The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-17
BRYAN FAVORS
SMALL PARKS

| CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
| said the bills providing for such action
| would pass Congress at this session.
Mrs. Archibald Hopkins spoke of the
| transformation of Snow and Goat Alleys
into Fairgrounds; she said trees must be
planted, benches be put into the play
grounds; there must be fountains, shower
| baths, public comfort stations, municipal
wash houses, and other improvements
tending to uplift the alley people. Mrs.
Hopkins said Congress is willing and
ready to do everything asked of them
since a number of its members have
visited the alleys and convinced them
selves Of the absolute necessity OF bring
ing about improvements.
suggestions Are Made.
william z. Shannon, in place of Glenn
Brown, who Is absent from the city, read
/ Mr.. Browns address, in which numerous
| suggestions are made regarding alley and
| other conditions. Among other questions
propounded by Mr.. Brown were the fol-
| lowing:
What shall be done with the canal at
the mouth of Rock Creek Valley? 1t is
necessary to defect the canal to obtain
a proper parkway? Must the park area
be curtailed to keep the canal in its
present location, or will it not be better
\ 10 preserve the canal as an asset of in
terest and beauty, making 1t a part of
the park treatment?
''Will it be better 10 treat the surround
| ings OF the Gas Company, making II an
effective part of the landscape, or make
them rebuild somewhere else, say on
| Analostan Island, where 1t will probably
destroy one of the principle assets in
the landscape at the outlet of Rock
Creek Valley?
| Cannot arrangements be made for
wharfage on the river front, where in
stead of being an eyesore. it may be an
attractive feature?
shall the character of Arlington be re-
tanned as a type of an old manor house
and estate, with historical associations,
| a dignitied resting place for our honored
dead. or shall It's character be trans
formed by great classical buildings and
formal garden treatment?
Shall the formal treatment Of our
parks end with the Mall. where great
| buildings make this formality of the
landscape necessary. and shall the park
| from the river to the District line along
| Rock Creek be treated naturally and only
encourage and enhance the beauties of
| nature? In my opinion nature is the
| needed contrast with the formality of the
| city park.
Shall expensive park areas be &C.
| quired which do not connect with or
form part of the greater system, when
the money expended to acquire them
could be used to better advantage in
carrying out the larger plan? Now the
| alley question, in my mind. is a problem
very similar to the ones / have men,
toned. How shall we use them to the
| best advantage for the good of the
public?
Welfare Must BE Considered.
The welfare and the necessities of
the people who live in the alleys is the
first and most important factor We must
all agree that for the moral and hygienic
good of themselves and the city they
should have healthy, attractive. and
moral surroundings. How they can OBJ
I tain such conditions and pay their way
is the question?
The majority of the women who live
in these houses and a larger par; of the
men. receive small monthly wages. How
much can they afford for house and room
| rent? l assume that homes in alleys
may be rented for a third or half of
what would be paid for a house OF the
same size on a street.
1T is not the general custom of this
city for servants to live in the houses
where they work so they must live in
car fare would take from a tenth to a
quarter of their income, a vital amount
in A small wage. The question then
to be considered is how can we provide
them homes. healthy and attractive, with
moral surroundings, within walking dis
tances of their work? Will placing these
houses on streets. or crowding a larger
number of families in one house or
jewellers in one room furnish the healthy
and attractive homes We desire?
May not the solution of the prob
lens consist in opening the impossible
alleys to secure light and air, in regu-
lating the character of the buildings, in
frequent, ample, and intelligent inspec-
ton TO preserve housing and health, and
ample police protection to secure moral
tone. OF course, this means condemna-
ton and payment for land in some
cases, more health officers, more build
ing inspectors. and more police.
IF we provide homes for them in
the streets, We must consider the cost
of ground. ;he additional cost OF i'm
provements. the greater cost of MAIN
tenance. al of which would still require
more building inspectors. more health
inspectors. and more police, and prob
ably crowd more people into a house.
Il feel that the problems have men,
toned are OF so much Importance that
the wisest course for US to pursue would
be to secure at least two commissions
of competent men, created and remuner-
ated by Congress, to study and report
or these subjects.
zone to consider the questions relat- |
ing to the treatment of parks The other |
to study the questions relating to the |
treatment of the alleys. The commits |
sions should have men in architecture,
city planning, health, and also have men |
well versed in the legal, real estate. and |
business interests OF the city.
Let them study the problems thor |
oughly. and report what should be done. |
With a report from such commissions !
/ feel we would have a moral influence,
such as we have in the well-defined plan |
Of the Park Commission, and believe |
il would be as effective as the Park |
Commission plans have been in securing |