Evening star., 1921-05-13
PRESIDENT BACKS
FINE ARTS PLANS
Approves Commissions Pro-
gram for Developing
Capital.

President Harding informed the
members of the Commission of Fine
Arts, who called on him officially yes
terday afternoon, that he is heartily
in accord with pending plans for the
development of the National Capital,
based on the rEnfant plan and the
Senate Park Commission plan of 1901.
The execution of those plans, he said
promise Ito make Washington city
one of the most beautiful capitals in
the world
During the call of the commissioners
Chairman Charles Moore gave brief
account of the plans under way for
the development of the American
cemeteries in France and England.
There are to be at least five of these
national" cemeteries. similar to Ar
iington-at Suresnes. Rommag gne. Bel
Ieau Wood, Bony or Flanders Field
and one near London. Advice in de-
Veloping these cemeteries was re-
Guested by the Secretary of War.
under whose direction Mr.. Moore and
several other members of the COM
mission went 10 France.
Close of Busy Session.
The Fine Arts Commission has just
closed a long and busy session in
this city, at which action was taken
on several public works. under way
and projected. Consideration was
given TO plans for the removal of a
section Of the iron fence around
the Botanic Garden adjacent 10 the
memorial to Gen. L. :. Grant, 80 as
to carry out the intentions of Con-
greSS to restore the space on the
west of the Capitol to the uses pro-
vided in the original plan of the
city
For that reason. and also because
"adeauate space will be required for
the Meade memorial. which is being
erected by the state of Pennsylvania
in the same locality corner of Penn
svlvania avenue and Sd street,. the
an extension of flower gardens into
the Mall.
Approve Building Design.
The commission approved the de-
sign for the National Academy of
Sciences building, of the National
Research Council. to be located at
2lSt and b streets, near the Lincoln
memorial. Among other submissions
which received the attention of the
commission We're designs and models
for the zero milestone. the nuns of
the battlefield monument and the
Missouri centennial fifty-cent coin.
A model for the Darlington memorial
=
Square. was approved.
The commission considered num-
Der of designs for proposed monu-
ments in Arlington, among them one
for Rear Admiral Robert L. Peary.
Models for insignia for the militia
and the warrant officers of the War
Department were approved. also
model for the Red Star animal relief
war memorial tablet which is to be
placed in the State, War and Navy
building.
The commission gave further study
to the model for a soldiers memorial
cross which is to be thirteen feet
high in marble. with landscape set
ting. This memorial cross. to be To-
Gated in the world war section in
Arlington, is being erected by the
American Women's Legion.
The sessions were attended by
Charles Moore. chairman: James f.
Fraser, sculptor; Henry Bacon. archi-
tect: Louis Ayres. architect: H. Sid
dons AIowbray painter, and Lieut..
Col. c. .. Sheriff.. who. by virtue of
his office as superintendent of public
buildings, and grounds, is the secre-
tary and executive officer of the COM
mission.