Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-29
Members of Art Commission
Plan to Devote Three
Days to Work.
BUSINESS HAS INCREASED
DURING THE PAST YEAR
Frieze Around Dome Of Capitol One
Of Subjects Calling for
Consideration.


and comprehensive study of questions re-
lating to the development Of the city Of
Washington. the members Of the national
commission of fine arts will devote three
full days to a personal survey and in
spection Of the topography Of the District
in connection with certain projected inn
provements. The steady increase In the
business of the commission has made 1t
necessary for the members to devote moro
time to their sessions in this city than
has been required heretofore.
According to the secretary Of the COM
mission, the number Of questions submit
ted to the commission by the different de-
partmenfs of the government has more
than doubled since last year. So many
propositions have been submitted recent
1y. and so much business has accumulated
since the last meeting that it was decided
to have the session which began today
continue tomorrow and Saturday. and
even through Monday. if necessary. to
dispose of the current business.
Seek First-Hand Information.
Most of the time will be spent in visit
ing the various parks and reservations
and the public buildings in process Of
construction in different sections, in or
der that the members may have the
benefit of first-hand observation of the
artistic and utilitarian demands of the
situation. One of the reasons for max
ing this thorough personal inspection
is the attendance for the first time of
Herbert Adams of New York, recently
appointed to membership on the COM
mission to fill the vacancy caused by
the resignation of Daniel G. French
io1 OF dar wi %
the work in progress on the Lincoln
memorial in West Potomac Park, the
memorial to the women Of the civil war
on 18th street, the memorial amphi-
theater and chapel in Arlington ceme-
terry. the new building for the Depart
ment of the Interior at 18th and F
streets and various other projected
buildings. including schoolhouses and
the new municipal hospital at 14th and
Upshur streets.
Study of Rock Greek Valley.
Studies are to be made of the valley
of Rock Creek from its mouth to the
site of the Geological Park. with ref
erence to the establishment of lines
for the connecting parkway and as to
the best method of making the connec-
tion with Potomac Park at the south
ern extremity of the parkway. Atten-
tion also will be given to the question
Garden at the east end of the Mall.
with special reference to the location
of the Meade memorial, for which the
State of Pennsylvania has appropri-
ated $4,000, and for which Congress
has designated a site near Pennsyl-
vania avenue and Sd street. The idea
of the commission is to locate the
Meade memorial in harmonious rela-
ton with the Grant memorial. on the
1st street side of the Botanic Garden.
tot v,1an i'm
of Botanic Garden call for the opening
through it of I'd street.
Other matters that will receive the
personal attention of the art commits
Meridian Hill Park. between 18th and
18th streets and w and Euclid streets;
various projected improvements to
Montrose Park, on street, George
town. including a new entrance and
additional tennis courts, etc, and the
Frieze for Capitol Dome.
During the current session a visit
will be made to the Capitol. for the spe-
cial purpose of considering the desira-
bility of completing the historical
frieze around the dome, in imitation
marble, in accordance with the design
and incompleted work of Brumidi, or
of substituting entirely new work in
real marble or other material. The
commission has taken up that question
at the instance of senators and repre-
sentatives, to guide them in reaching
decision on the subject.
1t is expected that the commission
will at once elect a new chairman to
fill the place vacated by Mr.. French
All the members were present at to-
days meeting, and were assisted in
their deliberation by Col. Harris, L. S.
A, secretary, and by A. B. Cammerer
clerk to the commission.