Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-28
improving Washington on Park
Commissions Lines.
ROCK CREEK VALLEY PLANS
Report Adopted for Presentation to
Chamber Of Commerce.
ADDRESS BY GLENN BROWN
Commercial Bodies Throughout the
Country Asked to Support Project.
Recommendation Submitted.

Commercial bodies throughout the
United States will he asked to give their
support TO the development Of the Ma
i;onal Capital along the lines laid down
by the park commission. The first step
in this campaign WAS taken at meeting
of the general committee Of citizens desig-
mated by the Chamber Of Commerce to CO.
operate with the American Institute OF
Architects, which was held at the Cham
Der OF Commerce yesterday afternoon.
The committee framed its report and
recommendatio which will be laid be-
fore the Chamber of Commerce. and
asked that ii be granted power, in the
Hame of the Washington Chamber OF
Commerce. to seek the aid Of the trade
bodies throughout the country in infiu-
encing Congress in favor of the park
commissions plan.
Report Unanimously Approved.
The report of the committee was sub
mitted by Glenn Brown, the committee
chairman. and unanimously approved. A
resolution cotering the recommendations
OF the committee was offered by W. Z.
Shannon. and. after some discussion.
adopted. Besides recommending that the
spirit of the park commissions plan be
carried out i'm tie development OF wash
ington, the committee specifically urges
that the Lincoln memorial be placed on
the bank Of the Potomac river, on the
axis of the Capitol and the Monument;
that Rock Greek valley he made park.
and that the banks of the Potomac river
be acquired as part OF the Appalachian
forest reserve provided for in a Dill
passed by Congress.
Explaining his recommendation Mr..
Brown said:
George Washington left Us valuable
asset in the plan of Washington city. The
development OF the city In accordance to
his plan was ignored after the generation
to which he belonged passed away. The
lack of harmony between buildings parks
ard statues erected or placed between
1880 and 1900 has done much harm TO
the logical and artistic growth of the
city.
Study Of Future Development.
The American Institute of Architects
in 1901 secured commission to study the
future development Of the city. The re-
port of this commission, which was pre-
scented TO the public in 1902, met with the
universal approval OF experts and receiv-
ed Endorsements of the cultivated ana IN
teiligent people of the world.
III our city Is to be developed into the
great capital to which the nation is en-
titled, and which the people will demand,
ii must be extended on systematic and
we'll considered lines. Now, as the park
plans have been subjected to the criti-
cism of the world for the paas nine years
and are considered type for all nations
to follow il seems that we can do nothing
better for the future of our city than TO
secure action by Congress that will as
sure the growth Of the city according to
shirt of fhese MANS.
TT appears strange that with the
great plan presented by George Wash
fngton 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 and fixing it as the policy on
which the future city should ie eN-
tended.
Aggressive Campaign Necessary.
Since this report was issued it has
been necessary to wage an aggressive
campaign to secure the location of
each individual building and important
monument in accordance with the gen.
eral scheme. This has been accom-
plished by the American Institute Of
Architects only by persistent effort. and
the institute has thus secured the To-
caticn OF the Agriculture building. the
New National Museum and the Grant
Monument in harmony with the gem
eral plan. and he's prevented Temporal
rily the location OF the Lincoln me-
mortal as an addendum TO the Union
railway station.
additions to the park system have
been frequently made during the past
years which were not needed to carry
out the general system, when the same
amount OF money expended would have
secured tracts of land of the greatest
n M In FINN 0f
The city. Needed areas have not been
purchased more frequently. / understand,
because of the elashing OF private inter-
ests and the jealousy OF rival sections.
Rock Greek Valley.
river to the Geological Park and the ac-
QUESTION of other park areas are most
urgent. Although they are included in
the park plans, they may any day he
destroyed. and thus become useless for
park purposes. The value OF these tracts
Is constantly increasing. They must be
acquired in the future, so the sooner they
are owned By the District the cheaper
they will be. and the irreparable loss OF
trees and natural landscape will be pre-
vented.
What this committee should do is to
secure the execution OF future work in
accordance with the complete plan which
ploVlues ioi All sectous, Auu Is idlu OUT
for the good of the whole city. Such .
scheme il followed will be for the even
tual benefit Of all who are interested in
the future of the city.
81 understand that under the new act
10 acquire land SO as to preserve for
ests and protect rivers in the Appala chan
range the forests on the banks OF
the Potomac may be secured. If this is
fact they should be among the early
acquisitions. az these forests and wooded
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