Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-23
TREE DESTRUCTION
TO Be PREVENTED
Advisory Body Appointed,
Grant Informs Moore in
Letter on Plans.

Active steps have been taken by the
office of public buildings and public
parks of the District of Columbia to
prevent unnecessary destruction in
the future of trees along the highways
and to secure adequate provision for
the replacement of trees, Lieut.. Col
U. S. Grant Sd, director Of the office,
told Charles Moore, chairman of the
National Commission of Fine Arts,
in letter today.
Col Grant also informed Mr.. Moore
that plans are being made for work
ing out needed street changes far
enough in advances SO that they could
be made with the least destruction
to trees.
az have organized special advisory
committee, Col. Grant said, which
contains experts appointed by the Sec
retary of Agriculture as well as Mr..
Lanham. superintendent of trees of
the District of Columbia, representa-.
tives of the American Horticulture So
ciety, representatives of the office of
Public Buildings and Parks and with
DIR. Merriam as chairman. l believe
that the united opinion of such COM
mittee will be much more useful than
any recommendation that one or two
experts from some one department
not especially concerned under the
existing law could have"
Plan for Streets.
"Mr. Lanham has already taken up
with the committee the difficulties he
is facing and they are receiving con-
sideration. Whatever expert opinion
is ultimately given will come with the
cooperation and at the request Of the
municipal authorities and not as an
extraneous attack upon them. There
seems to be reason, therefore. for hop
ing that it will receive consideration.
Another step taken is the develop
ment Of a plan for a system of thor
oughfares through the District of CO.
lumbia adequate to take care Of the
traffic. This study reached the cul-
mination of its preliminary stage last
Friday when it was reported to the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
The report then made includes a
systematic and logical program for
what street widening program is or
will soon become necessary with spe-
cial consideration as to how this may
be done without unnecessary or a too
extensive simultaneous destruction of
trees.
Solution OF Problem.
AS the commission Is careful not
to make any recommendation without
careful study and mature considera.
ton, the recommendations made by the
report have been held over pending
personal inspection and investigation
by the commission, and the result of a
traffic count now being made by the
director OF traffic at the request of
the commission
1t may be confidently expected that
future street widening will not be
asked of Congress without there
being a we'll thought out program.
based upon broader knowledge and
analysis of facts than has heretofore
been available.
Il trust that the foregoing will suf-
fciently reassure you as to the in
terest | take in this matter and the
fact that steps were taken some
months ago which will lead to a sem
sible and proper solution of the
problem. / believe that the action
already initiated will lead to the best
solution of the problem, in conform
ity with the interests of the National
Capital and its inhabitants at large"