Evening star., 1927-06-15
ASKS TREE-SAV|NG
AND WIDE STREETS
Arts Commission Wants Plan
to Preserve Beauty and
Aid Traffic.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY,

BY WILL y. KENNEDY.
Emphatic protest against "wanton"
destruction of shade trees and insist
ence that replanting of trees must be
an integral part of the street-widen-
ing program, with the suggestion that
the time has come for the Capital City
to retake in certain sections, for relief
of traffic, the street areas that have
for many years been used as front
yards, and that particular study
should be made along Massachusetts
avenue from Union Station to Four
teenth street, was laid before the Ma
-tionai Capital Park IN FIanning
Commission today by the Commission
Of Fine Arts.
This Is the first step in a co-opera-
tive campaign by all agencies con-
nected with the many phases of Capt.
tai development and establishment to
present to the incoming Congress a
comprehensive program of work and
legislation which will coordinate ap-
preparations and the various projects.
The highest officials of the Govern
ment concerned with Capital building
will thus support the District officials
In the hearings before the appropria-
tionS committees.
A letter sent today by Charles
Moore, chairman of the Commission
OF Fine Arts. to Lieut.. Col. u. S.
Grant, Sd, executive and disbursing
officer of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, was
prompted by one from Mrs. Frank B.
Noyes, representing the Garden Clubs
Of America, who was a leader in hav-
ing the legislation passed in the last
session of Congress, directing the es-
tabltshment of National Arboretum
on the Mount Hamilton tract, under
the direction of the Department of
Agriculture. The program of shade
tree planting, outlined to the Park
Commission today by the Fine Arts
Commission, emphasizes some OF the
work to be done by the projected
National Arboretum.
Protest Is Nationwide.
Mr.. Moore called attention to the
fact that Mrs. Noyes. on behalf of
the men and women throughout the
entire United States who are active
ly interested in the Garden Clubs
movement. protests strongly against
the seeming wanton destruction of
trees for the purpose of widening
Washington streets for commercial
and traffic purposes" He stresses
the fact that Mrs. Noyes' letter to
the Commission of Fine Arts brings
up forcibly a matter (which should
be studied and conclusions reached
by the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission"
When the city of Washington was
laid out in 1892, streets were planned
on a generous scale, Mr.. Moore re-
hn ffry fV1c icc ciO
In those days it was the custom to
build solidly up to the building line,
and this was true Of city residences as
we'll as stores, hotels and other struc-
lures. Exemplifying this, Mr.. Moore
points to the historic "siX buildings"
on Pennsylvania avenue. the resi-
dences George Washington built on
North Capitol street for members of
Congress, the houses of Thomas
Porter on K street and of John Law
on New Jersey avenue-al of which
show that style of city building. He
offers a reminder also that President
Jefferson had Lombardy poplars
planted in Pennsylvania avenue.
Paved After Civil War.
The streets of Washington were
not paved until after the Civil War,
save in few instances, and then for |
a Few blocks only, ne reminds the |
city planners. When the city of |
Washington entered upon the prof. |
ect of paving on large scale in the |
70s the city authorities devised the |
plan Of narrowing the paving area by |
loaning to the residents of the city |
the space between the building lines |
and the sidewalks, to be used as |
front yards subject to the ownership |
and control by Congress.
1.-THE essential feature Of the change |
was the tree planting In the parking |
space done under the broad minded |
and far-seeing commission, consisting |
Of William B. Smith, superintendent |
OF the Botanic Garden: John Saul, |
and William. Saunders |
Of the Department OF Agriculture"
said Mr.. Moore.
"The time has now come" he tells |
the city planners, when the increased |
burden OF traffic upon the streets calls |
for an increase in the traffic space |
and in certain cases q restoration of |
the front yard areas to public use"
Meanwhile the trees. planted along |
the streets and in the so-called park
ing areas of Washington, have be.
come the chief beauty OF the city,
testifles this expert, who has for
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