Evening star., 1925-03-15


ginia side, framing, but not interfer-
ing with the view of the Lincoln Me-
mortal from the direction Of the Lee
mansion. These columns symbolic,
the one the North and the other the
South. They are surmounted by
statues of victory, the stylobates
whence they rise offering surfaces
suitable for decorations, bas reliefs
and inscriptions. These columns are
same height as the Colonne de Juliet
in Paris.
Place of Lee Highway.
The axis of Columbia Island affords
an opportunity TO recognize the great
Lee Highway undertaking and to
make 1t an integral part of the whole
composition. This highway, which at
present passes over the Francis Scott
Key Bridge into Washington by a
circuitous and highly congested route
will be given a splendid direct ap-
proach over the brow of the imposing
Arlington Heights, exactly on the
prolongation of the axis of the Mall.
From this point a superb view of the
bridge, the Lincoln Memorial, the
Washington Monument. and the
Capitol viii be enjoyed by the
traveller entering the Nations Capital
Heights the Lee Highway would
descend toward Washington, keeping
on the axis of the Mall. passing over
the stream between the mainland and
Columbia Island by a sin arch
bridge, and cross the axis of the
island, continuing its course to the
waters edge of the main channel,
where it is planned to construct a
water gate facing and corresponding
to that at the Lincoln Memorial pre-
viously described. Rome had Its five
great avenues of approach: Inc
Flaminia, Praenestina, Aurelia. Osti-
ensis and Appian Ways. Washington
has none worthy of the name, but in
this proposed terminus of the Lee
Highway will be created the first and
most magnificent of all possible en-
frances to the National Capital.
The intersection OF the axis OF the
Mall with the axis of Columbia Island
affords an appropriate spot for
memorial in the shape of circular
or polygonal temple marking the
north end of the important Lee High
way. This treatment would be
echoed at the lower end of the island
and at an equal distance below the
main plaza by a memorial or a rest
pavilion.
The narrow waterway separating
the island from the Virginia shore
will be peculiarly adapted for boating
parties and is destined to grow in
popularity as time goes on. A num-
ber of landing places have been pro-
vided along this channel Apart from
the formal roads shown and a GER
tain number of footpaths, it is recon-
mended that the island be rather
densely planted in trees so as to cor
respond in appearance, as nearly as
possible with Analostan Island. In
this connection the acquisition of
Analostan Island by the United States
Government would not only prevent
it's possible and even probable use for
purposes which would render it OBJ
jectionable in its close proximity to
the dignifed treatment herein de-
scribed, but would also be highly
desirable on account of its natural
beauty and suitability for park pur-
poses.
Entrance TO shrine.
A magnificent memorial entrance to
the Nations shrine of the hero dead
in Arlington National Cemetery is an
other outstanding feature OF the Me-
mortal Bridge development
Continuing along the main avenue
on the axis Of the bridge, and after
crossing over the waterway separat-
ing Columbia Island from the Vir-
ginia shore on small twin bridge
with the main structure.
extends a formal parkway within an
extensive park area with two road
ways and a "tapis vert" between,
bounded by hedges and elms, and ris-
ing on a slight but uniform grade,
leads to the foot of the steep slope
rising up to the Lee Mansion. This
Il Nl,a
placing of the chief memorial en-
trance to the Arlington National
Cemetery at this point. Accordingly
a plaza is shown on the drawings in
part eXcavated into the side of the
hill, whence radiate the roads to the
to the Memorial Amphithe-
ater and other parts of the cemetery.
The west end of the plaza is in the
form of a semi-circle, the diameter of
which is 226 feet and is in structure a
retaining wall 80 feet high. The visi-
bic face of this retaining wall will be
decorated with inches, pilasters and
tablets bearing appropriate inscrip-
tions. Access is provided to the ter
race surmounting the retaining wall,
whence an all-embracing view of the
parkway may be obtain ed-the COL
umns of Columbia Island the Me-
mortal Bridge, the Potomac, the Lin
coin Memorial, 5,S0S feet distant; the
Washington Monument, and, far in
the distance, the glistening white
dome of the Capitol. Through the
trees up to the westward a glimpse
of the simple and dignified Arlington
Mansion may also be obtained on the
top of the heights.
Identification of Mall.
The biggest undertaking toward
identification of the National Capital
as an integral part of the memorial
bridge project is for the Mall develop
ment from the Capitol to the Lincoln
Memorial, which is to come after the
first five years work on construction
of the bridge and approaches, ac-
cording to the present law, unless
Congress authorizes action sooner.
The law now authorizes an ap-
propriation of s1,000,o00 a year for
five years for completion of all land
scape work, including the improve
ment of street, north, and Twenty
third street.
Extension of ID street.
The extension of b street eastward
to the Capitol grounds and the widen
ing of this street throughout it's en-
tire length and its paving with
asphalt is a very important job and
most closely related to the Arlington
Memorial Bridge. This improvement
is essential to allow the fullest use
to be made of the route over the
bridge to Arlington National Gene
terry, as it will be the natural boule-
ward Of approach to the cemetery
from the Capitol. Not only would
this be of much value in conjunction
with this project, but it would be of
great value in diverting a. large por-
tion of traffic now congesting Penn
sylvania avenue in the vicinity of the
Treasury Building westward beyond
the White House to streets leading
north and northwest. B street under
this proposal would become through
out its entire extent a splendid boule-