Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-07
WASHINGTON NEARING PLACE
AS WORLDS GREATEST CAPITAL
Practical Men Show Evidence of Belief
City Will Become Center of Culture
and International Affairs.

any other country.
'2. That It Is not sufficient to make
plans or improvements based only
upon present conditions and require
ments. Instead, 1t should be borne In
mind always that we are building a
capital for a growing. thriving coun.
| try that within the lives Of those now
| In being may attain a population OF
two hundred millions. We must, &C.
cordingly, plan for population OF
at least one million people, occupying
radius of 20 miles or more. whose
interests and work will center In
Washington.
when these principles are accepted
and adopted we shall make rapid
progress in the proper development Of
the National Capital.
mo city can be truly great that Is
not populated by happy. prosperous
people living under wholesome. health.
full conditions. The day of cheap and
ugly residential development must be
ended. A city many Of whose work.
ers are housed in dilapidated. anti.
quated. flimsy and thoroughly ugly
buildings, devoid Of any trace Of artis-
try or distinction. cannot assume lead.
ership among the capitals OF the
world.
Transportation System.
Furthermore. the transportation
system Of the District OF Columbia
must be improved. Poor transporta-
ton inevitably results in overcrowd.
ing. unsightly. insanitary. uncomfort.
able congestion Of population. 1t
creates traffic problems involving mo-
tor cars and pedestrians. Improve
ment of the street railway and bus
systems OF Washington is both posi-.
BILE ant vitality necessary.
1.-THE mere building Of public struc.
lures. costing $50, 900, 900, as now con.
templated, will not beautify Washing.
ton. We shall have to control by ap.
propriate legislation the type and
character Of private buildings that
confront our public edifices. To erect
a beautiful Government structure.
with adequate landscape setting. at a
cost of possibly $4,000. 900, and then
permit the erection or mainte ance
across the street of a grotesque struc.
ture. housing fortunetelling estab-
lishment or similar business. Is folly
that passes understanding. hope
that we may secure legislation during
the present session OF Congress that
will make such situations impossible.
pennsylvania avenue from the
Capitol to the Treasury should within
the next 10 years become the finest
thoroughfare In tlic world. Provision
already has been made for acquiring
the south side. / hope a way will lie
devised to insure the improvement of
the north side.
Some of the present older public
buildings were erected at a time when
American architecture had nothing to
commend 1t but its oddity. They
should be replaced as promptly as we
can get to it by structures that will
maintain their beauty through the
ages. have In mind, for instance.
the State. War and Navy Building.
1.-The approaches to Washington, the
entrances to the District and the
suburban communities lying just be.
yond the boundaries Of the National
C. pital should be improved to conform
to the standard OF beauty and civic
dignity Of what Will DO the worlds
most attractive capital.
The permanent preservation Of the
picturesque beauty of the Potomac
River from Great Falls to a point we'll
within the District Is one OF the most
essential steps In the development Of
the National Capital.
In any plan for the future ample
provision must be made for either pri
vate or public playground space. SO
that the children OF future genera.
tons may not be deprived OF the
health and happiness, bestowed by
wholesome outdoor recreatfon.
Educational Features.
I'm the opportunities 1t offers for
education In law. medicine, engineer.
ing, art, music. literature and the
social sciences Washington eventually
should become the center of the intel.
lectual world.
Development Of n capital that will.
measure up TO our tremendous oppor-
tunity Will cost many millions of dol
lars. But the American people every.
where evidence an immense interest
and pride in their National Capital.
and they can well afford to contribute
the sums needed for It's development
They will do 50 cheerfuily. 1t liz only
fair and right that most of the OK.
pense should he borne by the Nation.
To defer or delay the development of
Americas Capital by controversy over
the relative apportionment OF cost as
between the people OF the District and
the people OF the Nation az q whole
would be unfortunate.
THE people OF nil tho States are
willing to contribute generously to the
immediate upbuilding and beautifica.
ton of the city. which Ia theirs even
more than II Ia the property OF the
residents Of the District. The Federal
Government can well afford to be
more than liberal in apropriating for
the'ho improvement Of Washington
and its environs.
1.-The vision Of Congress should go
beyond the realities and problems of
the present. We should glimpse
Washington as II can and should be
10 or 20 years hence---the most beau.
tifnl and delightful city In the world.
the pride OF every good American citi.
zen and tho center OF attraction for
the enlightened people Of all nations"
Average French Fortune.