Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-05-07

! southwest where the main pubic con
servatory, the Office and resldence OF
the director will be built: the TRAN
lar block Immediately south Of the
aforementioned block, bounded by b
street First street and Canal street.
To he used as shrub garden and
which Will be n desirable place FOR re-
erecting the Bari hoidi Fountain. IN
this locs ion the fountain vita Its re
fectine pool will bear a similar rela-
ton to the Capitol dome a. now ek-
isis. A considerable portion of TINS
trisngular block appears In the pia's
has having title outstanding In the
United states Government. The pub
lie school orcupylna part Of the
block il expect ed 10 he removed TO
another site. The plan Includes the
retention OF the block between Sec
ond and Third streets. south OF Mary
Ia nd avenue. now used for the BOTANIC
Garden propagatin2 houses: also the
de, elopmenl OF the central strip on
Canal street tor protected or outdoor
nurseries. such development to he eH-
tended scuthWard as far as msY he
desired
Advantages Are shown.
The plan above outlined has the
following advantages over oiher sites
that have been considered:
"uD II places the public portion of
the garden here it Is visible from the
capitol and most accessible to the pub
lie. AZ the main conservatory will be
directly AT the Maryland avenue APP
proach To the capitol. The street car
line. both in us present location aud
in its eventual relocation on Third
street. will bring passengers near the
Botanic Garden entrance.
"(2) IT ~ feRtIardS the surroundings
OF the Capitol from detAriorati ton IA at
present into squalid conditions or into
ina ppropriate commercial uses. the &C
quiSition of these blocks being in &C.
l,cordance with the policy OF the Gov
ernment to acquire all the blocks fac
ling the Capitol grounds that have not
tvet been acquired. 1t results, there
jfore that the cost OF land taken for
his project is chargesble in large part
to the protection of the Capitol sur
roundings and not entirely to the
Botanic Gardens
"t3} It permits the progressive
growth OF the gardens from this point
into section which viii be greatly
improved thereby.
90 The plan proposed is In harmony
with the Mall development and par
ticularly with Union square which
will form the most necessary junction
betw the Mall and the "a pltol. The
proposed site on Maryland avenue
should he squared up with the Capitol
grounds so as TO ma ke the front
parallel with Union square as pro-
posed. instead OF ohlique as at present.
This will throw small part Of the
site To I've acquired into the ira ffic
space required for Union Square The
building itself would be set hack far
enough Ia permit desirable planting
space between the building and Union
Square. "a line of trees forming a
screen fCom the glare Of the glass
roof Of the conservatory. The plan is
in harmony with the development Of
the Mall and it's Rdornment both he
cause the BOTANIC Gardens fall nat
urally into the class Of buildings de-
voted 10 arts and sciences In which
the public is interested and because
the conservatory building. extending
from First and Second streets may
he brought into architectural harmony
with buildings OF similar purpose
which will in course of time be erected
along the south side OF the Mall.
Street Closing Possible.
THE possibility OF closing one or
more Of the streets. such as Second
street and one side Of Canal street
determined only by study Of traffic
needs which would be outside the
limits nf this report. hut IL is possible
here to express AN opinion that Sec
ond street. being at the beginning Of
the Mall and forming one OF the en-.
ira to Union Squire. should re
mai in open. As To Canal street. IL Is
desira BILE that this also should remain
open, since it MAKES proper separa.
ton ir4n feet Y itjrl hel ween public and
private property and may he developed
into a fine para WaN connecting the
Mall with The War College and Wash.
inEton Barracks. and forming with the
proposed marginal drive along Wash
tnston channel & loop around the sec
tons of the city south OF the Capitol
Furthermore. the separation OF parts
Of the Botanic Garden by public
streets IL not. under the circum.
stances. objectionable. since they ma lie
natural divisions into the parts for
public greenhouses propagation green
houses and ont-Of door nurseries and
gardens. such divisions do not inter
fere with practical operation or the
esthetic aspect Of the gardens"
Mr.. Parsons was requested TO make
this survey in compliance with a Joint
resolution approved by Congress in
January. 1925 Preliminary studies
were made by the office Of Mai. u. 6.
Gran Al. director of public buildings
and parks. Following these studies the
committee directed Da vid Lynn. archi-
tect Of the Capitol. to call in Mr.. Par
sons as a consultant to make recon.
me ndat hons.