Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-04
COL. w. w. Harris Exhibits
Many Striking Pictures, H.
Illustrating Development.
ADDRESSES AN AUDIENCE
AT THE UNIVERSITY CLUB
Engineer Officer in Charge of Public
Buildings and Grounds Outlines
Future Beautiful Washington.

Col. W. W. Harris. L. S. A.. engineer
officer in charge of public buildings and
grounds, lectured at the University Club
last night on the park system of the
District of Columbia and the future Of
Washington, exhibiting many striking
fore from the collection of the commits
sion of fine arts and other sources.
Col. Harris was introduced by Claude
n. Bennett as the man Of all men who
knows the most. has done the most and
has planned the most in connection
with the development Of the parks of
Washington and at the conclusion Of
Col. Harris remarks, Col. Myron NJ.
Parker. asking for a vote of thanks for
Col. Harris, remarked that if the en-
gneer officer should be removed from
his present post of duty when his four
year term of service here expires "a
public calamity would result"
Talks of Present Park Plans.
The present park plan Of Washington
Col. Harris said. has been characterized
by Earl Grey as likely to produce the
most beautiful capital in the world, high
praise, Col. Harris pointed out. from one
who is well acquainted with the capitals
of the world He said it is mistake to
believe that Congress is not doing all it
should for the city of Washington, or all
that it can. as so many people do be-
lieve, for. he declared. there never has
been so much under way in the line Of
physical Improvement as Congress mas
now authorized.
Col. Harris traced the early history
of the plan of Washington. recalling
that the ground of the District of Co
lumba was owned originally by nine
teen farmers. who through pure pa
triotism. gave the government the
streets and alleys. They sold the lots
for the public buildings, he recalled.
to the government, at $66 an acre. The
streets, sewers, lights and waterways
of the capital. he explained. are all
owned outright in fee simple. by the
federal government situation which
resulted, he said, from the fact that in
the early days of the republic num-
Der of soldiers of the revolution went
to Philadelphia, where Congress then
sat and threatened Congress because
their pay was in arrears. Congress
felt this threat very keenly. Col. Harris
said. The police of Philadelphia were
unable to protect the members of Con-
gress he added, and as the result Con-
gress determined to have complete con
troll of any city which should become
the capital in future, even to the e1
tent of being in complete control of
the police.
Exhibits Old Farm Lands.
Col. Harris exhibited on a screen a
map showing the old farm lands which
were taken over for the District of Co
lumbia, and an original plan showing
a system of canals which George Wash
ington had intended should play a great
part in the development of the city. in
GLIDING the James Creek canal. through
which the stone used in building the
Capitol building was transported. The
Mall appeared in the old plans. he said,
Maj. L'Enfant. the designer of the Cap
ital city, having Intended that it should
be lined with the residences of am bas-
sadors and ministers of foreign coun-
tries.
The engineer officer showed one pic
ture which portrayed a development
the commission Of fine arts has plan
ned for the surroundings of the Wash
ngton Monument. with magnificent
gardens. studded with small temples. A
new and more suitable name, he pre-
dicted. will soon be found for the tidal
basin. Many pictures of the Lincoln
memorial were shown. as we'll as Of
the development that will one day
tndt StTuCtuTe, ana COL HdTtS
advanced the idea that the basement
of that building, which he said Will be
light, airy and dry, should be used for
the storage Of civil war records, in view
of the fact that the hall of archives
so long proposed has not yet been built
and in view of the demand for stor-
age room for documents in Washing
ton.
Buildings to Surround White House.
The commission of fine arts. Col. Harris
said. has planned for public buildings to
Some day surround the White House He
told of the proposed memorial bridge
mortal boulevard to Mount Vernon, con-
tinuing the drive this bridge will make,
across the Potomac and the proposed me-
as well as the proposed connecting park
way between the Lincoln Memorial and
Rock Creek and Geological parks He
described what is intended to be done in
East Potomac Park, saying that all the
great improvements, 1t is hoped, Will be
completed by 1920. in time to hold the
Olympic games OF that year in Washing
ton
Speaking of the Grant Memorial, Col
Harris said that there has been some
criticism owing to the fact that eleven
years have been occupied in this work,
but, he said. there are fourteen horses
in this memorial, each Of which 1t has
been necessary to design separately,
ana that Two years ls generally needed
in Washington for the completion of
an equestrian statue. so that he does
not think the progress made on the
Grant Memorial has been SO very slow
after all.
I'VE are gradually changing the
character of the parks of Washington. -
Col. Harris said. I'm future there will
be more flowing water used in the de-
velopment of the parks. and more ever
green's.
Anacostia River Development.
| Speaking of the development of the
| Anacostia river he said that there will
be nothing more beautiful in and
around Washington than this work
when it is completed The building
! space in this section of the city. he
| said, Will soon be needed, and the prop
| erty necessary for the improvements ia
being acquired and the work ia under
| way. He pointed out that the appro-
priations for the Anacostia river sec
ton improvements have been small.
but. he said. as much progress is being
| made there as was male in Potomac
Park in the beginning of tho latter de-
velopment.
| prnnrneciuo noIonofoo