Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19
Pass the Arhoretum Bill!

Al the last session of Congress the
Senate passed the bill, S.1e4o, author
izing the Secretary of Agriculture
to establish an arboretum in the Dis
trict Of Columbia. That measure Is
now before the House committee on
agriculture, It should be reported out
at the earliest possible moment and
passed. with appropriate amendments
necessitated by certain language
which In consequence of a misun-
Outstanding Of the purpose of the pro-
posed establishment was added In the
Senate.
Speed is essential in this matter for
two reasons. In the first place, II
the project Is longer delayed much OF
the land designated by the pending
bill, which Ia so remarkably adapted
to the purpose Of an arboretum, will
have been In effect destroyed through
building operations now In contem-
plation and even in actual execution.
Secondly, the cost of the lands will
= advance materially with the passage
of time.
This proposition has been before
. Congress for several years. 1t is urged
by the Department of Agriculture for
the purpose Of creating here perma-
nent living collection of trees and
other outdoor plants for scientific re-
search and education. The arboretum
Of ~
ment of Agriculture more valuable
than ever to the country in many
ways. especially through plant breed
Ing. The development of faster grow
diseaseresistant plants through the
facilities afforded by the arboretum
would greatly increase the agricul-
tural wealth and welfare of the coun-
laboratory for several hundred pro-
fessional botanists, most of them en-.
gagged in the advancement of Ameri-
can agriculture through their connec-
tiveness of the work Of these botanists
would be enormously increased
through the facilities afforded by a
national arboretum.
About four hundred acres of the
proposed site is already owned by the
Government, consisting of marsh
land which will be drained in execu-
ton Of the Anacostia park project.
The Mount Hamilton and Hickey Hill
area of four hundred and eight acres
privately owned contains the soil chief
~ valuable for arboretum purposes,
BY a remarkable coincidence this soil
10 especially adapted to the cultivation
Of most Of the Indigenous North
American trees and shrubs. The eli
mate is suited to them as well. Thus
an arborstum established there would
be Of maximum scientific value and,
within convenient access to the De
partment. would be easy and economi,
cal Of administration.
The bill as originally drawn was
amended in the Senate in such a man.
ner that the tract is proposed for pur-
chase as park and national arbore.
tum for recreational purposes" 1t
should, however, not be so considered.
It should be established strictly "for
purpose of research and education
concerning tree and plant life," which
IL the object of the Department of
Agriculture. The arboretum would be
incidentally park because of it's
open area and it's nearness to Wash.
tngton. It cannot conceivably be rated
as a. park and in the consideration of
the bill by the House the scientific
purpose OF the project should be de.
nAed to the exclusion of all other OBJ.
iects.
The owners Of the larger part of
this tract Of land have from public
spirited motives held their acreage
out Of the Improvement" market
They cannot be expected to wait in
definitely for congressional action. But
6ven though their patience were un.
limited. the fact that an improve
nent" movement is under way In
that section offers the strongest rea
son for action at this session and
rs early in the session as possible.
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