The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-08-18


the grounds occupied by the Botanic Garden is
proof that Congress means business and that
Uncle must move his flower and plant show
wherever 1t points out.
Besides the Botanic Garden Is a cheap affair.
comparatively speaking. Several American cities
have far larger and better gardens. And compared
with such shows MS the Royal Botanic Gardens Of
Kew and the botanic gardens OF Berlin. Paris,
Edinburgh. Glasgow and Rio de Janelro-why
Washington simply isn't in II.
Congress Is considering the various aspects OF
the Botanic Garden question. IL appears likely
that the public features OF the present garden will
be transferred from the west side of the Capitol
to the north side and that new botanic garden
and arboreum on an adequate scale will be
established not far from the Capitol.
Senate resolution 165. affecting the acquisition
OF site. is now before the committee on the
library. The fine arts commission OF which Lieut.
Col. Clarence O. Sheriff. Corps of Engineers
In secretary and executive officer has made a re-
port the Botanic Garden. Following are some
of tn points made In this report:
The present Botanic Garden was begun about
1920 under congressional permission granted to
the Columbian Institute for the Promotion OF
Arts and Sciences which went out of existence
In 1897. Then In the years 1888 1912 the Wilkes
| surveying and exploring expedition of six gov
eminent ships to the South Seas, collected a
large assortment of horticultural and botanical
| specimens, These formed the nucleus of the
| present garden The total expenditures the
garden from 1912 to date including the original
| appropriation for the expedition amount to about
N4l6,74s 1t appears that the garden, wisely and
adequately begun, now serves mainly as a dis
| tributer of plants and flowers.
by way of comparison, our Botanic Garden con-
| tanr less than IL acres, while the famous Kew
| Gardens contain 2SS acres and are closely identi'
fled with twenty col Jnal botanical gardens OF
the British Empire. Berlin las l323 acres In Its
botani garden which was established ut cost
o. S.oOo,OO0.
| The location problem may he stated thus:
| For reasons TINT will appear, the Botanic Gar
| den must be removed from Its present location
| Congress, when IL located the Grant Memorial In
| the garden area, forced the garden out Such was
| the intention OF Congress The action was entire
lv l,r.ca, That space was designed by President
| washington and Nal LEnfant as an open ap
proach to the Capitol. and Is so shown on me
| original plan OF the city. 1t was proposed at
| that time that this should be subject 10
| recommendation with memorials, foundations anu
| the like but not shut off by walls and FENCES
| 7 ocatinr the Botanic Garden in this area was one
| OF those serious mistakes made In the early part
| az the century whereby the great plan Tor the
! Nations Capital suffered damage that mas con-
| ,nued To this day. The location oil the "ran'
| Nsmorinl wns the first step toward repairing THIS
damage The subsequent location OF the Meade
| Memorial In the same is n further advance
In the restoration of the original pan
In furthcrancc of Its purpose TO restore the MAI
10 lis original status as II park connection between
tho legislative and executive departments, Con
gross paid the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Sl,5oooo
! IN remove its tracks from the Mall The puohC
! ploza or square the west front OF the Cnpito
| cronndn Is n feature ~ this large plan. The New
National Museum building the Agriculture De
par,ment buildings. and the gallery for the Freei
| collect ons all have been located with reference
IN the general plan. Slowly. but steadily. changes
| I'm conformity with that plan are now being car
r,ed out throughout the entire ~ miles from thu
| capitol Grounds to the Lincoln Memorial The
| removal OF the Botanic Garden Is essential to thu
development OF the great composition.
IL Congress desires to continue a garden fo
| the purpose Of obtaining flowers for Its member
and for growing shrubs to disseminate through
| out the country, both OF these purposes can b
subserved quite as well by glass houses and gar
| deps In other accessible locations.
The enlsvge:,snt OF the Capitol Grounds on tn
north affords an area FOR gardens OF great beaut
and distinction through which viii pass all visitor
TO Washington and a large proportion Of thos
persons who daily so to the Capitol and tn
| Library and Congress. The present Botanic Gal
den Is seen by an Insignificant fraction of visitor
ar residents The removal OF the garden feature
from the west side OF the Capitol TO the mort
.,...nt,. r,akas snrh features more available