Evening star., 1921-06-17
CAPITAL AS BEAUTY
SPOT IS FORECAST
|BY MISS BOARDMAN
Former Commissioner Gives
Vision of Possibilities for
Nations City.
WILL HEAD RE0RGANIZEO
CIVIC ART committee
Machinery Already in Motion for
Work Which Will Have as Goal
Unsurpassed System.

Visions of the National Capital as a
great expanse of beautiful parks. con-
Meeting parkways, set with attractive
foliage and flowers; snow-white marble
buildings of beautiful architecture. un-
stained by the smoke and SCOT of in
dustry, and delightful public garden
spots. where the public could enjoy
music and light refreshments. were
laid before reporter for The Star to-
day by Miss Mabel Boardman, former
Commissioner of the District, as the
work of the newly reorganized COM
mittee on civic art of the Washington
Society of Fine Arts to bring to an
early realization.
Greatest In World.
Miss Boardman painted a wonderful
mind picture of the possibilities for
capital beautiful. unsurpassed by any
thing the world has known. and under
her direction an active number OF
subcommittees is being formed TO
work for the goals set in their par
ticular spheres.
The machinery of accomplishment
has been set in motion. TO turn un-
ceasingly under the pressure OF
corps of workers, until there is COM
plete realization of their visioned but
practical plans.
Her reputation as an organizer and
her deep interest in the Identification
of Washington, her home. impelied
William Bruce King. president OF the
Washington Society of Fine Arts. to
urge Miss Boardman to undertake the
work of recreating the committee on
civic art. Always an enthusiast over
anything which works for the beneht
and Identification of the National
Capital, Miss Boardman has under
taken the work, and already has sur
rounded herself with a corps OF ac-
tive workers. specialists in their lines
IL is to be self-financed. There is to
be no appeal for funds.
Parks and Driveways.
The strides of the builders in the un-
developed sections Of the city. originally
included in the parking plan. and some
which had not been included. Spurred
the committee onward to the selection OF
sites for parks and driveways which
would make the National capital one
grand expanse of beautiful foliage and
flowers for the full enjoyment of the resi-
dents and the visitors.
Purchase of large plots Of ground
which might be selected for parking
sites. following somewhat the German
system, is urged by Miss Boardman.
They should be purchased before the
builders decide to begin work. and
even if not now improved. would be
held by the government until funds
could be appropriated. In Germany.
Miss Boardman pointed out. there IS
a practical and successful scheme OIL
working out parking systems.
whereby the government determines
upon q place for a park, and pur-
chases not only the ground intended
to be used for parking purposes. but
also large piece of the surround
ing land. When the park is improved.
| the surrounding land is solo ior z
! higher value than that Tor "nicn \.
was purchased. many times enough
al least to pay for the money laid
out for the park itself.
should BE Used Here.
! This practical scheme could ana
should be worked out here. and now
! is the time 1t should be done. MISS
Boardman said. me parkhe f;the,, cost.
could be advanced here without cos,-
inc the people a cent ii the German
nian were followed. she said
! T,h;s is one of the matters wnich
are heing considered by the subcom-
mittee on the Mcafillan plan; PARKS
and Fairgrounds of wElch Mililam
Emo is chairman. said Miss Boardman.
..This committee" she continued.
| "u,iil study the whole parking system
| of washington. 1t has already oeen
organized and held meetings. It mas
| toured the city in automooiles. IN
! forming the committee. there were Sc
! lected people who know tns ci.y, Pc
pisn' and people who are constantly
driving around the City ard are IN
nosition to see and report upon needs.
| Ir is to be a vigilance committee also.
.aThe slopes into Rock creek IN the
vicinity of the M and Street oridkes
|
wears. They are unsightly. and Wnen
| improyement is undertaken. It VIII
! he unite a Job to cut down the slopes.
Anpeai was made to Col. Sheriff..
superintendent Of public buildings ana
grounds, and he has ordered dumping
the many duties Of this subcommittee.
VIII Press for Action.
.rhere is much work which it is de-
sirablc to have done. The plan to con-
meet all of the civil war forts will be
given early consideration. for much
| Of the land intended to be lnciudea In
the connecting parking now has been
bought for improvement. Congress
must act quickly IL il is to save many
of the vantage points. It Will be part
Of the work of this committee to ac-
quaint the cengresslonsi COZ committees ,ton !:
MISS Boardman spoke particularly
| ~ the site of Fort Totten. east Of
G.orVia avenue, now grown UP in
thick foliage. This land has been
| nurcha sed by the Catholic University.
and she said that she had appealed to
Bishop Shahan to leave the clearing
| there. which provides most beaut
fui view of the Maryland hills. and
| from which point. she said, chesa-
| peake bay may be seen on a clear
day. Fort stevens. to the west Of
Georgia avenue. where Lincoln was
under fire, is rapidly growing up and
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