Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-29

problem patriotic liberality and an
artistic sense like those animating the
Argentines and the Brazilians?
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 for
public buildings.
Then should follow the perfecting of the
system Of outer parks, like those of
Buenos Aires which was outlined and
urged by the Board of Trade twelve years
ago, and which the Mcmillan park COM
mission has so skillfully, artistically and
| attractively elaborated in it's report.
The main features Of this park system.
| which shall utilize and connect existing
lpark 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 a. connec-
| ton of Potomac Park and the Mall by
boulevard along the Virginia Potomac
Heights with Mount Vernon, thus bring
| ing into a harmonious whole the public
grounds on both banks Of the Potomac;
90 connection of this Potomac Park sys-
tenn by parkway and boulevard with the
Zoo and Rock Creek Park; 81 connection
of the Rock Creek Park system by boule-
ward and Soldiers Home with the parks
now in process Of formation on both
banks of the Anacostia. including st.
Elizabeth's, with its fine view, and %
vigorous development Of the Anacostia
parks and the connection of this system
| by boulevard with the Capitol grounds,
the Mall and the Potomac Park system.
Vital Connecting Parkway Links.
OF primary Importance in developing
this project Is to secure the vital connect
ing links above noted, first, the memorial
bridge. which will connect the riverside
Lov Gc nf a
Mount Vernon and Arlington on the
then the parkway connection along lower
Rock creek of the riverside park system
with the Zoo and Rock Creek Park, and
then the parkway connection through Sol
diers' Home Of the Rock Creek Park sys-
TEN with the parks to be on both sldes
Of the Anacostfa-
Last of all Though some now seem to
place it first, neglecting the vital TOT the
Comparatively immateriaD Is the treat
ment and development In detail OF Len
fant's public garden. the Mall, which has
been rescued or released from railroad
occupation and Is already in the public
possession and use as q breathing place,
attractive with trees and grass and
flowers.
Wisdom Of postponement Of the detailed
DEVELOPMENT Of the Mall Is emphasized
by consideration Of the fact that the
project of treatment now favored by the
sAA.N
ousted the landscape gardeners, Involves
destruction of the natural park now ex-
listing in the Mall area and devotes II, IN
part, to the sites of public buildings and
garden of the Versailles pattern, spend
ing large sums Of money to subtract
from and to disfgure existing park areas:
and to displace the native groves located
and planted by Downing. tho greatest
landscape gardener of his day In Amer
lea, with clipped and tubbed trees IN
straight lines, after the formal French
fashion. substituting. 1t has been sug.
gested. for the Monarchs OF the forest
the Monarchs Of the Tub.
| . We Of Washington have already wasted
vitality valuable time and energy, which
should have been devoted to the remova!
Of the national shame which the present
| condition of Pennsylvania avenue In
wolves. and to the acquisition Of the es-
sential connecting links Of the compre-
hensive park system, in wrangling over
the comparative merits OF the natural
garden and the artificial garden: the gar
den Of Downing and that OF Le Notre.
| Instead of securing long ago these vitals
Of capital upbuilding we have permitted
Congress to procrastinate until control OF
| the two branches Of the national iee1sia-
cal parties. with the paralysis TO great
public works which this condition In
| wolves or. at least. threatens.
Parks as Free Public Building Sites.
The paralyzins effect Of divided partisan
control Of tho national government Is
shown in the standstill to which the
campaign for acquisition Of the Avenue
Mall triangle seems to have come. Con-
gress acquired certain blocks Of this area
tor three department buildings. The ex-
ecutive department has decided-no doubt
wiseiy-that this space Is not suhciens
ground is needed. But instead Of apply
| ing to Congress to authorize the con-
demnation Of the additional ground
needed in the Avenue-Mall triangle the
authorities seem to confess impotency to
secure such congressional action. and ap-
| rly instead to Congress to establish the
| dangerous precedent. before the Avenue
Mall triangle has been acquired: OF con-
Mall park. q proposition which may de-
| light the short-sighted economist, but
| which makes the judicions grieve.
For It means the postponement for an
create Pennsylvania avenue, our great his
toric thoroughfare, to free 1t from an
environment as dtscreditable morally as
INTELLECTUALLY and from conditions which
are nationally humiliating. It means the
abandonment Of the wisest solution Of
the problem, almost unsolvable in some
cities. Of the systematic and artistic en-
placement Of future public buildings with
4 OUT Stealing ITOIu tHe peOpie any pOTltO
Of the public breathing places" For 1t
is feared no future Congress Will be
likely ever to buy a public building site
l II this administration, usually so careful
of the peoples interest, points out that
such sites can be obtained on the peoples
parks for nothing, and sets the bad ex-
ample Of such spoliation.
Cooperation in Capital Building.
1t should not be Impossible for our op-
posing political parties in dealing with
the National Capital to sink partisan
ship and to unite In patriotic and intel
ligently liberal policy Of capital upbuild-
ing.
I The wise and Just legislation of 1873,
creating the National Capital partnership,
under the operation Of which Washing
ton. fostered by the nation, has devel-
| oped into capital Of which the Amer
lean people are justly proud. was the
worn Of statesmen of both political par
ties. Among the constitutional legisla-
tors Of the District the warm friends and
notable benefactors Of the capital. who
have maintained against all assaults the
organic act. that vital essential Of Wash
ington's prosperity. or have championed
and vigorously battled for the capital, ir-
| respective Of their views concerning the
organic act have not been confined with
in partisan lines. but have caused ali DO.
nical factions to be represented among
the faithful legislators who meet consci-
| entiously their constitutional obligations
to the capital. In the long list Of these
loyal helpful friends Of Washington there
are too many to enumera'e. We Of Wa h.
fngton know them and gratefully appre-
ciate their unselfsh public-spirited work