The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-05
GIVES WASHINGTON
PRIDE A SETBACK
Continued from Page One.

Increasing at a much less rapid rate than
are the means available. The debt is be-
ing rapidly paid off.
THE only thing that Is not being done
al the present time is to effect those
permanent or extraordinary improve
ments such as are essential in the cas-
Of Washington. These Improvements
can be made more economically If made
Systematically.
THE ample revenues eliminate any
need for the borrowing OF money. Il is
only necessary to make a programme of
expenditure.
1T is important that this bill should
become a law at this session Of Congress
in order that the halt In the making OF
permanent improvements may end be-
/ fore the advance IN real estate values
shall materially increase the cost Of OBJ
tanning the land that will be required for
parks, Sc.
L hesitate TO employ the phrase 'ex-
! traordinary improvements as applied TO
works of this class. for the reason that
it appears 10 be generally true in the
lives Of cities that the so-called 'extraor-
binary Improvements in sight at any one
/ epoch are always more numerous and
costly than works Of the same class that
were in sight at any previous epoch, even
| though all OF the latter works may have
been executed.
4 am unwilling 20 advocate a policy
Of borrowing to accomplish works OF this
class, as it is apparent that there would
be no end TO such borrowing The loans
would. I'm fact. come due at the very time
when other so-called extraordinary i'm
provements' would demand to be done.
In emergencies, doubtless the creation
of municipal debts is tustihable. Ger
tainly the borrowing Of money by any
body is sound business proposition
when a larger interest can be earned
upon the money borrowed than is paid
for its use. But it is. nevertheless. true
that no one should go in debt whose
means are ample-with due economy. but
with reasonable dispatch-to make all OF
the OUTLAWS which he considers desirable
And such is the position OF the District
| OF NoiUHDld AZ TINS time,
Address of Mr.. Page.
Mr.. Page. when introduced. said.
We are much given 10 claiming thai
Washington is now the most beautiful
city in the country, and one Of the mos
beautiful In the world; in fact. We are
much given TO claiming that whatever We
are. we are the most OF that.
Our superlative degree has usurpeC
the place OF the positive and quite ban
ished the comparative. But II I may say
so. without giving offense. this menta
attitude. which is essentially that of tn,
provincial who knows little OF the stand
ards by which comparison is made. IA
unworthy Of a great people
II is true that Washington Is
beautiful city It is equally true tina
it was laid out by men Of large minds
on a worthy plan.
But / would call your attention 20 tn,
fact that with the exception OF the worl
done under supervision Of great artist
in the last few years. the beauty o
Washington is almost exclusively the re
suit OF the far-reaching wisdom OF IA
original designers.
The beauty of Washington consists
almost exclusively IN its plan. its Wild
and spacious avenues and tree-borderet
streets. and its few notable and fine pub
lie buildings, such as the Capitol, viii
its imposing dome and beautiful wings
which are on lines Of harmony hardly ex
celled by any buildings in the world; m
Treasury. worthy Of the best era Of arch
itecture that the world has known; tn
old Smithsonian Building. with the olt
Post-offce and the old Court House. an,
last. but not least the White House
among the most charming OF all man
sions. certainly in appearance. whateve
its deficiencies as to space and conveni
ence may be.
The noble shaft. known as the Wash
ington Monument. which rears itself alof
= in simple majesty. eXceninE, il seems :
many Of us. all other monuments tina
humanity has erected, as he in who's
! honor it was erected excelled all othe
men in the majestic simplicity Of hi
character.
1t used 10 be charged by caviliers tina
it represented merely bulk-simply huge
ness. l think that no one who abide
long in sight OF that monument will "a
10 be impressed by not only its majesty
,, but it's beauty. without a trace Of orna
ment, towering aloft in harmonious pre-
portion.
p Now. If we consider for n moment W
, shall find ourselves confronted by tn
fact possibly surprising to some, tha
s the especial beauty of Washington.
not its chief beauty. consists in the NOR
or less successful carrying out Of tn
plan known as the TEnfant system. an
. the beginning of the carrying out Of til
! plan known as the McKim plan
Little has been done as yet, outsld
s OF these plans. though from time TO tim
{ earnest efforts have been made by fan
. sighted persons looking for the futur
beauty of the Capital, to supplemer
them by continuing. the comprehensiy
system in accordance with our extende
: needs.
Two great steps have been takei
+ One the securing and development
: the Rock Creek Park; the other the r,
. clamation of the Potomac Flats. an
70 the change OF the latter from a series
miasmic swamps 10 a park which
. destined to be, I trust, an integral pa
. OF one Of the most beautiful park sy.
- TENS in the world
If you will but reflect. as beautif,
. as are our streets and parks. there al
- outside of Lafayette and Frankli
Squares scarcely a half score Of lars
. trees in Washington. while those IN =;
20 fayette Square until a great storm son
thirteen years ago. one Of the mo-
10 |
B.. Capital and ProAts Over 81 10000.