The Washington times., 1916-12-24
ExtoI His Efforts Toward Max
ing Washington "Most Beau
tifuI Capital"
PRESIDENT JOINS TRIBUTE
Laudatory Letter From Sscre.
tary Baker Also Read at Din
ner to Official.


who would make Washington the
most beautiful capital city in the
world. found expression ut a com
plimentary dinner given by represen.
tative officials and citizens by Col w.
w. Harts, engineer officer In charge
OF public buildings and grounds, at
the University Club last night.
President Wilson, Secretary Baker.
ranking army officers, members OF
Congress, and representative Wash.
ingtonians Joined In paying tribute TO
Colonel Harts as the man who. above
all others in recent years, has labored
effectively TO make Washington In
fact as well a. In name the "city
beautifuLv
,Colonel Harts responded by giving
an illustrated talk In which he sketch.
cd the Improvement OF the past and
painted an ideaiistic picture OF the
Washington that In to be.
President Jsiss Trissss.
While expressing tha deepest graft.
tude for the compliment shown him.
Colonel Herts said he believed the
gathering OF so many representative
men with the interests Of Washington
at heart brought nearer the destiny
of the city shat is to be the most
beautiful capital In the world"
The dinner was arranged by Col
Myron NJ. Parker, former Commis-
sIoner OF the District and president
of the University Club. Addresses
were made by representative citizens
who are working for, wnzhington's
civic bettorment. Letters were READ
from men prominent In the nation IN
praise OF the work done BY Colonel
Harts.
President Wilson. In a letter. said
lie had been ''ln very close assooia-
ton with Colonel Harts and Joined
most heartily In expressing a very
great and genuine admiration for the
excellent work he has done" Colonel
Harts' work. the President said has
been characterized not only ny
knowledge and executive capacity.
hut by generous enthusiasm for the
interests OF the government and OF
the District"
Bsk~r Praises tiarts
Secretary OF War Iiakcr said II was
a source OF great qualification TO him
that Colonel Harris "is doing such
valuable work and that the people
OF Washington appreciate it and CO.
operate with him heartily. as they
do on all occasions.
Il do not well sec, secretary
Baker wrote. show AN OFFICER OF the
army could have a more inHpirins
task than that OF contributing 10 the
beauty OF this great Capital city and
1 have watched with interest the en-
thusIasm with which Colonel Harts
devoteH himself TO the task,
Senator Warren OF Wyoming,
Speaker Champ Clark, former speak
.r Cannon. Congressman Fitkgerald
of New York. chairman OF the House
AppropriatIons Committee. and Chief
Justice Covington, OF the District SUI
preme Court. were others who wrote
letters praisipg Colonel iiarts' work
col. Myron NJ. Parker, the toast
master, said Colonel Harts had done
more than any OF his predecessors.
vision OF Potomac Park.
at is safe TO conclude" Colonel
Parker said. that when Colonel
Harts gets through with IL Potomac
Park viii be one OF the beauty spots
OF our city, a lovers dream, a last
word In landscape effect, an oppor'
tunity for many athletes, a children's
playground. and an inviting resort
for 100000 washingtonians and ioo.'
900, 900 Americans"
Il. c. BrAndenburg, president OF the
Board OF Trade, drew a picture OF the
Washington OF miasmic swamps |
twenty. thirty and forty years ago. |
lie said there has been no more re-
mArkable development OF Washing !
ton than has taken place In the past
Ave or six years, and for this result
he gave "A great portion OF the credit
to Colonel Harts,
T.. T. Moran, president of the Cham
her OF Commerce, expressed the hope
that Colonel Harts would be permit |
ted to remain In his present post for |
wears to come and ''until we achieve
our highest hopes-the making or
Washington the most beautiful city
In the world"
Toast Drusk 20 Colonel Hsrts.
Henry II. y. Macfsriand said WASH
ington appreciates Colonel Harts' char
scter. his enthusiasm. his skill and his !
success. and the promise of even great
er achievement.
Brig. Gen. William NJ. Black. chief
81 engineers and former Engineer Com
missioner OF the District. and Brig. Gen.
william crozier, chief OF ordnance. !
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