Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-02
Chairman of Fine Arts Com
mission Speaks of Work
Done in Washington.
STUDY OF CONDITIONS
IN CITY'S EAST SECTION
Development Hoped For as the Rec
lamation of Eastern Branch
Flats Progresses.
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

NEW YORK, August 2.-Charles
Moore, recently appointed chairman
of the fine arts commission, lis In town
and to The Stars correspondent today
said, in regard to it's work in Wash
ington: The commission of fine arts,
after an existence of five years. is
beginning to see the fruits of some
of it's early and tentative work. and
to find the lines along which it can be
of real service to those government
officials who are called upon to deal
with matters in which trere Is an art
element. 1t has been most fortunate
for the work and standing of the COM
mission that it had at the beginning
such an efficient and interested secre-
tary as Col. Cosby, and that the same
interest and efficiency was manifest
in Col. Harris, who, as officer in chhrge
of public buildings and grounds in
Washington, has control over the de-
velopment of Potomac Park and the
public reservations generally. In the
commission Col. Harris has the benefit
Of consultation and advice of several
architects who are at work on similar
projects all over the country, and who
have at their command the worlds
precedents.
East Washington Interests.
During their recent visit to Wash
ington the commission made a particu
lar study of the eastern section of the
District, with a view to its develop
ment as the work of retaining the
fits of the Eastern branch proceeds.
The commission sees as the result of
this work the making of one of the
great water parks of the world, and
q orr n
the number of people who will seek
homes in that portion of the District,
and whose needs for improved open
spaces must be felt. They have been
much interested. too. in the develop
ment of East Potomac Park as great
playground accessible from the water
to the people in South Washington,
who are in dire need Of such facilities.
THE study of the connections be-
tween Potomac Park and the valley OF
Rock creek took much time, as did also
the plans for relating the Lincoln me-
mortal to it's environment. The sub
ject of swimming pools free from
contamination was another matter under
consideration:
1.-The members of tie commission who
have been longest acquainted with
Washington feel that there is perhaps
no city in the country that has greater
need and greater opportunity for inn
provements that shall. mitigate the
who must remain in the city for much
or all of the hot season have not been
provided with the facilities which are
usually to be found in progressive
cities all over the country.
Cooperation With Government.
Much time has been taken in estab-
fishing helpful relations with branches
of the government. There have been
instances in which the advice of the
commission has been given from the
standpoint of the comprehensive devel-
opment of the District, and this advice
has not been followed because it has
seemed to conflict with the require
ments of particular interests, but on
the whole the assistance of the COM
mission is being increasingly sought
both by Congress and by the executive
departments, and it is the desire of the
members to render such Service to the
fullest extent in their power. This
work involves much correspondence
and a considerable amount of work be-
tween the meetings."