Evening star., 1927-10-09
FIGHT ON POTOMAC
POWER SITES WILL
EXTEND TO CAPITOL

Continued from First Page)
limits the possibilities of maximum
development of the seat OF Govern
ment.
Concerning taste and policy in
such matters there may be no agree
ment; but in regional planning, in city
planning, and in esthetic considcra
tions, which from our point of view are
the prime considerations, we believe
that such matters should be left in the
hands of specialists, Just as are any
matters of engineering, law or medi-
cine in which we are vitality con-
cerned.
Recalls Bryce Comment.
From the point of view of inter
nationalism, we refer to the oft.
quoted comment Of James Bryce, for
rner Ambassador to the United States
from Great Britain and man of the
broadest international viewpoint.
with intimate knowledge of the
great countries of the world, he states
that he knows of no European capital,
except Constantinop1e, which has such
beautiful scenery in its environs; that
no European city has such noble
Potomac. which, he points out, is
unique scenic asset as distinctive in
it's ways as the Bosphorous is to
Constantinople, OF the mountains to
Rio de JaneirO.
He points out that nature has done
so much, and has offered such an op-
portunity for superb Capital, that it
would be almost an act of ingratitude
to Providence, to history and to the
men who planned the city here If we
do not make use of these advantages.
One phrase is peculiarly striking IN
the present instance:
I'm these circumstances may not
the city of Washington feel that its
mission in life is to be the embodiment
of the majesty and the statelinssS OF
the whole; Nation, representing all
that is finest in American conception
all that is largest and most luminous
in American thought; embodying. the
Nations ideal of what the Capital of
such a Nation should be the
highest aspirations as to external dig
nifty and beauty that great people
can form for that which is the center
and national focus of their life
"The second consideration Is the
viewpoint of the specialists. We have
only to review the chaotic conditions
and the haphazard misdirection which
preceded the work of the Mcmillan
Commission to realize what SPECIALISTS
in city planning and civic development
have contributed to the National Capt.
tai.
Cites Commission Work.
''Through the Mcmillan Commits
sion, through the Fine Arts Commits
-io q National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sions, the ablest men of the country
have contributed, freely and without
compensation, of their best thought
and most painstaking effort. Those
commissions have had the solid back
ing of their professional groups.
"If we are ever to get anywhere In
any kind Of project such as this, we
may not, as laymen, take the Sug-.
Sestions which we happen to like and
reject those which do not appeal to
us. 1t is a case of putting our full
confidence in the ablest men avail
able and of following their lead; II
we cannot agree and cannot follow,
of getting other able men and or
following theirs; but some genera
leadership must be recognized.
1--WE know Of no abler group than
this one to which the planning has
been entrusted, nor any group OF men
who have had to do with larger prol-.
ects Its members have international
standing, not for theory but for ac-
complishment: and it is our purpose
as a professional organization to back
them to the limit of our ability.
Here is a project so great In 1ts
conception that even those closest 10
it have barely glimpsed it's posslplli-
ties because of present lnaccessi-
bility. They have taken 1t for granted,
just as many of us take for granted
and always intend to visit our 1nu-
seums and historic monuments.
But there are millions here, gone,
or vet to come, who never have seen
or never will see anything else com
parable. To them the scenery or the
Yellowstone, of Niagara, Is 1nacces-
sible. These millions, however. make
pilgrimages to the Capital of thelr
country, and are certainly entitled to
find there, preserved by its Gus
todians and made accessible, every
scenic asset with which nature mas
endowed it.
Protests Are Quoted.
every day brings it's sheaf OF
teleerams and letters of protest from
architects in every State, who have
long fought for the adequate devel-
opment of the National Capital, pro-
testing the destruction of the 70
tomac gorge and stating their de-
termination to support the fight IN
Congress.
"A North Carolina representative
writes:
THE natural beauty of the Potomac
River is known throughout the lana.
and to my mind it would be nothing
short of sacrilege to ruin this for any
hydroelectric development
"One from New Jersey states:
"'Too many places disreGarded the
value Of natures beauties, and have
sacrificed that value for commercial
exploitation returning less of real
profit, to their later regret. We have
an instance of it here in the Great
Falls of PasSaic. Surely Washington
is the last place where such thing
| should ne admitted
another from Colorado:
"'We in our State are up against
such a proposition regarding the mag
nificent Royal Gorge Of the Arkansas
River. Without a doubt we will de-
| feat the program Of the public utility
corporation involved
1--WE do not regard this as a ques
| ton to be settled upon so'called
| practical basis. We believe it to be
| primarily one Of national idealism.
| Yet we cannot refrain from pointing