Evening star., 1922-11-12
PLANS FOR A SPLENDID
MEMORIAL BOULEVARD
Would Connect Great Falls With Mount
Vernon and Be an Avenue
of the States.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

mental memorial entrance to
the National Capital. unsur-
passed in any nation of the
world, which will preserve historic
landmarks and natural beauty and as
sure for all time an ideal vista over
a twenty five-mi1e sweep, is to be
urged upon Congress when it resumes
work.
The main feature Of this magnifi-
cent approach is to be great high
bay along the natural palisades OF
the Potomac from Great Falls to the
new Georgetown bridge, thence south
of Arlington national cemetery, the
silent city" Of the nations heroes.
Of George Washington at Mount YER
nom
1t is proposed that this Mount YER
non boulevard. linking the city which
Washington founded with the city Of
Alexandria. which he helped so con-
;spicuously to upbuild during his early
manhood, and with the home and
burial place Of "the father of his
country" should combine the ideas
minister Abbey in London and be a
permanent national exposition of all
the states in the Union.
Memorial Bridge Approach.
The plans provide that this great
highway shall lead directly to a new
memorial bridge spanning "the his
toric Potomac" from the National
Capital to Arlington national ceme-
terry. which was the home Of Gen.
Robert E. Lee. beloved and honored
leader of "the lost cause" but from
which traffic from and into Washing
ton could pass over four bridges
Chain, Georgetown, the new memorial
and the Highway bridges. This high
way would also link in with the Lee
I memorial highway through Cherry
dale, Falls Church and Fairfax Court
House on to the Shenandoah valley
and the Pacific coast. 1t would also
link in with the Commission Of Fine
Arts plan for a driveway through q
. chain of parks entirely surrounding
the Capital city and preserving the
old forts. and fit in esthetically with
the plans now under consideration for
improvement of the area south of the
Capitol building to the river.
The preservation of the natural
palisades of the Potomac to Great
Falls is considered an important fea-
ture, and the proposal now before
Congress to establish a great national
park about Great Falls is included in
this more comprehensive program.
The need for a new memorial bridge
boulevard past Arlington national
cemetery has been emphasized since
the erection Of the magnificent mar
BILE amphitheater and the placing
there in a special tomb the remains
of 1.-The unknown hero" in tribute to
all the unknown dead of the Ameri-
can expedittonary forces. The burial
in Arlington of thousands of Ameri
can boys who fell in the etworld war
has more than doubled the traffic to
that eastern end of the cemetery
grounds. The Jam that occurred on
Armistice day. a year ago. when the
unknown dead" was being honored
at Arlington, was a demonstration for
the entire nation Of the necessity for
a boulevard sufaciently wide to care
for such tremendous traf1lc.
Reservations for states.
Along this proposed highway, twen-
ty-five miles In length, would be res
ervations for the states. whore each
state could erect its own memorial
structure on a natural pedestal. sill
houetted against the skyline. At
present no state is permitted to set
up more than two statues Of its most
distinguished citizens In the statuary
hall of the Capitol. This Mount'Ver-
non boulevard would allow each state
to erect in bronze or marble as many
monuments as might be desired. thus
making it q veritable outdoor West
minister Abbey.
The permanent home erected by
each state on its reservation would be
used as an exhibition building for the
purpose of advertising its educational.
commercial, mining, manufacturing,
ind lstrial and agricultural advan-
tag.s. and to be used as a gathering
from the states to the capital. 1t Is
pointed out that the federal go IN
ment and the several states havt Zen
appropriating large sums Of money to
be represented by temporary build
ings and temporary displays at inter-
national aAd interstate exposftions.
Here would be a permanent exposi-
fion the ADVANTAGES of the several
states being advertised. not in. any
perfunctory way, but by presentation
from the highest authorities Of each
state through its chosen representa-
tives.
A Permanent Exposition.
In this connection emphasis is
placed on the fact that other great
nations In inviting the United States
and the countries of the world to Join
in a national celebration or exposi-
ton almost invariably select their
own capital as the scene Of this inter-
national concourse. England held her
exposition In London. France in Paris
and Germany in Berlin. 1t is con-
templated that the United States
shall have q permanent all-states ex-
position at the National Capital.
The Harvesting Of the waterpower
Of Great Falls, which for generations
has been running to waste, is included
in the comprehensive scheme Of de-
yelopment. This hydroelectric power
would not only furnish light, heat and
power for the- Capital city and for