Evening star., 1921-11-23


Roosevelt and the then Secretary Of
War, William Howard Taft. the build
ings Of the Agricultural Department
do not interfere with the development
of the Mall, according to the original
plan. which contemplates an expanse
OF undulating green park, a mile and
a half long and 800 feet wide. extend
ing from the Capitol to the Monu-
ment.
Is completed along the general lines
suggested by the plan Of 1901" the re-
port says 1.-THE canal itself Is nearing
Completion. The land for Riverside
Drive and the connection with Rock
Creek Park is being purchased. and
about 15 per cent OF 1t is now owned
by the government.
Should Be Part Of Park.
"By dredging. a large area Of land ad-
jacent to the Arlington farms has been
created. This area should be developed
as part of the park system Of the Dis
trict. The private ownership in Ana
lostan Island should be determined and
and a menace. The proposition before
the District Commissioners is to place
on Analostan Island a gas holder 212
feet in height when inflated. The gas
holder is the most brutally ugly struc-
ture devised by man. 1t Is more blatant
than a power house, a water tank or an
ILL designed and smoking chimney.
Congress has authorized the expendi-
ture Of $25,000 to secure plans for
memorial bridge. and some day the
should carry along with it the cleaning
up of all the approaches to Arlington
and Fort Myer and the addition to the
park system of the reclaimed areas ad-
/ jacent to the Virginia shore Of the
Potomac.
"The two ends of the main axis-the
Mall and the setting for the Lincoln
Memorial-are well along in process OF
development according to the plan of
1901. The central feature, known as
the Washington Monument Gardens. has
not been even approached, nor is 1t
to come-probably not until the high
DEVELOPMENT of the two parts when
finished shall force the adequate and
harmonious development of the spaces
about the Washington Monument.
!, "At present the immediate surround
ings Of the Monument are SO made
quate as to cause the beholder near at
hand to lose that very sense OF gran
deur which it inspires when seen from
distance; and the lack Of harmonious
structures with which 1t comes, Into
juxtaposition disturbs ones sense Of
kdtness. No portion of the task set be-
fore the commission has required more
study and extended consideration than
has the solution Of the problem Of de-
vfsing an appropriate setting for the
Monument; and the treatment here
proposed is the one which seems best
adapted to enhance the value Of the
Monument itself. Taken by itself, the
washington Monument stands not
only as one Of the most stupendous
works Of man, but also as one of the
most beautiful of human creations.
Indeed, it is at once SO great and so
simple that 1t seems to be almost q
work Of nature. Dominating the en-
tire District of Columbia, 1t has taken
It's place with the Capitol and the
White House as one of the three fore
most national structures"
BuildfhEs Like Factories.
The temporary war buildings used
Nv the Navy Department and the
munitions division OF the War De-
uartment may be used for q time in
order to house government workers
Until new and Appropriate bulldfngU
can BE- constructed elsewhere. There
Temporary buildings are % fAotory-
| like in, design and they 30 invade.
fencroacb upon and dishgure Potomac
rL t';.' ~, A-,orican people wilt
TO