and developed in every way and was
ready to support Congress In going much
more rapidly and spending much more
Of the national money. In addressing
conventions here and elsewhere he found
that many Intelligent people thought the
United States paid the whole expense Of
the National Capital, and were surprised
to learn that it paid only half.
Payments Here and Elsewhere.
Being asked by ex-senator Henderson
from the audience what the respective
per capita payments were. he stated that
roughly last year the District people paid
$16 per capita and that the rest Of the
90. 900 citizens paid 6 cents per capita,
made whenever he spoke for Washing
ton that the other Americana 10 -
gladly double or treble their contribut- ii.
The Washingtonians, he thought, had
done their full duty.
Their record. he declared, with respect
to the Fairgrounds, which should be
called outdoor schools. Is equally credit
able. The citizens, by the loan OF play
grounds and the provision of money for
the necessary equipment and supervision,
hOra tho U,hn1n q until their
success and the example Of every other
progressive city showed that these out
door schools ought to be treated like any
other form of public education and there
fore should be supported by the munich
pality. Here, Of course, under the half
and-half system OF the organic act. Con-
gress has recognized this principle. ap-
propriating In all up to this year $4,000
vision, besides $4,000 to purchase and i'm
prove two sites, and 1t is to be hoped. he
said, that Congress will continue to make
these appropriations for this purpose and
to make them on the half-and-half basis.
since they are necessary. and there 1. no
reason to distinguish them from any other
municipal appropriation. Besides the loan
Of sites. citizens have contributed $4,000
to the Fairgrounds direct, In addition to
one-half OF congressional appropriations.
Keep Subject Agitatsd.
NIlSun 0EOWH, cnalKIUdn VI inc CIVIC I'LL
committee, told the meeting that the plan
for the artistic development Of Washing
ton should be kept in mind by every citi-
zen, and that the subject should be stir
red up constantly 50 that the sentiment
tai should not. die. He told his hearers
| that the citizens Of the city could do
much toward removing criticism by keep
ing the subject Of municipal art con-
stantly to the front.
Rock Creek valley should be made Q
beautiful park, he said. and the citizens
| should accomplish hat by keeping alive
| the sentiment OF the lovers Of natural
parks by constantly pounding the authori-
ties with the reiterated statement that
low tho park Is akin to q noisome pesti-
1ence. He urged tho citizens to keep ask
ing for better approaches to the Con.
necticut Avenue bridge.
tion." he said. land the citizens can
use team work to get 1t. The exposition
offers Ane opportunity for constructing
proposed improvements az part of the
exposition
David Fairchild, president Of the Peo-
pies Gardens Association, gave the audi
ence tho outlines Of what the association
intends to do toward beautifying the city
by individual gardens arranged In care
fully planned order so that the whole ef-
ance. He announced that the garden
council of the association would have
as members the experts Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture.
Community Problem Here.
Mr.. Fairchid explained that gardening
in America must be a community prob
lem, as there are no ancient estates and
no entailmeut OF estates insuring the
preservation Of gardens from generation
to generation. It is with this phase of
gardening that the Peoples Gardens AS
ISOLATION purposes to concern itself 1t
will Immediately plant a model garden
near the Speedway on reclaimed ground
and one in the northeast, to serve as ex-
amples to amateur gardeners and profit
those who have no opportunity for gar
dening; 1t will institute competitions
among citizens for private gardens: it will
treat various sections to demonstrate pos
sibilities: it will be prepared to furnish
advice and information to would-be gar
deners, and 1t will beautify the roadWays
in the vicinity Of Washington by planting
seeds and roots Of owering plants indf-
genous to this climate. In other words.
this organisation purposes to convert
Washington into a garden city.
Miss Leila Mechlin, president of the
League for the Decoration of the Pub
| lie Schools. told Of the efforts Of this
society to improve the appearance of
the school buildings by tinting the walls
| and placing thereon pictures and casts.
renrOducing great works of art