Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-13

lIAN n
problem a patriotic liberalty and an
artistic sense like those animatinS the
Argentines and the Rrazlians?
| The first duty. then. of us Americans
! is to transform from usliness into beauty
the south side OF Pennsylvania avenue,
and at the same time to meet adequately
without encroachment on the public parks
| the governments urgent need OF sites lor
| public buildings.
| Then should follow the perfectns of the
| system of outer parks. like those OF
Ruenos Aires. which was outlined ana
urged By the Board OF Trade twelve years
ago and which the Mcmillan park COM
mission has SO skillfuliy. artisticaliy ana
attractively Ella horated in its report
| The main features of this park system.
which shall utilize and connect existing
park areas and create new ones until both
banks Of the Potomac and of the Anacos-
tia and of Rock creek shall be merged
into single great park. are 81 connec-
ton Of Potomac Park and the Man ny
memorial bridge with Arlington, ara ny
boulevard along the Virginia Potomac
Heights with Mount Vernon. thus bring
ing into harmonious whole the pubhc
grounds on both banks Of the Potomac
- connection Of this Potomac Park sys-
TEN by parkway and boulevard with the
Zoo and Rock Creek Park; - connection
Of the Rock Creek Park system by houle-
ward and soldiers Home with the parks
now in process OF formation on hotl
banks of the Anacostia, lncludlns =.
Eizahctl's with its fine view. and q,
vigorous Development of the Anacosiia
parks and the connection of this system
~ boulevard with the capitol grounds.
the Mall and the Potomac Park system.
Vital Connecting Parkway Links.
Y; n'jmary importance IN developing
this sr,ir.t is TO secure the vital connect
in- links a ave noted. first. the memorial
bridge " s.N VIII connect the riverside
park ~, ja, tno banks Of the Potomac
MoGut N,in9, md Arlington on the
south ana Potomac Park on the north;
then the parkway connection along lower
Rock creek Of the riverside park system
With the ZOO and Rock Creek Park, and
then III" parkway connection through Sol
lierS' Iiome of the Rock Creek Park sys-
TEN with the parks to be on both sides
of HE AuaCoSta
Last Of all Though some now seem 70
place it first neElecting the vital for the
comparatiy clr immateriaD Is the treat
ment and development; in detail Oh l. En-
fants pubic garden. the Mall which has
been rescued or released from railroad
occupation and IS already in the public
possession and rs, rs breathing place.
attractive with Trees and grass and
flowers.
Wisdom Of nostponement If the detailed
ny consideration Of the fact that the
project of treatment now favored by the
architects. who have 0&ef'htpNil anu
ousted the landscape gardeners. involves
destruction of the natural PARK now e%-
istng in the Mall area and deN1ieS ". IN
part TO the sites of public buildings ana
in part 10 an artificial formal ssoneific
garden of the Versailles pattern. spend
ing large sums of money TO subtract
from and to dfsieure existing park areas.
ri n
and planted by Downing. the greatest
Landscape gardener of his day in Amer
lea with clipped and tubbed trees N
straight lines after the formal French
fashion. substituting. il has been s'is-
gesfed for the Monarchs of the Forest
the Monarchs Of the Tub.
We Of Washington have already wasted
vitality valuable time and energy, Whch
should have been devoted to the removal
of the national shame which the present
condition of PENNSYLVANIA avenue IN
wolves and to the acquisition of the es-
sential connecting links OF 0e compre-
hensive park system. in wranelns over
the comparative merits of the natural
garden and the artificial garden. the gar
do:, Of Downing and that OF lie \otre
Instead of securing long ago these NltalS
of capital upbuildns we have permitted
Congress to procra Stinate until control OIL
the tWo branches of the national leeisia-
ttre has been divided between the polltl-
cal parties. with the paralysis TO great
prhlir works which this condition IN
wolves or, at least, threatens
Parks as Free Public Building Sites.
The paralyzns effec; of divided partisan
control Of the national government IS
shown in the Standstill 10 which the
campaign for acquisition Of the Avenue
Mall triangle seems 70 have come. Con-
sress acquired certain blocks Vt this area
tor three department buildings. The eN-
ecutive denart,nent has decided no doubt
wisely-that this space is not sufficient
for the three buildings. and that more
ground is needed But instead of apply
ing To Congress to authorize the con-
domination of The additional ground
needed in the -Avenue-Mal triangle the
authorities seem to confess impotency to
secure suuh congressional action. ard ap-
PLY Instead to Congress TO establish the
dangerous precedent, before IN" Avenue
Mall triangle mas been acquired. of con-
tScatilg Il public building site from the
Mail park d proposition which may de-
light the Slort-sichtcd economist. but
which makes the iudcious eTieVe-
For ii means the post ponement for An
indefinite period Of the movement to re
create PENNSYLVANIA avenue, our great his
toric thorcGshfare to free il from an
environment as disHrcditabie morally as
INTELLECTUALLY and from conditions which
are nationally ilumiliatit:S. 1t means the
abandonment Of the Wisest solution of
Tie problem. almost unsolvable In some
cities, OF the systematic and artistic en-
placement Of future public buildings with
OUT stealing from the people any portion
Of the ruolic breathing places" For ii
is feared ~ future Congress will ne
likely ever 10 buy a public building site
if this administration, usually 50 careful
Of tine reopes interest. points olGt that
such sites can be obtained on the peoples
rarns FOR nothing. and sets the bad eX
ample Of such Spoiiation.