Evening star., 1925-01-14
EXPERTS DECLARE
ARBORETUM VITAL
Tell House Committee Mount
Hamilton Site Purchase
Is Essential.
national arboretun

A national arboretum can be
established in Washington better
than any other place in the country,
and it's establishment Is essential in
working out efficient utilization of
our fast-dlsappearing natural timber
resources, experts on conservation.
forestation, horticulture, botany. the
preservation of wild life and kindred
subjects told the House committee
on agriculture today. They declared
there is imperative reason why the
Mount Hamilton tract, at the eastern
entrance to the National Capital
should be purchased at once as an
outdoor laboratory for more than 200
of the best scientific men to study
these problems.
The bill introduced by Chairman
Luce of the House committee on the
Library, authorizing the acquisition
of the Mount Hamilton tract for a
national arboretum, was under con-
sideration. The witnesses represent
ed the Department of Agriculture,
Smithsonian Institution and other
Government agencies, as well as
practically all of the national asso
Citations concerned with forestry. hor-
ticulture, botany. the nursery busi-
life and recreation.
Gore to BE Called.
The Secretary of Agriculture is to
be called before the committee at
it's next meeting, tomorrow If pos
sible, in order that the committee
may get a frank business statement
regarding the cost OF this property,
the cost of maintaining 1t as ma
tional aboretum and data concerning
the present ownership.
Representative Luce emphasized at
the outset of the hearing that there
must be no misunderstanding regard
ing the purpose of this legislation. 1t
is not proposed to move the National
Botanic Garden to the Mount Hamil-
ton tract. because action is soon to be
taken for a study, under the direction
of the President and Congress. to
determine a proper site for a greater
botanic garden. Congress intends, he
said, to keep the conservatories of
the Botanic Garden convenient to the
Capitol, especially that they may be
visited by tourists.
Hess Backs Measure.
George w. Hess. director: of the Boz
tanic Garden has emphatically stated
tum measure. Representative Luce
assured the committee that after a
personal investigation of the Mount
Hamilton tract and after conferences
with officials of the Harvard Arbore-
tum at Forest Hills, which Is one of
the greatest arboretums in. tn weorld,
he said, he is thoroughly convinced
that this land should be acquired at
once, as 1t is one of the largest tracts
convenient to the National Capital
left available.
Mrs. Frank B. Noyes, president of
the local branch of the Garden Clubs
of America, who was accompanied by
Mrs. Frederick H. -Gillett, wife of the
Speaker, particularly urged the COM
mittee that action should be taken
now to obtain this site because nu-
merous real estate signs are creeping
up around the property and those
supporting the legislation are fearful
that within six months some of the
most desirable portions of this tract,
which make 1t an ideal gateway to
the National Capital, would be spoil
ed by rows of small houses.
Mrs. Noyes said that the Garden
Clubs of America, while pressing To-
cal improvements in the various
States, decided upon the national ar
boretum bill as the one big piece Of
national work which should be un-
dertaken. because 1t is of vital in
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