Evening star., 1913-11-26
PUB[ICPROjECTS
ARE CONSIDERED
Commission of Fine Arts and
Government Officials Are
Cooperating.
DEvEL LOPMENT OF PARKS
CHIEF AMONG TOPICS
Plans Submitted for Bridge Over
Rock Creek on the Line of Penn
sylvania Avenue.

Officials OF the general and local gov
ernments and the commission of fine arts
are cooperating In their efforts toward
the development of the material features
Of the National Capital on lines of artistic
beauty and harmony. President Wilson
and the members of his cabinet and the
Commissioners of the District are de-
clared to be fully alive to the value of the
knowledge and experience of the members
of the fine arts commission in that direc-
tion and are consulting them freely in the
development of the park system, and in
the construction and treatment Of all pub
lie works under their control. including
buildings, bridges, statues, memorials, etc.
The commission of fine arts has just
concluded a protracted meeting in this
city, at which consideration was given to
a number of projects for public improve
ments in this vicinity. All the members
were present, including Col. Harts. secre-
tary and executive officer, and consider
able time was devoted to the study of the
various matters presented.
Chief among these from local stand
point was the Rock Creek parkway con-
Meeting Potomac Park with the Geological
and Rock Creek parks. That question
was referred to the arts commission by
Secretary McAdoo. as president of the
statutory commission charged with the
execution of the law providing for the i'm
provement of the valley of Rock creek.
To assist them in their study of the sub
ject they were provided with blue prints
Of the surveys of the locality recently
made by the District surveyors.
Interest in Rock Creek Valley.
The art commissioners are deeply inter-
ested in this particular improvement. and
each will make a special study of the sub
ject They have approved the suggestion
Of the District surveyors for the aban-
donment of the proposed road through
Oak Hill cemetery as unadvisable under
changed conditions. Certain minor changes
in the boundaries OF the proposed PARK
way are deemed advisable. and further
consideration will be given to the plan of
making the connection between Potomac
Park and the new parkway In the general
vicinity of eth and y streets Inat
question probably will involve considera-
ton also of the treatment of that portion
OF Rock creek near its mouth now FORM
ing part of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal.
Other matters considered by the fine
arts commission included preliminary de-
signs for the development Of Meridian
Hill park, recently acquired by the gov
eminent; the design and site of me-
mortal to Gen George Meade, the Union
commander at the battle of Gettysburg,
certain notifications OF the line of sea
wall of Potomac Park to better conform
!. TO the proposed treatment of the site of
the Lincoln memorial; and the design
and site of the Titanic memorial. which
the women of the country desire to have
erected in Potomac Park
Sites for Memorials.
The legislature of Pennsylvania has ap-
propriated $4,000 for the erection in this
city of the Meade memorial. and Con-
gress will be asked to provide a site
for It IN one of the public reservations.
The Capitol park extension near the
Union station has been suggested as an
appropriate site. The commission de-
ferred action with respect to a suitable
have been settled.
The Titanic memorial is to be built out
of funds raised by the Womens Titanic
Memorial Association, OF which Mrs.
John Hay is president and Mrs. John
IL Hammond is secretary. Contributions
10 the fund amount to $4,000 and more
are expected. bill Is pending in Con-
gress authorizing the erection Of the me-
mortal In Potomac Park.
At the instance Of the District Commits
sioners, the fine arts commissioners con-
sidered two plans submitted by them
for bridge over Rock creek on the line
of Pennsylvania avenue. Congress has
authorized the CONSTRUCTION OF a bridge at
that point to cost not more than SLIGO.
II is provided that the Capital Traction
Company shall use the new bridge for its
cars instead of the bridge at NJ street
and the company will pay one-third of
the cost of the new bridge.
Design for Bridge Approved.
The fine arts commission approved the
design of an arch bridge supported by re-
inforced concrete ribs. between which ii
is proposed to permit the forty-eight inch
water mains OF the existing bridge struc-
ture to remain undisturbed for possible
use In the future. The single arch OF the
new bridge is to rest on stone founda-
tions and Pennsylvania avenue, between
26th and 2Sth Streets is to be widened
to provide for the bridge and it's ap-
pPoaches.
In deciding on the design OF the bridge
consideration was given to its relation
to the proposed treatment of Rock Greek
Parkway in that vicinity. 1t is stated
that the new bridge can be constructed
within the limit of cost fixed by Con-
gress.
Another question submitted by the Dis
trict Commissioners related to the proper
height to be allowed for new buildings on