Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31
Capital Sidelights

character, with a fixed ideal to be at
tanned by permanent development, is
giving an inspiring example to other
cities throughout the country in an
tithesis of the booster" plan for
mushroom development-and the city
planners Of the Capital emphasize that
Washington must be careful to hold
true to this character. The plans for
model municipal group OF District
buildings on the north side of Penn
sylvania avenue between Third and
Sixth streets. which is TO be presented
to Congress when it reassembles. Is a
feature of this consistent, progressive
upbuilding.
Washington is an object lesson to
all cities throughout the country, espe-
cially in these days of growing inter-
est on the part of American cities in
proper municipal development. Here
in the Capital City reimburses every
other community with municipal as
pirations for any small part 1t may be
paying toward the support of the
Capital-for 1t inspires, encourages
and gives concrete example of ideal
development. BY studying the plans
for Washington other cities have been
saved vast sums that otherwise might
have been spent in false advertising
under the booster" system. or in UNI
stable, ill-advised, air-castle develop
ments that discredit rather than per-
manently help toward city growth.
This thought Is expressed by John
Ihlder. who has made a careful Ma
tion-wide survey Of municipal expan-
sion as manager of the city develop
Commerce of the United States, and
who advocates such a discriminating
city policy as is ideally typified in
Washington. cat staggering cost in
money, time, energy and vanished
hopes" he says, "our cities are accu-
mulating some valuable experience.
For one thing they are learning to
discriminate. They have not only
passed the stage of mere boosting,
they are not only passing the stage of
bonus giving, but they are actually
learning that every increase in popu-
lation is not necessarily an asset.
Determination having begun, our
eyes having been opened, our cities are
beginning to recognize that they have
Individual characteristics and that
those individual characteristics are
among their great assets. So, to have
deserved reputation as q cultural or
social center has value that should not
pc uiSICSdLOEu VI LHOuSHLlully SdCIl-
feed"
Washington has long been recog.
niZed as the great social center not
only for Americans, but the socially
elite Of all lands gather here.
Washington is one of the greatest
cultural centers in all the world-in
art, literature, music, science and
all the ologies. 1t is a great educa.
tional center with universities, COL
leges, academies. libraries and re.
search institutions in all specialized
lines. Here are found the largest
number Of skilled craftsmen In
many Observation-Disclosures, engravers,
the graphic arts. 1t Is the common
meeting ground of all peoples. II
is a center Of world finance and
commerce. Of radio and aviation
progress, Of religious thought and
practice, Of humane labor and vel.
fare activities.
All the cities Of the land look to
Washington for esthetic and ethical
leadership and example-and it Is
only fair that they should pay a
small part of the overhead cost.
y ~
Secretary Jardine Of the Depart.
ment Of Agriculture Is enthusiastic
over the way in which the tourists
and the political leaders If the
United States are coming this Sum.
mer to know more about the big
game reservation maintained by the
Biological Survey at the Wind Cave
National Park Game Preserve, only
few miles south Of the Summer
White House." This preserve,
which has covered some 1000 acres,
Is being almost doubled this Summer
by the fencing in of more than 5000
additional acres.
Wind Cave, for which both the
national park and the game pre-
serve have been named, is one of
the largest known caves in the
West, and, with the big animals in
the preserve, has been attracting
increasing thousands Of visitors each
presence Of the President and Mrs.
Coolidge at the Game Lodge of the
Custer State Park Game Preserve
in the Black Hills Of South Dakota
has been the special attraction.
The game preserve at present
contains $50 buffalo, 144 elk and Is
antelope, as well as many species of
wild birds protected there, including
grouse and quail.
X X +
Ever since the Capital was moved
here more than 125 years ago almost
every one of the hundreds of Wash
ington correspondents who have
helped to keep the people of the coun-
try closely informed on the trend of
political affairs and oftentimes warn.
ing them against plans and policies
advocate in high places have at times
suffered the sting of having their
statement and quotations denied and
discredited by the highest officials, who
have frequently instigated or inspired
the report. Therefore they have a
kindred feeling for Merle Thorpe,
editor of Nations Business Magazine.
the official organ of the National
Chamber of Commerce, who has just
issued a statement that:
1T has always been, Of course, the
privil ,ge of public officials to disclaim
statements attributed to them"