The Washington herald., 1913-03-30
For a Greater Washington City.
From the Christian scienc. Monitor

From the Christian Science Monitor.
District of Columbia legislation in the
last session of the last Congress. and
some of it in the very closing hours OF
that session. was so constructive in
character that It has given renewed
courage to press and people in the Ma
tional Capital 1t is a remarkable fact
that some Of the most important of this
legislation was carried through against
determined opposition. and despite con-
ditions that at times. on the surface Of
things at least, appeared to be hopeless
When the Sixty-second Congress was ad-
tourned sine die. however, he District
found that it had TO its credit legisla-
tion promising results of greater value
than had been obtained through any
other Congress in thirty years Among
these are proudly enumerated the acts
fixing the site for the Lincoln memorial.
making an appropriation for plans for
the memorial bridge across the Potomac.
and granting authority for the unifica-
ton of the park system through the tax
ing over of the Valley of Rock Creek
between the Potomac Driveway and
Rock Creek Park. This legislation opens
up immense possibilities for the improve
n.
possibilities that when fully avaiIed of
should make the American Capital one
Of the most beautiful in the world
As in all such cases, the horizon Wild
ems with every advancing step, and now
We find Washington turning to another
phase OF expansion that will appeal at
once to all who know the city: that
must appeal eventually to all who shall
study its attractions and advantages in
the future Washington lies on one of
the finest rivers in the world. 1C5 miles
from its mouth, but the contiguity OF
the stream has rather detracted from
than added to is beauty, mainly by rea-
son of the neglect to which the water
front has been subjected. The 'Poto-
mac bottoms have in the past prevent
ed development on the river side of a
character at all commensurate with that
of the city in general. The plans for
the future. however, will change all this
No doubt the time is not far distant
when both shores of the Potomac shall
be embarked so as to harmonize with
the landscape and monumental under
takings present and prospective. en-
braced in the Burnham programme.
Here the question naturally arises:
Shall the Potomac at Washington then.
and for all time to come. be merely an
ornamental fixture. or shall it be de-
veloped as a harbor. and as such relieve
with animation and color what other
wise might be a rather dull and mo-
notonous marine view? The belief is
gaining ground at the Capital that il
the harbor advantages shall be utilized
to their full. the problem of cheaper
transportation for supplies will be in a
fair way to solution. 1t would have
the farms of a large part of Maryland
and Virginia practically at its doors.
1t is not anticipated. nor is it desired.
that Washington shall ever become
great commercial seaport. but it ought
TO be able to avail itself. as do other
capitals. of the advantage it enjoys in
having access to the sea and to the outer
coast 1t is only twice as far as Lon
don from deep salt water: 1t is only
five miles farther inland than Paris; st.
Petersburg is only one-fifth its distance
from the sea, but, unlike the Neva. the
Potomac is navigable in all seasons
Harbor development for Washington is.
of course. something for the future. but
all present tendencies are in this direc-
tion. The need is for wharves, landings.
warehouses, and these. Of necessity.
must be so constructed and arranged as
to conform TO the general scheme or
imp ovement.