Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-07
OPPOSES REMOVAL
|OF BOTANIC GARDEN
Representative Nelson OBJ
jects to InaccessibiIity of
Site and Expense of Change.

Protest against the proposed re-
moval of the United States Botanic
GARDEN from its present location at
the foot of Capitol Hill to the Mount
Hamilton tract, on the Anacostia river,
is made by Representative William L..
Nelson of Missouri, who has been "a
lifelong friend of garden and park
systems. On the occasion of the one
hundredth anniversary of the Botanic
Garden he secured leave to print a
speech In the Congressional Record
After describing the beauties of the
garden. it's attraction for visitors
from al parts of the country ana
something of its history, he says, re-
gardlng the proposed removal:
Discusses Removal.
Looking to a possible removal of
the garden. various sites have heen
proposed Rock Creek Park, contain
ing l.6O6 acres, in the northwestern
suburbs of Washington, has been sus :
gested. Another proposed site is Mount
Hamilton. This tract, unfortunately
not accessible to many, fronts on the
Anacostia river for a distance of about
5000 feet, and contains 4S3 acres.
I'm advocating the Mount Hamilton
tract it has been suggested by some
that the government would follow :
ing the purchase. then have ample
grounds for experimental work. IN
Guiding the growing of various COM
mon vines, shrubs and trees. largely
fruit trees and berry-bearing vines.
In answer to this. it may be SAID that
the government now has available
the agricultural experiment farm. the
tract at Rockville, Nd. and hundreds
of acres of reclaimed land III the
Potomac flats.
Il no
ton of the present garden ana the
removal to site such as the Mount
Hamilton tract as a serious mistake
and ineXcusable blunder. which many
years and no reasonable sum OF
money could remedy. To convert the
Mount Hamilton tract. much of vt eX-
ceedingly rocky and poorly suited to
the purpose proposed, into an ideal
garden would cost more than the
most optimistic can expect Congress
to sanction. While we are not ad-
vised as to the purchase price of this
land. it would probably be from s4oo
to $500 per acre. and even at these
figures the large amount would rep
resent but a beginning.
Would Improve Present Site.
eve see no urgent reason why the
purchase of the Mount Hamilton tract,
with a view to converting it into a
great national botanic garden, should
be urged at this time. If there is
money available, some of it should
first be spent in improving the pres
ent Botanic Garden. In this connec-
ton l would suggest that the aver
age member of Congress, busy as he
is. might well afford the time to visit
this garden, enjoy its rare plants and
flowers. and appreciate its possibili :
ties. Once this is done all thought of
removing the garden, starving it by
/ to-; Il
stroying it by unfriendly legislation
will cease.
mo recommendation looking to the
removal of the National Botanic Gar
den. should such removal mean the
destruction of the present garden.
should be favorabI considered at this
time. Any attempt to change the To-
cation would result in the loss of rare
trees, shrubs and plants. many of
which could not be replaced at any
price. Some of these were years ago
secured at great expense to the gov
eminent. This is notably true of the
collection of palms and various other
tropical trees and plants, the largest
of which could not safely be removed.
AS every one who knows anything
about the difficulties to be experienced
in moving even the hardest of large
trees. the attendant risk is always
great. A number of years ago, when
the mlSerably located Grant memorial
was agreed upon, it was necessary to
remove one of the most famous trees
the peace tree'-to another part of
the grounds. This tree was success
fully transplanted, but for the job
the government paid $4,000. This fee
had been agreed upon with the under
standing that if the tree did not live
nothing was to be paid for the work.
The tree referred to is but one of the
many of great historic interest.
Inaccessible, He Says.
"Still another objection to be urged
against tho Aremoval of the Botanic Car