Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-07
MI. HAM|[TONAS
{. s. BOTANIC SITE
GAINING SUPPORT
Experts in Department Of
Agriculture Add Weight of
Their Testimony.

\
their testimony in favor of the re-
moval of the Botanic Garden from itt
present site to the so-called Noun,
Hamilton tract. in Northeast Wash
ington, adjacent to the Anacostis
river.
Already the desirability of locating
the garden at this point has been rec
commended from civic and economic
standpoint by various local organlza-
tons, headed by the Board of Trade
which have at heart the best interests
OF the city from all possible angles.
The relocation of the garden at this
point has been specifically recon-
mended from an esthetic and an
artistic viewpoint by the Fine Arts
Commission.
Now trained agricultural and botan-
1cal scientists from the department
under which the administration of the
garden comes are urging the desira-
bilfty, from professional viewpoint,
of this tract of 449 acres of land, part
ly timber. 800 feet above tide water.
and possessing an adequate diversity
of soil.
Botanfst In Enthusiastic.
Particularly enthusiastic over the
Hamilton tract is Frederick V. Co.
vile, botanist of the Department OF
Agriculture. So is David S. Fair
child. in charge Of the office of for
eign seed and plant Introduction. Both
agree that the present location, just
west of the Capitol, is not nearly big
enough and never at any time had
soil sufficiently varied to do justice
to the remarkable collection of plants
the garden owns.
Now. with the base of the Grant
statue in place and the setting aside
~ o. 70 F0~ Ia
mortal. the space is becoming even
more scant and may be said to be the
immediate cause of the necessity for
early removal. Mr.. Coville, Mr.. Fair
child and other department officials
are gratified that the Board Of Trade
purchase of the tract for the particu-
lar purpose of placing the garden
therein.
Spoke at Hearing.
Mr.. coville waseone of a number of
men. government officials and other
wise. who appeared May 81 last At a
hearing before a joint committee on
the Library Of Congress considering a
bill to increase the area Of the Botanic
Garden to make it comparable to the
best existing gardens. with special
reference to the availability of the
Mount Hamilton tract. Mr.. Fairchild
also was heard. So were Charles
Moore. chairman Of the Fine Arts Com
mission; DR.. N. L. Britton, director in
chief Of the New York botanic gar
den; Frederick Law Olmstead. who
prepared the park plah of the Fine
Arts Commission SO far as it related to
the outlying parts Of Washington;
Gen. w. w, Harris, former secretary
and executive officer Of the commits
sion; Walter w. Swingle. in charge of
crop physiology and breeding, the
bureau OF plant industry. Department
of Agriculture: DR.. C.. Stuart eager,
direet2r Of the garden at Brooklyn,
rector Of the garden here: Maj. c. S.
Ridley, superintendent Of public build
ings and grounds; J. Edward Moon,
president of the American Associa-
ton OF NurSerymen. and James N.
Wood. representing the Northeast
testimony generally Of ali those who
appeared was favorable to the pro-
cUrement OF q tract like the Mount
Hamilton tract. il not that particular
site.
eya Ae1asts tesfengress.4
z The Fine Arts UUfnmission. m has
been noted, In an extensive report to
Congress. has :, recommended the
Hamilton tract. The Board OF Trades
has met with the commission and
given the latter the benefit Of it's
knowledge OF the park situation from
a practical standpoint. A hearinf
was held before the District Commis-
sioners September, 20, under the aus
pieces Of the Board Of Trade, ana at
tended by representative Of nearly
all the citizens associations and BY
Mr.. Moore, secretary Of the Fine Arts
Commission. This hearing concerned
the whole local park situation, includ.
inb the Mount Hamilton tract M
Moore spoke of why the arts commits
sion advocates it's purchase. The
boards committee has conferred with
Maj. Ridley, superintendent of pubic
buildings and grounds. who has also
Endorsed the project.
Judge Charles 8. Bundy. chairman.
and Fred G. Coldren. one Of the active
members of the parks and reserya-
tions committee. recently made an ex-
tensive tour Of all the parks, present
and planned. OF the District in order
to gain essential hrst-hand knowi.
edge. and 1t WAS after that tour that
the committee made its report speci-
fically urging the desirability Of the
Hamilton tract as a new site for the
garden.