Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-01-20
Senate Committee Will Take
Up Bill for Removal to
Rock Creek Park.
PRESENT SITE is NEEDED
IN RECONSTRUCTED MALL
Supporters Claim No Valid Objection
Has Been Made Against Resolu-
tion Passed by House.

Creek Park Of the Botanic Garden,
which must soon be transferred from
its present site to give way to vista
parkway stretching from the Capitol to
Washington Monument and Lincoln me-
mortal, is to be considered before the
senate Library committee tomorrow.
This removal should be made at once,
according to a favorable report to the
House OF Representatives, which has
passed the resolution, from the House
library committee. The measure was
introduced and fathered in the House
by Representative James L. Slayden Of
Texas.
This removal could be effected and an
arboretum established, greatly in
creasing the scope of the garden, with
out any increase in appropriation for
the next eight or ten years, in the
opinion &c TIE Department Of Agricul-
ture, in whose charge the resolution,
now pending in the Senate. provides
the work shall be placed.
B. T. Galloway, speaking as the then
acting secretary of the Department Of
Agriculture, reported to Mr.. Slayden
that the development Of an arboretum
in 400-acre tract in Rock Creek Park
should perform big constructive work
by breeding new types Of fruits, orna-
mental plants and forest trees.
No Valid Objections Raised.
Both the Department of Agriculture
and the House committee on library
agree that many horticultural experts
approve the plans for establishing such
an arboretum and garden in Rock
Creek Park. advancing a number of
strong arguments in favor of it, while
hey say not one valid objection has
recorded The nnlv IN
seems to be, and that only on the part
# few persons, that it might impair
';le great natural beauties of the park.
those supporting the project claim
nat it would greatly enhance these
i'cauties.
Mr.. Slayden's resolution. which
uassed the House August IL of last
sras WAS supported ",ssa Vigorously BY MI
committee on library and by Minority
leader Mann. 1t now is before the
Senate committee on library.
The Siayden resolution authorizes the
removal OF the Botanic Garden to
Rock Creek Park, and transfers it
from the control Of the joint commit
Tee on the library to the Department Of
Agriculture 1t sets aside not more
than 400 acres for this purpose.
The chairmen Of the Senate and
House committees on the library. the
Secretary Of Agriculture and the En-
sfneer Commissioner OF the District
land SO taken.
In making it's favorable report on the
resolution to the House the committee
on library said, in part:
Tho only objection to this removal
10 Rock Creek Park which any MEM
Der Of the committee has encountered
has been the apprehension on the part
of some persons that it would impair
the great natural beauty of the park.
Your committee feels that this is a
groundless apprehension, and no men,
Der Of the committee would have ia
vored the removal IL there had been
any probability that this impairme mt
would occur. The committee on Ii
brary was slow to reach the conclusion
that it was the proper place to estab-
lish the garden. and in the course of
foresters and landscape gardeners,
nearly all of whom believe that no
where else in the District of Column
bia could there have been found site
so suitable. 1t is believed by scientists
that properly conducted botanic gar
den will be of great economic value
and that il will more than justify its
cost and upkeep in the help it will give
III spreading a general knowledge of
flowers, trees and shrubs for decora-
i've and educational purposes
Could Make Small Beginning.
Speaking of the resolution. Mr. Stay
den said: -Four hundred acres may not
he needed and one-half or even one
"uarter of that amount would suffice
'or the beginning. In the future the
arden could be expanded. if the wis
ON Of lie Congresses then to assem-
lie shall SO order.
Such an arboretum will enhance the
,eauty of the park and will not give
Il an artificial appearance. In the park
are old, abandoned fields that could be
.ereatly beautifed by wise planting and
eultiyation. In the park can also be
ming water and other conditions re-
CURED to make really beautiful and
interesting and successful garden.
The objection, and the only one
have heard urged. is that the estab-
lishment of the garden in the park
will impair the natural beauty.
think it will enhance 1t.
NO appropriation for the purchase oil
land will be required and the removal
can be made at a small cost. Thu
transfer to the Department of Agri
culture will ally the garden with on,
of the scientific bureaus of the govern
fnent and insure Intelligent attention
and development. 1t will be economi
cal and avoid some duplication o
work"
An opinion as to what may be don,
by the Department of Agriculture 70
the development of the arboretum ant
nent was submitted to the committe
by B. T. Galloway. then acting secre
tary. after careful consideration OF
the part of a number Of our experts
as follows:
Peculiarly Suitable Location.
Rock Crock Park offers q PECULIAR
suitable location for a national arbore
tum and botanical garden, in that 1
has a variety of soils and exposures
which are essential for the prope
cultivation of a wide variety of plan
species. and already contains a re
markable collection of native trees an,
shrubs. We would not for momen
consider any work in Rock Creek Parl
which would tend to destroy it's nat
ural beauty. On the contrary, our oh
ject would be to enhance the beaut
of the park through the gradual &C
emulation of collections of plants i
such way that they would serve a use
full purpose to the whole country, a
well as enhancing the beauty of tn
local surroundings.
"One Of the chief uses of the arbore