Evening star., 1926-09-26
- e. 80
Capital Sidelights

the African coast in Good old Sum
mer time" is the unsea sonable sport
enjoyed by Representative Ernest r
Ackerman of New Jersey. the most
travelled man in Congress. whose usual
recreation Is making trips to most
unusual places.
He has confirmed again and again
the truisms that what is flesh for
one is poison for another" and what
is pleasure for one part Of the
earth's inhabitants is serious bust
ness for expectant profits by another
and much larger part Of humanity
Speaking of his visit to Funchal
in the Island Of Madeira. off the coast
Of Africa. Mr.. Alderman says: We
read tales of dog sleds in Alaska and
on North Pole expeditions in the
Summer time. but where else in the
world can you enjoy ride on run
ners on a place which has never
known snow or ice? The monotonous
character of the island is responsible
in part for this seeming anachronism
but the sleds run on the level with
but little more difficulty than when
they are descending a toboggan.
They hold four persons. The seats
are not more than l. inches from the
ground and have canopy top
gaudilv ,ornamented with trappings
out Of place in a frst-class circus
parade. They are drawn by sturdy
| hullocks. Part Of the time the sledge
proprietor busies himself greasing the
runner by allowing 1t to pass over a
piece of burlap inclosing a lump OF
bullock fat
The sleigh riding effect is height
ened by the fact that the bullocks
have bells hung around their necks'
tpH
sound is like that of sleighbells AS
YOU proceed at a rapid pace over the
herringbone stone pavement with
grand panorama Of scenery. riotous
display of tropical flora and amid the
sound of strange tongues and almond
eyed coquettish Inhabitants. you
wonder II you are not enjoying IN
the flesh a journey with Alice In
Wonderland
peak of Hongkong. Mr.. Ackerman
saws: Where else in the wide world
in the Summer time. can you slide
down from the height CT over half
a mile. in a descent Of several miles
where the force Of gravitation alone
supplies the power? You ride in
douh1e.seated wicker chair like those
on the Boardwalk at Atlantic City,
but equipped with runners instead OF
wheels. The thrill Of the trip ex <.
ceeds that of an airplane ride. II is
IA nathetic sight to see the sledge
owner painfully and slowly return
ing to the summit. carrying the
sleige on his head In order to ontalr
second fare"
Now that we have our Nattona
Parks and Planning Commission: oui
Public Buildings Commission ana oui
commission of Fine Arts all CONFER
ing on the $50. .00o. 900 public building
program. the writer of this column
has heen asked to explain how the
zine Arts Commission cane into exist
,nCe and its purpose.
In 1895 the Public Art League wa:
,rga nized for the sole purpose OF nav
ing the Government create rlne
Arts Commission for the future de
velopment of Washington along th'
original plans Of Maj. L'Enfant. who
Xas emnloyed by George Washington
md Thomas jefferson in 1888 to plar
he Nations future Capital. the only
,itv in the world ever planned before
'ts construction. and today conceded
nv all nations to he the best planned
city.
In 1899 the Washington Board y
rrade offered suggestions TO con
-ress concerning the future develop
rnent Of Washington. The same year
hrough the Public Art League I'M
american Institute of Architects or
.anized convention and presented
suggestions on the future deNeiop
,,ent Of Washington which we're pub
'ished by Congress.
In 1o0o the celebration of the Ma
tion Capital Centennial went far u
educate the people of the country a.
- the future of their Capital, and A.
1 permanent memorial park deNPiol'
nent plan was projected.
In 1901 the Senate authorized
.ornn,ission. commonly known as tn
NcNillan Park Commission. to stud'
rlans for the future development o
washington. The published report q
hat commission is still considered a:
he New Testament for Capital deNel
onmert. AS a result of that stud'
he senate in 1902 decided on a re
turn 10 the original LEnfant pia
and that the part of the District no
| covered in the L'Enfant plans shoul'
: he develoned in harmony with them.
In 1908 the President. by executive
order appointed the Fine Arts Couf'
oil which reported in favor OF piac
ING the proposed Lincoln Memorla
ON the Mall. in keeping with the far'
commissions plans. instead "' u,
.ween Union Station and the tapito
In 1910 Congress considered IL WIS
20 create permanent COMMISSION !"
Fine Arts with an annual approprla
tion for it's expenses.
In 1911 Congress. in creating l.ir
coin Memorial Commission WIN a a
INITIAL aDpropriation OF 1000 600 10
erecting the Lincoln Memorial q
rected that the Lincoln Memorla
commission should avail itself or IN
advice of the permanent Fine Aft
! Commission.
In 1910 and 1911 the Washingto
. business orga niZat.ons, with the rec
Grafton of Citizens Associations an
- individual citizens ASSOCIATIONS
took concerted action In support
he Park Commission p'a ms; ana ".
VI this grew the perma nen' "', e.
: committee of One Hundred on the ~
,,,ra deyelopment Of Washington.
y
. Tho recent experience of one A'o'
2 ernment department IN spending s.'
600 to repair temporar! "ui"i', ",
, damaced hy termites. where slmpi
,.roo.,,tion in constructing the builc
I mo would have prevented the poss
r bility of attack by ants, has prompte
~ r; SNYDER, entomologist of the D'
I par,ment of Agriculture. to make
r nationwide campaign Of informatlo
I to prevent wholesale house-Wreckin
\ by ants. :. !,
( A small model building is TO
2 erected on the Department OF Agrlcu
. ture grounds which will demons'ra.
, various ways OF preventing terml.
$ damage. Practically all OF the =
snecies Of the house wrecking ant Ar
:. Of subterranean habit. he points on
The Federal department is also urt
> ing adoption by city engineers Q
4 building regulations to blockade IN
: ant invasion. which would specif
= that no floors. sills. beams or WOO
: which has not been treated with
; creosote preventive material may