Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-06
The Development of Washington.

1t is quite true that there is need OF
more systematic development in the up
building of the capital, both in the mat
ter of the outlying parks and the
suburban residential sections. as Sec
rotary MacVeagh pointed out in the
course of his helpful and inspiring
remarks before the Board of Trade
the other night. But the speaker was
not entirely correct in his assertion
that Washington has no we'll defined
plan for a great future development,
or that the only plan of that char
acter is that dealing with the Mali
made by the "Burnham commission
These words by the Secretary of the
Treasury reflect a very general mlsap-
prehension of the character and scope
of the project planned and submitted
by what he terms as the Burnham COM
mission, but which has been better known
as the Senate park commission. Owing
to the fact that the only feature OF that
project which has been subjected TO
criticism and general discussion is that
relating to the treatment of the Mall
the idea has gained ground that it dealt
only with the reservation extending
from the Capitol to the river
In point of fact, the Senate park COM
mission made comprehensive study OF
the entire District, and its report. sub
mitted in January, 1902. covered every
part OF the area. The treatment of the
Mall was naturally a conspicuous fea-
ture of it's proposals. but in addition TO
the Mall the Lincoln memorial and the
memorial bridge, it set forth plans Tor
the development of Arlington cemetery
as part of the capital environment. for
tl1,
executive departments, the treatment of
minor reservations, provision of play
grounds. the linking of Potomac Park
and the reservations of Rock creek by
a parkway along the lower creek, the
utilization of park-making opportunities
in the sections lying both east and west
of Rock creek, the reclamation of the
Anacostia flats and their transformation
into d great reservation similar to
Potomac Park, the creation of a drive
way linking the forts which in the war
time encircled the city and the union
of Washington and Mount Vernon with
a memorial highway.
But the Senate park commissions
project is not the only general and
comprehensive plan for capital develop
ment which has been made in the past
and which awaits adoption with or with
out notifications by Congress. good
many years ago a highway commission
studied the matter of extending the city
streets into the suburban area, in accord
ance with a system designed to correct
the tendency TO lay out the suburbs indie
pendently and irregularly. Congress
chose to ignore the principles of the
organic act in this matter, and the prac
teal extension of the original city plan
over the suburbs has been thereby ham,
pered. The plan remains, however,
comprehensive guide to the laying out
of suburban streets
Having thus before it two broad
schemes of capital development, the
highway commission system of street
extension and the Senate park COM
missions proposals for park develop
ment, both in the city and in the out
lying sections, it is possible, with APP
prOpriate action upon the right financial
basis. for Congress to develop Wash
ington according to the ideals enter
tanned by Secretary MacFeagh, whose
aspirations for the Capital city are
gratifyingly high. His criticism of the
lack of architectural improvement sug-
gests that in Washington the lesson
taught by Buenos Aires, where by
wise dlSpCnSdtion premium Is put upon
individual enterprise in this regard by
the remission of taxes upon the most at
tractiveIy designed structure erected each
year. with gold medal to its architect
remains to bC learned by those intrusted
with the welfare Of the American capital
Secretary MacNeagh sounded the right
note when he declared that it is the
duty of the government TO make the
Capital city the equal of all others in
the world, and To establish here d
standard that will be in every way a
model to the cities of the country. His
suggestion that the people of Washing
ton appeal to the country for publicity
IN order that the people at large may
know what Washington needs. and what
IT should get is sound and should be
adopted. WashingtOn's salvation lies
with the American citizens, who recoS-
nize it the nations cSty.