The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-10-11
John G, Olnlstead, Noted En-.
glneer, Makes Prelirninaryz
Study of Tract,
FRONT IS TOO MARION
Thinks State Should Acquirl
More Ground; Impressed
With Magnificent View.

John T.. Olmstrd. one of the famou.
landscape architects of the Un!fe4
states. visited the site Of the new ITtar
state capitol yesterday forenoon, and VA
profoundly impressed with the location
Mr.. plmst~d was especially struck witE
the magnificent view that Is obtainef
from tho capitol si;e and declared tha<
1t is possible To make In" building am
site "a combination OF surprising beautv
My. Olmsted found that the grounda
arc too small as they now are properlv
To SGT on "A building of the proportional
planned by the capitol commission. VIII
additional area. however. he said thcr1
was no reason why G-tah's new capito
should not take place in the fnrenoe|
rank nf state official homes, II Ia 81
OlWSred's belief that many of the i'm.
provenen,s now talked Of should not d
made at this time, hut that all thinGI
IN connection with th" capitol should h1
approached with "a view 10 the fu,,r1
Of the statchous" and it's surroundings
Thus ho Is opposed 10 building a stree|
car line up State street saying that Il
In" car tracks were laid an the mai
lead - the capitol tho tracks would Id
an offensive blot. Likewise, Mr., Olmstef
is opposed TO laying car tracks on IN
stra"t east nf the capitol grounds fo|
tho reason that If more ground is pro
cured on TINT Side the car tracks will n|
I'm the middle Of the capitol grounde
which. of course. would mar their beauty
Mr.. Olmstcd believes that the ear It'd
should approach ti" capitol grounds frou
Main street. Sewers and other eyten.
slve improvements. Hr. Olmstcd b@lievef
should not be put in until they can bl
made permanent.
Will Collect Data.
Mr. Olmsted will remain in Salt Lak<
several days for the purpose of collectinI
data with reference 10 grades and tn
.,Is ,I..
the architects have submitted their ur
signs. when he will be in r position d
give hnal advice about arranging tH
grounds, determining heights and estah
fishing grades for terraces.
Several members OF the capitol com
mission accompanied Mr.. Olnsted on HI
visit to the Capltol site. These were Gov
"rnor Spry, Secretary OF State Tirgef
John Henry Smith and John Dcrn Othc
persons Interested were also in the party
81 think the grounds are too narroS
In front for such building as y
Manned said Mr.. Olmsted. "Of coursf
| the building can be erected. There
nothing 10 interfere with that: but MOI
ground should be acquired. ] bcliev
| that undue improvements should not b
made at this tine view view 10 mak
| Ing them permanent, for IL would be
useless expense and would have To .
| done all over again when more eroun
| Is procured. ] regard the site as n super
| one The view that may he obtaine
| from the capitol site is magnificent. ri,
! think something should he done nj onr
inEs In the vicinity, The erection Of hiG
apartment houses Of course would OF
struct the view. But II there were q
enactment OF some sort-either legislq
| tive or munc!pa!-that would limit q
| height OF buildings in the vicinity OF u
| capitol 10 two and a half stories or thers
ahouts, | think Il would preserve IN
view for all time"
Saw Site Forty Years Ago.
| Mr. Olmstcd had an unusual experieuc
! when he visited the capitol site. In lS'
| be canpeG on the very SPOT where ttah
| big, new stalehouse is 10 he built. u
| was then lad OF II years and mad
! himself useful 10 q large governmenI 80
veying party by being the official carris
| Of the barometer. II was a the Tin
| when the golden spike was driven for q
transcontinental railroad at Promontor1
MIR Olmsted and his party came to Sa'
Lake from ogden by stage.
II recall" said Mr. Olmstcd. TN
there we're thousands Of scagulls Der
then devouring millions OF erasshopper'
| wonder II they arc stll hereP
Mr. Olnsted came 70 Salt Lake in q
sponse TO a telegram sent 10 him nj hI
| home ia Brookine, Mass, two wee
ago. He was requested to come AT onc<
but he was unayoidabiy delayed becauF
Of two important projects which demand
ed MS attention-one at Winnipeg az
the other at Victoria. Al the form
place Mr.. Oimstod laid out a subdlvisi0
of 100 acres and In Victoria he laid on
II residential subdivision Of 40 acres, N
sites in which VIII he sold at Sl0.oo
each He also stopped al Seattle. wheI
he has laid out parks and public ground
for eight wears He designed ~
ground plan for the Alaska Yukon III
cidc exposition In 1909. Mr. Olmstrd ha
Just completed the work Of arrangiu
the grounds at the new Kentucky star
capitol al Frankfort.
Mr. Oimstcd is guest at the Hot
titan