Evening star., 1929-01-04
MICHIGAN PLAYS UNIQUE PART
IN DEVELOPING WASHINGTON
Work of Mcmillan, Moore and
Cramion Recalled by
DeIano.
Civic Association Head Tells
How Capitals Plans Were
Forwarded.


Forwarded.
| BY sending three of her distinguished
sons to Washington, the State of Mich
| igan has played a unique part in the
development of the American Capital,
according to Frederic A. Delano, presi-
| dent of the American Civic Associa-
ton and a member of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion.
In an interview with The Star, Mr..
Delano recalls the work of the late
Senator James Mcmillan, who as
chairman of the Senate District COM
| mittee. took a leading part in the
creation of the Mcmillan plan of 1901,
which revitalized the original plans of
Washington and L'Enfant for the fu-
ture development of the Capital; of
| Charles Moore, who for 19 years has
served as member or chairman of the
national Commission of Fine Arts, and
of Representative LOUIS c. Cramton,
who has attained additional promi-
session of Congress, of bill for Great
ing the George Washington Memorial
Parkway, for extending the Districts
park system into Maryland and for ac-
quiring Immediately the land needed
for development of the Capitals park,
parkway and playground system.
Those of us who are striving to
make the Federal City one of the most
beautiful and orderly capitals in the
world sometimes forget what we owe
to those whose achievements in the
past make possible the promise of the
future. Most of us are familiar with
the services of George Washington,
Thomas Jefferson and Maj. LEnfant in
the selection of the site and the laying
out of a city designed as the seat of
the Federal Government" said Mr..
Delano. But while many now living
can remember the sad appearance of
Washington in the nineties, the services
of those who made possible the renais-
sance of 1901 are perhaps not SO gen.
orally recognized.
Owe Debt to Michigan.
1T so happens that the people of the
United States owe great debt to the
State of Michigan. For it was Sena-
tor from Michigan who, as chairman
of the District committee, called in the
outstanding architects, sculptor and
landscape architect of the day to ad-
wise on the state of the Federal City.
AS an outgrowth of the celebration of
the Tooth anniversary of the removal
of the seat of Government to the Dis
trictof Columbia, the American Insti-
tute of Architects appointed commit
tee on legislation and consultation
between that committee and Senator
Mcmillan of Michigan, chairman OF the
District committee, which resulted in
the order of the Senate for the prepara-
ton and submission of a general plan
for the development of the entire park
system of the District.
In spite of the acquisition of Rock
Greek Park, which was then unplanned
and undeveloped, the reclamation OF
Potomac fats. which had been inaugu-
rated, and the recognized need to do
something to improve the malarlal
Anacostia flats. no park system had
been conceived for Washington. There
were indeed the charming squares
circles and triangles of the original
L'Enfant plan most of whichshad been
preserved, but few Americans had then
realized the need for comprehensive
park and parkway systems.
In accepting the suggestion OF the
American Institute of Architects 20
make possible the preparation of COM
prehensive plan for the park system OF
the District of Columbia, Senator Nc
MILAN was exercising unusual vision and
foresight. Senator Mcmillan was not
only man of vision. He was man OF
action. AS soon as he learned from the
experts whom he had assembled what
they thought ought to be done. !.e pro-
ceeded TO put into effect the most I'M
portant of their suggestions.
The Mcmillan Park Commission may
be truly said to have rediscovered the
L'Enfant plan of Washington. Probably
the greatest service which the McMil-
Ian Commission rendered was TO make
public the LEnfant plan In the seven
ties the railroads were given grants Ia
lay tracks in the Mall. II these entire
ly legal rights of the railroads had been
permitted to continue, II would have
been forever impossible 10 carry out the
L'Enfant conception of the Mall as the
site of monumental public buildings sur
rounded by greensward and spreading
trees. The studies for the redemption ot
the Mall involved studies for the rcloca-
ton of the railroad tracks and the sta
tions 1t was through the combined IN
fluence of Mr.. Burnham, who was ar
chitect of the Pennsylvania station ~
Pittsburgh, and who had made prclimi-
nary studies for station in Washington.
and Senator Mcmillan, who was IN n
position to represent the attitude OF
Congress. that President Cassett agreed
to the removal of the railroad tracks
from the Mall and TO accept a new
site for the station.
THE fight that Senator Mcmillan
made in what was 10 prove the last
IL fzfa I'D l-In l. swaa
preston on Washington. The northern
and southern rail entrances and exits
are so arranged that grade crossings
are entirely eliminated. The narrow
strip on which the elevated tracks cross
Potomac Park to gain access to the
Long Bridge is comparatively unobjec-
tionable behind the cloSe-set populars,
but how would it have been If broad
phalanN Of tracks now occupied Potomac
Park at this point? The location and
design of the Pennsylvania station are
the result of the work of the Mcmillan
Commission. 1t was Senator Mcmillan,
too. who made possible the filtration
plant, which has practically wiped out
the annual death toll from typhoid
fever.
Charles Moore an Associate.
Closely associated with Senator Nc
MILAN in all these undertakings. and
surviving him now for more than a
quarter of a century in which he has
| constantly sought the application of the
Mcmillan Park Plan of 1901, is another
Michigan man, Charles Moore, present
chairman of the National Commission
on Fine Arts. In 1889 he became secre-
tary to Senator Mcmillan, and in 1891
secretary to the Senate Committe on
| the District of Columbia. He worked
with the Mcmillan Commission and
came to know the District of Columbia,
|
| iS=-- -========:==== =========