Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-24
ROCK CREEK PARK
S., TO Be ARBORETUM
Plan to Make 1t "a Greater
Botanic Garden" Favored
at the Capitol.
representative SLAYDEN
SOON TO INTRODUCE BILL
Little Opposition to Project Elk.
pected in Congress, Although Ex-
penses May Raise Objections.

well thought-out plan to take ad-
vantages of the great natural beauty of
Rock Creek Park. by making it the
foundation for Il great ma tional arboretum
and "a greater botanic garden" is about
ready to re presented to Congress. fol
lowing conferences between Assistant
secretary OF Agriculture Galloway. the
district Commissioners. army engineers
and members of the joint committee on
Library Legislation affecting the change
OF location and a possible change of man
aSement of the present historic Botanic
Garden is now being prepared by Repre-
sentative SiayGen of Texas. chairman of
the House committee on Library.
With view toward finding the line OF
least legislative resistance. Mr.. Sayden
conferred today with Representative
Mann of Illinois. leader of the repub-
leans in the House. and also as well
equipped in matters of botany and gem
eraf Information regarding plants as any
man in Congress. Flower gardens are
with him a hobby 1t is evident now
that there will be little opposition to the
project which is assuming large proper
tons, from the responsible leaders of
either party. although there may be some
rough; shedding for the authorization of
expenses necessary to make the change.
Congressman and others who have the
real usefulness of national botanic
garden at heart believe that the institu-
ton would develop rema rkably increased
scientific value if it should be placed
somewhere in Rock Creek Park When
objection was made to this in CONVEX
sation, on the ground that the transfer of
the gardens would be runous to the nat
ural beauty of the park. the reply was
Immediately made that the idea is to
take every advantage of the natural lay
OF the land and to make so few changes
that they would never be noticed 1t
was stated that the park would form an
admirable locality for the establishment
OF aas.arboretum, or tree garden, where
specimens of every tree which lives in
the latitude and climatic conditions of
this part OF the country could be placed.
II also mas been suggested that the wide
area 5pf, the park would enable the De-
partrnent of Agriculture to use the
bota ntc: garden to great advantage by
the cultivation of various food and drug
plants as Wen as for the propagation of
flowers and other decorative growing
things.
There has been some objection to
the Botanic Garden being placed I'M
der the charge of the Department of Ag-
riculture. but it is believed that by now
1t has disappeared. At present the gar
dep is under the administrative control
of, the joint committee on Library. the
members OF which also are the members
of. the House and Senate committees on
Library. and is creature of legislation.
and not Of the rules committee of the
two houses of Congress. Some of the
members of the joint committee believe
that the, Botanic Garden and the pro-
posed arboretum would thrive better UNI
der scientific management given it by
the Department of Agriculture.