Evening star., 1922-03-28

alOnS nVe or Blk city ,DlOckS TO
South Capitol street. The garden
will continue from there to End and
N streets southwest, and spread
between 1st street southeast and 1st
street southwest extending through
to the river.
The Engineer Commissioner is now
having the District forces and their
equipment moved out of these con-
meeting plots, and it is the intention
OF Director Hess and the mem
bers of Congress behind this de-
velopment to have large, modern
greenhouses erected all along this
strip. These will be utilized for Civ
ing seasonal flower shows-various
lilies, azaleas. chrysanthemums and
poinsettias. The various national as
sociations of flower lovers, florists,
gardeners, ETC., have long urged that
such facilities should be afforded.
Director Hess also contemplates the
assembling of the gardens museum
of 1ants in a more orderly way in
these new conservatories, where they
will be a valuable aid to education OF
the many thousands of school chill
dren who visit Washington annually.
This removal of the present un-
slightly barns and shops and the re-
placement with modern conservato-
ries will give the Capitol more ft-
ting setting, will be a start toward
making the National Capital what has
flower capital of the western hemi-
sphere: will lead to building up the
best botanic garden in the world and
will aid materially in further beauti-
flying the most beautiful city in the
world.
is ideal, the experts say, and point
out that they will lie in q direct line
from the Capitol power plant, so that
they can have the best heat and light.
Director Hess already is arranging to
install a new lighting system in the
present garden.
Everybody Co-Operating.
Leaders in Congress are particular
ly pleased that this big development
project has been arranged in spirit
of good feeling and cooperation
among the agencies and officials in
volved, and pledge their heartiest sup
port in putting through the neces-
sary legislation. In fact, bills and
resolutions are. drafted already for
putting this program through.
Senator Fernald, chairman Of the
Senate committee on public buildings
and grounds, is particularly devoted
to the cleaning up of that iong.
neglected section of the capitai ana
providing ample space for the future
Of the Botanic Garden without re-
moving it from its present location.
He points out that while practically
all the land required for this develop
ment is already government. owned;
that the very small parcels that are
to be acquired by condemnation pro-
ceedings can now be bought for a
nj
asked for other sites previously con-
sidered for the Botanic Garden
II have been interested ever since
first came to Washington in the
Identification and development OF our
National Capital. have not talked
actions count at the right time. The
time has come for enlargement OF the
Botanic Garden. Director Hess Is am
bilious to make it the best public
garden in the world, a museum OF
plant life, a valuable aid to our edu-
cation system, and we are heartily
in accord with this purpose.
There is no intention to move the
Botanic Garden. 1t should not be
moved, but should remain where 1T
lis, easy of access for all the people OF
the country who come here, but espe-
cially to our school children from
every state who make pilgrimage
here.
"The transfer of land which we are
making to the Botanic Garden can
be done at absolutely no expense. 1t
is practically all govefnment-owned
land, and the few small plots that we
will purchase can be had at! a mere
song in comparison with the price Of
land in other parts of the city which
we have been asked to buy as sites
for the Botanic Garden.
Ground Long Neglected.
'This will not only give the Botanic
Garden greatly increased acreage
plenty of space in which to ,grow-
but will open up section of the city
which has been very much NEGLECTED.