Evening star., 1927-12-07
PLEA FOR CAPITAL
BEAUTY IS MADE
DeIano Addresses Garden
Club Session on Error of
/ Destro. J Landscape.

/. DeStr0 J Landscape.
although we sing about loving
our rocks and rills, our woods and
tempted hills here in Washington
we have neglected those rocks and
rills and put in steam shovels that
NOV them down and fill up the hol
lows and made n totally dead and
uninterestinG city," Frederick A. De
lano, president of the National Civic
Federation, told the presidents coun'
Gil meeting of the Garden Club OF
America in the Carlton Hotel yester-
day.
The meeting, which brought presi
dents, delegates and members at large
from all sections of the country, also
was addressed by DR.. John c. Mer-
riam, president Of the Carnegie In
stttute Of Washington. who urged
that the Nations Capital be made a
city of trees
Mrs. Crosby Reads Paper.
The delegates were welcomed by
the president of the Garden Club of
America, Mrs. John A. Stewart who
pointed out that this was the first
presidents council meeting attended
by the members at large. lmmedi-
ately after the roll call Mrs. S. Y. r.
Crosby Of Boston read a paper on
the work of the club in conservation
and preservation Of trees and plants
and told how satisfactory results had
been obtained by division of the work
into definite parts, such as publicity
schools and legislation.
DR.. Merriam, who is also president
NF 11A DaIt T q inns
to preserve for pOSterity the marvel
Gus big trees" of the West, told of
the progress that had been made in
the last 10 years in setting aside for
ests of redwood. and stated that the
problem at present was to find
proper agency to take charge of the
reservations. He spoke in favor of
division of the financial expenses of
such work between the State OF Cali
fornia and the rest of the Nation.
Four main parks of redwood have now
been set aside, the speaker said, and
much of the area is closely linked
with the State highway system. The
main responsibility for preservation
rests.with the State, Dr. Merriam de-
clared, even though the trees are of
national significance, and California
should rejoice in the opportunity of
thus making a contribution of educa-
tional, economic and esthetic impor
tance to America. DR.. Marvin, who is
also on the advisory council for the
development of the National Arbore-
tum, told the meeting he was keenly
interested in and had given consider
able study to the preservation of the
trees of the National Capital as well
as the trees of California.
SDeaks on Fellowship Fund.
Following DIR. Merriam's address
Mrs. Harold Pratt of the fellowship
committee explained the international
importance of the clubs support of a
student in landscape gardening at the
Academy of Rome by means of it's fell
lowship fund, indicating that such
work afforded noble way in which
to create worldwide influence favor
able to the Garden Club The club
seeks to raise a fund of $4,000, the
interest of which would support the
student. At present it has $31 900
for the purpose and hopes shortly to
raise the other $19, 900. The student
selected by the club is chosen after
competition. The one who has been
in Rome for the past three years has
been supported from funds forwarded
by the treasurers of the clubs, it was
disclosed.
Mr.. Delano's address dealt with
the efforts that had been, made to
create an artistically beautiful city
to the genius of LT1nfant and Wash
ington, who without funds and with
out encouragement had the faith and
vision to formulate a definite plan for
the seat of the Government.
1t was recalled incidentally that the
reason Washington was selected for
the Capital and the Nation in the first
place was because Congress was so
annoyed by soldiers of the Revolution
asking for their pay that the men,
bers. said we must make a capital
somewhere off from the haunts of
men, in a separate district where we
need. not be bothered
Plans Call for Vigilance.
The speaker declared that those
now intrusted with the work of de.
veloping this city should take heart
from the historical example of Wash
ington and L'Enfant, because mo
plan of the city of Washington is
self-executing, nor can any be car.
ried out without vigilance and tireless
work on the part of those who are en-.
thusiastic about it," Vigilance, which
has been called the price of liberty,
Mr.. Delano said, will also be the price
of success in making Washington a
fit capital for the country.
Mr.. Delano, who is also member
of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission and chairman
of the advisory council of the devel.
opment of an arboretum here, ex.
planned that, Of the 5000 acres of
park land set aside in the Capital, the
main portion was included in Rock
Creek and Potomac Parks. He told
Of the plan of securing numerous
small parks and Fairgrounds and
grounds for community centers, EN-.
phasizing their Importance since the
widespread use of the automobile had
made the streets unsafe for children.
He also outlined the idea of Fort
Drive which would connect all the in.
teresting Civil War forts in the vi
cinity of Washington, most Of which
are on high points of commanding i'm
portance. Ten or twelve of the thirty
forts desired have already been pur.
chased. he said, and the others were
being acquired as rapidly as possible
States Cooperation Needed.
It is already very evident to stu.
dents of such plans, Mr.. Delano said
that the cooperation of Maryland and
Virginia would be needed, and both
States, he explained, have named plan
ming commissions with this idea in
view.
One Of the great troubles which the
planners were having, the group was
told, was that property was advanc'
ing in value very rapidly and it is a
common feeling that the people of
Washington are asking too much for
themselves.
II hope that you will get out of your
mind" Mr.. Delano said, "the idea that
this is an effort on the part of the
people who live in Washington to help
themselves at the expense of the peo
pie of the country. This is the Ma
tion's Capital as well as the Capital OF
those who live here"
Sneaking of the nrOnOsed national