Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-17
ders Of the District

y
! lumbia. Six were concerned with
statues. fountains and monument In t0e
District. five were in regard to ques-
tons OF art referred to the commits
| sion by congressional committees, four
teen were miscellaneous. having to do
largely with artistic and architectural
projects in Connecticut, North Caro-
| lima. Colorado. Maryland, Virginia and
the Canal Zone. Two were carried over
from last year. and on one the commits
sion decided it had no authority to
act.
| The commission, which has been in
existence for four years, has required
time. 1t announces, to obtain such an
interchange of views as would enable
the members to reach a common under
standing as to the nature and scope of
Its work. Matters submitted have been
OF the most varied character. and the
body had no established standards or
presidents to begin with
From the beginning, says the report.
1T has been the settled purpose to OBJ
tain the point OF view of the artist
whose work was submitted. and. in
case OF criticism, to make such Of a
constructive nature. The work imposed
on the body by Congress is constantly
increasing. and is often necessarily of
delicate nature. in so far as the feel
ings of would-be contributors to the
art of the National Capital are con-
cerned.
Suggests Professional Adviser.
One of the things recommended by the
commission in it's report is the en-
ployment of a professional adviser"
technically well informed and Of large
experience. to recommend the direct
selection of designers to be employed
for works of art, such recommendations
to be based upon evidences of ability
in the artists completed works.
In case of competitions, this adviser
requirements of the particular case,
with due regard for the codes of compe-
tition of the leading artistic profess
sions.
That there should be no arbitrary
limitations of the choice to artists of
the locality where the work Is to be
placed out of mistaken regard for
local pride is the firm opinion of the
commission.
Finally. the commission puts itself
on record as favoring the direct selec-
ton of artists, with the statement that
in examining the monuments through
out the country it is found that the best
ones have been the results of this
method. Competitions, moreover. are
wastefu1 of time and money and the
compliment implied and confidence dis
played in direct selection is an in
centive to the best effort Of the arts.
chosen.
Buildings in District.
In regard to recommendations as to
the design for public buildings in the
the commission states that it
has taken the ground that the general
style of architecture adopted when the
Capitol and White House were built
and followed in the designs for the
Treasury. the Interior Department and
others, admits of sufficient variation in
the styles of individual buildings:
that this style should prevail. and that
to introduce other styles
which tend to challenge attention not
so much by their excellence as by their
oddity, should not be favored
The Lincoln Memorial, now under
says the commission, has
given that BODY the first and, thus
far. the only opportunity to advise
from the very inception of the project
Tor monumental structure. Such ad-
vice includes the selection of the site,
choice of artist, selection Of design, de-
tailed plans and. even material. The
advice of the commission was fol-
lowed in each instance
This is taken as an indication ac-
cording to officials connected. with the
commission, of the sort of work the
body will be asked to do in the future
me officer in charge of public build
!ngs and grounds will, in time. consult
with the commission on all matters
IN regard to the treatment Of any gov
ernmental reservation in the District
and will be the beneficiary of Its ad-
vice, whether the matter considered is
the design of lamppost or of a build
ing covering acres in extent
Occupied With Artintic Details.
In the past the commission has been
largely occupied with securing the best
possible artistic details and effect out
of designs already previously accepted,
as III the case of the Barry and Jones
memorials. Its work, started four years
ago. may only now be said to have
really begun. The Red Cross memorial,
the proposed George Washington me-
mortal and other projects are to be,
and benefiting by the artistic expert
ence of the members. These cases in
point are indications of what has been
called the new era" in the methods of
of the National Capital.
A number OF important projects for
the improvement of the District were
considered and reported upon by the
commission during the fiscal year re-
Gently ended.
The commission advised the office of
public buildings and grounds as to the
plans for the treatment of Meridian
Hill Park, the land for which, more
than eleven acres. was recently acquir-
ed. Preliminary sketch-plans for the
treatment and improvement of Mont
rose Park, to be nearly sixteen acres
in extent, and located in Georgetown,
prepared by the same office, were ap-
proved and the final plans are to be
submitted to the commission. A tenta-
tive plan for the treatment of the
portion of Potomac Park lying south
of the railroad embankment, and con-
tanning more than 237 acres, was ap-
proved. The plan provides for recrea-
ton grounds Probably there is no
city in the country" says the report,
which has finer opportunities for out
of-door pleasures, and none in which
such are so little utilized"
Treatment Of Reservations.
Plans in reference to the Pulaski res
ervation, four small reservations along
Pennsylvania avenue between 18th
street and Washington circle, Lafay-
cite Park, the Georgetown reservoir.
Franklin Park and the greenhouses Of
the White House were also considered
and a number of them approved. The
cop mis- "a exhaustive