Evening star., 1926-11-25
APPOINTS SCHOOL
/ LANDSCAPE GROUP
Graham Names Committee
to Seek Aid of Congress
| in Improving Grounds.

A practical program to guarantee
the future landscaping OF Washing
tons public schools was discussed at a
meeting of Federal, District and
school officials at the Franklin School
yesterday afternoon, and resulted in
the naming Of a committee of five
which will make it its business to
win from Congress the necessary ap-
proval and appropriations for the
prsjeat.
Edwin G. Graham, president of the
Board of Education, at the conclusion
of the meeting named the following
10 serve on this important committee:
GnEineer Commissioner J. Franklin
BALL Maj. LAWSON E. Atkins, assistant
10 the Engineer Commissioner; DR..
Frank w. Ballou, superintendent or
schools; James G. Yaden, president Of
the Federation Of Citizens Associa-
tions, and Or. H. B. Learned, chair |
man of the buildings and grounds
committee of the Board of Education.
1t was the consensus of opinion
among the officials present, who In
cluded Mai. Carey II. Brown, Oftice OF !
Public Buildings and Public Parks. |
and H. 2. Caemmerer of the Fine Arts |
Commission, that the landscaptng or |
the schools should be done by compe- |
tent landscape architect. who would
be under Municipal Architect A. l..
Harris, and that special corps OF at.
tendants well verSed in the care OF
plants, flowers and shrubbery should
he added to the staff under the direc- |
tion of the Board Of Education.
Bell Urges Separate Body.
Engineer Commissioner Bell, who
called the meeting and made the In
%oI hof fn0 6IffnS |
ue planning school grounds not be put
an any present officials. He also
recommended that the man selected |
20 plan the grounds be in the office OF
the municipal architect, so that this
phase can be taken care of when the
school building originally is planned.
It will be the duty of the committee
Of FIVE, which was named by authority !
of the board members present, to as
simulate the suggestions made at yes !
Yerday's meeting and evolve con- !
crete scheme for putting the entire
matter before the proper congress
sional committee.
Assistant Superintendent Of Schools
stephen T.. Kramer told the meeting |
that he felt certain if the original
landscaping and plotting is done that |
fhe janitorial staff school teachers
and school children will outdO them
selves in keeping their premises at
tractive
The point was made plain, however,
that the expert work Of pruning
flowers and plants as well as replant-
9ng could not we'll he done by the lalli-
tors themselves, and for this reason
special help should be employed for
this work.
Business High Cited.
Mr. Kramer cited the Business High
School as an example OF the dire need
for Iandscaping in the city. He said
that the outside Of the high school
was in such condition as to make any
Washingtonian blush. He said he
thought the janitors could be organ
ized to do a great deal Of the neceS-
aary maintenance work about the
school grounds.
Dr. Learned, who presided at the
meeting, said the Health School,
which is "a perfect gem" and consid-
cred the best in the country OF Its
type, is badly in need Of landscaping,
and that this should be one Of the first
pieces OF work accomplished under
the new plan.
Mr.. Yaden said he thought a Compe
tent landscape architect could be OBJ
tained at salary Of $4,000. He
voiced the belief that the committee
will find members Of Congress gener-
to improve the appearance Of school
grounds.
Mr.. Harris said he expects TO hold
out for an entire city block for each
elementary school. with two blocks
FOR q junior high school and from six
10 ten acres for Il senior high school.
Arts Body Would Aid.
Mr.. Caemmerer assured the COM |
ynittee that the Fine Arts Commission /
will be glad to give its advice con- /
cerning the landscapinG at the schools !
Maj. Brown also pledged the CO. /
operation of the Office of Public |
Buildings and Public Parks, but |
agreed that the actual work Of the |
}andscaping should be under the mu- I
nicipal architect and not his Office.
DIR. Learned reminded the commit /
zee that as soon as one school IS land !
scaped that all schools win want the .
same treatment, and he urged that I
carly agreement he reached on how
much could be done and in what /
order.
Maj. Atkins explained how the law /
had restricted District officials from .
using money for landscapiuG. and told +
how an effort viii be made next t
month to correct this situation
Others present at the meeting We're /
Dr. + l. y. Bennett, Mrs. Marie w
Hodgkins ana Henry Gilliean. all /
members of the board: Mai. Raymond /.
q. Wilmarth, Roland NJ Brennan I
chief clerk. Engineer Department; |
Asst Supt. Robert l.. Haycock and
Henry Storey, foreman of the District
repair shop.
Ten tons Of minctmeat is being used
l. 1,np NG