Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-30

me first duty. them of us Americans is
TO transform from uPliness into beauty
the south side of Pennsylvania avenue
and at the same time to meet adequately
without encroachment on the public parks
the governments urgent need Of sites for
public buildings.
Then should fol'ow the per<ect.ng Of
the system of outer parks, like those Of
buenos Aires, which was outlined and
urged by the Board of Trade twelve years
ago. and which the Mcmillan park COM
mission has so skillfully. artistically and
attractively elaborated in its report.
The main features of this park system,
which shall utilize and connect existing
park areas and create new ones until both
banks of the Potomac and of the Anacos-
TIA and of Rock creek shall be merged
into a single great park. are % cOnnec-
ton Of Potomac Park and the Mall by
memorial bridge with Arlington, and by
boulevard along the Virginia Potomac
Heights with Mount Vernon, thus bring
ing into a harmonious whole the public
grounds on both banks of the Potomac;
CD connection OF this Potomac Park sys-
TEN by parkway and boulevard with the
Zoo and Rock Creek Park; CD connect on
OF the Rock Creek Park system by boula-
ward and Soldiers Home with the parks
now In process of formation on both
banks of the Anacostia, including ST.
Elizabeth's. with its fine view and a.
vigorous development of the Anacostia
parks and the connection of this system
NY DOuIctdTO WIN l1e Odp-Ol GROUNDS,
the Mall and the Potomac Park system.
Vital Connecting Parkway Links.
OF primary Importance in developing
this project is to secure the vital connect
ing links above noted, first, the memorial
bridge. which will connect the riverside
parks on the two banks Of the Potomac.
Mount Vernon and Arlington on the
south and ork nm he
then the parkway connection alorg love-
Rock creek of the riverside park system
with the Zoo and Rock Creek Park al
then the parkway connection through Sol
d1ers Home Of the Rock Creek Park sys-
tenn with the parks to be on both sides
OF the AnacoStia.
Last Of all Though some now seem to
place 1t first, neglecting the vital for the
comparatively immateriaD is the treat
ment and development in detail of l. En-
fant's public garden, the Mall which has
been rescued or released from railroad
occupation and is already in the public
possession and use as a breathing place
attractive with trees and grass and
flowers.
Wisdom of postponement of the de-
tailed development of the Mall is en-
phasized by consideration Of the fact that
the project of treatment now favored by
the architects, who have overthrown and
ousted the landscape gardeners, involves
destruction OF the natural park now ex-
listing in the Mall area and devotes 1t, in
part, to the sites of public buildings and.
in part, to an artificial formal geometric
garden OF the Versailles pattern, spend
ing large sums OF money to subtract
from and to disfigure existing park areas.
and to displace the native groves located
and planted by Downing. the greatest
landscape gardener Of his day in Amer
lea with clipped and tubbed trees in
straight lines, after the formal French
fashion, substituting, it has been sug-
gested, for the Monarchs of the Forest
the Monarchs of the Tub.
We Of Washington have already wasted
vitality valuable time and energy, which
should have been devoted to the removal
of the national shame which the
present condition of Pennsylvania avenue
involves: ard to the acquisition OF the
essential connecting links of the compre-
hensive park system, in wrangling over
the comparative merits OF the natural
garden and the artificial garden. the gar
den of Downing and that of LIE Notre.
Instead of securing long ago these vitals
Of capital upbuilding we have permitted
Congress to procrastinate until control OF
the two branches ne the national le"is a
ture has been divided between the politi-
cal parties. with the paralysis to great
public works which this condition in
wolves or. at least, threatens.
Parks as Free Public Building Sites.
The paralyzing effect Of divid partisan
control OF the national government is
shown in the standstill to which the
campaign for acquisition Of the Avenue
Mall triangle seems to have come. Con-
gress acquired certain blocks of this area
for three department buildings. The
executive department has decided-no
doubt wisely-that this space is not suffi-
cient for the three buildings, and that
more ground Is needed. But instead of
applying to Congress to authorize the
condemnation Of the additional ground
needed in the Avenue-Mall triangle the
authorities seem to confess impotency to
secure such congressional action. and APP
ply instead to Congress to establish the
dangerous precedent, before the Avenue
Mali triangle has been acquired, Of con-
hscating public building site from the
Mall park. proposition which may de-
light the snort-sighted economist, but
which makes the judicious grieve.
For 1t means the postponement for an
indefinite period of the movement to re-
create Pennsylvania avenue, our great
historic thoroughfare. to free 1t from