Evening star., 1915-12-16
Urges Harmonious Plan for
Parks, Monuments and Pub
lie Buildings.
CRITICISES ARCHITECTURE
OF THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL
Points Out Danger of Temporary
Economies Which Detract From I'm
pressiveness Of General Scheme.

Considerable space is given in the an
! nual report of the commission of fine
arts, submitted to Congress today, to
the work of the commission for the
harmonious development of the Dis
| trict in the matter of parks, monu-
ments. memorials and public buildings.
| In that connection the report says:
| The people of the country are natu-
| rally proud that. with rare foresight,
the federal city was planned in the be-
ginning as a symmetrical and compre-
hensive capital for a great nation.
They are gratified also at the rapid
| realization. in these days. of what were
the dreams of the fathers. The gem
! eral acceptance Of any new plans is
based on the fact that such plans are
but a development of the original
scheme.
Danger of Temporary Economies.
Every official charged with the exc
cution of any work which affects the
general appearance of Washington
should feel it both a duty and privi-
lege to conform to the general scheme
of the harmonious development of the
District of Columbia. Personal or in
preferences sHOOlQ De
dinate to the comprehensive plan.
NO temporary economies should be
sought at the expense of the dignity
and lmpresSiveness which ought to
characterize those buildings that out
ward1y represent the great depart
1t is not necessary that all these struc-
lures shall be what is termed monu-
mental in character. but each one
should embody the ideas of permanence
md trrylt -t,
share, either great or small, to make
the District of Columbia an ideal cap
ital."
High School Building Criticised.
The new Central High School building
is characterized by the commission as a
conspicuous and most unfortunate ex-
ample of lack Of harmony with the best
traditions Of Washington architecture"
The commission previously had made a
report adverse to the use of the Elizabeth
Ian style, followed in that building, in
school structures. holding it ill adapt
ed and Inappropriate for public build
inss in Washington.
The commission refers to the pro-
posed improvement of East Potomac
Park. and calls especial attention to
the need of swimming facilities there.
Tentative plans for a bathing beach,
rose garden and other improvements in
West Potomac Park are still under con-
sideration.
The commission took position
against the erection of any more full
length portrait statues in THE con-
ventional costume of the day." because
that costume tends itself less to artis-
tic treatment than any other form OF
monumental presentation"
Want Place to Exhibit Models.
In order to exhibit models and draw
ings submitted in competition for pub
lie monuments or buildings. Congress is
urged to provide additional rooms for
such exhibition, preferably in connec-
ton with the office of public buildings
and grounds.
Plans for the Interior Department
building, now under construction at
18th and F streets northwest, were ap-
proved by the commission, the report
says, although the commission ADVISED
against high Office building in a re
gion devoted to such monumental
structures as the Corcoran Art Gallery,
the Pan-American building. Memorial
Continental Hall. the Red Cross build
ing and the Lincoln memorial"
The commission during the year passed
ON thirty-one statues, fountains and mon
uments in the District, nine public build
ings and works, ferty-Eeven questions of
art referred to il by congressional com
mittees and forty miscellaneous matters
submitted. The report gives a list OF
each of the projects passed upon and lists
all the park and monument projects still
under consideration. giving the present
status of each project.