The Washington herald., 1911-02-28

amount each year with which to pur-
chase and develop land.
Mrs. S. A. Willis, a member of the
committee, said she recognized difficulty
III the fact that If the periodic appro-
priation scheme was adopted the lands
which stood directly in the way of The
improvement would be raised in price by
the owners, who would know that the
government woull require their property.
She advocated buying options on all the
lands included in the parking scheme at
one time, to insure uniform purchase
price.
Maj. Judson replied that when land
was held too high, condemnation pro-
ceedings could be employed.
Arthur G. Moses advocated the cen
tering of the fire" upon the Lincoln
memorial, which is designed to stand be-
tween the Washington Monument and
the tidal basin, surrounded by gardens.
Mr.. Moses pledged the support of the
Chamber of Commerce to the efforts of
the committee.
other members of the committee who
made speeches in favor of extensive i'm
provement of the parking and memorial
systems of Washington were Miss Mabel
Boardman, William NICK. Clayton, DR..
George NJ. Kober. ]. Louis Willige, and
A. Leftwich Sinclair.
Gives History and Facts.
Glenn Brown, chairman of the COM
mittee, who has worked on a number
of plans for the improvement of the city,
said in part:
George Washington left rs a valuable
asset in the plan of Washington City
The development of the city in accord
ance to his plan was ignored after the
generation to which he belonged passed
away. The lack OF harmony between
buildings, parks, and statues erected or
placed between 1880 and 1900 have done
much harm to the logical and artistic
growth of the city.
The American Institute of Architects
in 1901 secured commission to study
the future development Of the city. The
report of this commission, which was
presented to the public in 1902, met with
the universal approval of experts and
received Endorsement of the cultivated
and intelligent people of the world.
eff our city is to be developed into the
great Capital to which the nation Is
entitled and which the people will de-
mand. it must be extended on systematic
and weII-considered lines. Now, as the
Park plans have been subjected to the
criticism of the world for the last nine
years and are considered a type for all
nations to follow, il seems we. can do
nothing better for the future of our city
than to secure action by Congress that
will assure the growth of the city ac-
cording to the spirit of these plans.
Tt appears strange that with the great
plan presented by George Washington
and the drawings looking TO its future
development in accord with the original
plan presented nine years ago by the
park commission, nothing has been done
toward making this plan binding. land
fixing It as the policy on which the
future city should be extended The
American Institute of Architects by per-
sistent effort has secured the location of
the agriculture building. the New Ma
tional Museum and the Grant Monument
in harmony with the general plan, and
has prevented temporarily the location
of the Lincoln memorial as an addenda
to the Union Railway Station.
Parking Rock Creek Valley from the
river TO the Geological Park and the &C
QUESTION of other park areas are most
urgent Although they are included in
the park plans they may any day be
destroyed. and thus become useless for
park purposes.
May BE Acquired Here.
IT understand the forests on the banks
Of the Potomac may be secured. II this
is a fact, they should be among the early
acquisitions, as these forests and wooded
tracts are positively necessary to the
future welfare and comfort of the city.
We are much encouraged that the ap-
preparation of 100000 has been secured
for the Lincoln memorial"
The resolution was put to a vote and
passed.
A lively tilt between william E. Shan
non. A. Leftwich Sinclair. and Mr.. Brown
occurred when Mr.. Shannon recon-
mended the name of Richard B. Watrous,
secretary OF the American Civic Associa-
ton, for membership on the committee
Mr.. Sinclair stated that while he was IN
favor of Mr.. Watrous as an addition to
the committee, he questioned the right
Of Mr.. Brown, the chairman to enlarge
the membership. The matter was fnaHy
left to the president of the Chamber Of
CtOrnrnerca