Evening star., 1930-05-21

study Tor rearrangem ent OF tnH virginia
d Planning Commissi on by its stah, but
d for beautifying the entrances to the C
planted rather than trees, so as not to
hide the view. Mr.. Delano thought the
arboretum would prove laboratory
valuable to the whole country IN devel,
oping trees. There was an aroused
public interest" in the whole question
throughout the country, he thought.
Col. Barber Speaks.
| Col. A. B. Barber of the transporta-
ton and communication department OF
| the United States Chamber of Com
mercs said the question of preservation
of timber along highways was officially
may be expanded to include a beauti-
fication program" He said engineers
and transportation experts were inter-
ested first in "travelable and safe sur
faces" but he predicted that 1--WE are
| coming to the time when some money
can be spent on Identification" Presi-
dent Butterworth of the national cham
ber, Col. Barber said, was interested in
| studying the question further.
State Senator Ball of Virginia ex-
| planned the work of the State Highway
Commission in that State, and said the
Lee Boulevard Association had laid
| down a definite program of tree plant
ing. He explained the recent act of
the State Legislature providing for an
engineer to do landscaping along the
highways, saying it goes into effect next
| month. Virginias law against destruc-
ton Of shrubs and trees such as dog
wood. holly and rhododendron, he said
was well enforced in some parts of the
To- fo,-
troll of signboards he characterized as
being helpful in beautifying the high
ways. The State Highway Commission,
he said, had plans to make "the Lee
Highway the most beautiful entrance
into Washington"
Representative r. Walton Moore of
Virginia called attention to the increas-
ing amount of Federal aid being grant,
ed for construction of roads through
the States. He said that the "atten-
ton" Of the Federal Government should
be called not only to the construction
but to the Identification" of the State
, aid roads. He said Virginia now was
very strenuous" in accomplishing the
Shenandoah National Park, and hoped
that some day one Of the most beauti-
! full roads into Washington would lead
from that park.
DR.. Merriam of the Carnegie Institute
emphasized the need of considering the
relation Of the Landscape" to the road
He called attention to movement pro-
posed in some sections to enlist the CO.
operation of property owners along the
right OF way to make property along
highways like garden"
DR.. Coville, who is acting director of
the National Arboretum, said 268 acres
OF land had been acquired or We're in
process OF being acquired by the De-
partment OF Agriculture for the arbor-
tum. Plans are under way for laying
out the arbortum, he said, and plans
for the water garden already have been
approved. The arbortum, he predicted,
could offer much help in the movement
for national tree planting as 1t could
recommend what kind of soil certain
trees require. The sweet gum tree, for
instance, he pointed out. would thrive
in land that was rated as "agricul-
turally hopeless"
Interested in Entrances.
Mr.. Lee was much interested in de-
velopment of entrances to washington
and pointed out that much remained
yet to be done in the way of further
cooperation between the Capital and
the adjacent States. The District line
he pointed out, now cuts off from
Wash1ngton'S suburbs, the "tax sup
port which most large cities give to
their suburbs. So that unless Congress
comes to the help of Maryland and
Virginia, he said the question of more
beautiful entrances to the National
Capital beyond. the line was for the
States and local governments adjacent.
Concerning the gateways to the city.
he said: "They are ours to do the best
we can, but we cannot do the whole
job" He expressed appreciation for
| the assistance in planting offered by
the National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. Under a Maryland law.
he thought the billboards on the road
from Frederick eventually would dis
appear. He characterized the develop
ment of finer entrances to the National
Capital as very important and
worthy Improvement" Along the
Frederick road, he said, local chambers
OF commerce and nurserymen had be-
come active, and planted several miles
OF Towering trees. He thought local
pride. and enthusiasm for this manner
OF attracting tourists could be sttmu-
lated elsewhere.
Col. Grant explained that plans had
not yet been completed for planting
the connecting link between the Arling-
ton Memorial Bridge, and its entrance
into Rock Creek Park. The gas plant
piCoCHHo piODltIIlS, tlt Saad, VI WaAoe
kinds of trees and plants will flourish
there. In Rock Greek Park, however,
! he said, during the past few years. much
dogWood and redbud had been planted
along the drives, and this was now
making beautiful display IN the
Spring.
Mrs. George H. Miles of .Rumson,
N. j., and New York City, representing
the national committee Tor protecClon
of roadside beauty, explained that New
Jersey had recently enacted a Dill Tor
strict control of billboardS. "A land
scape engineer under the Highway Com
mission she explained, was active IN
beautifying the roadsides, and her
organization, she said, had asked tne
State to plant the banks along tne roau
sides as the roads were built Sne SAID
requests were also being mace 10 use
Federal funds on Federal ald ROADS, LOT
planting. :.
Mrs. Martin, honorary president OF
the Garden Club Of America, VINO pre-
sided, spoke in appreciation OF tne
MANY suggestions offered, and hoped
that the national organization could be
of service not only in Washington, but
| throlphout the whole United States.
Concerning the proposai 10 piant trees
| along the roadside, Mrs. Martin sug-
gested that officials here, especially
those of the new arboretum. mignt pe
of great assistance by scientific report
on trees especially as to scii ana ci-
mate In pennsylvania. she explained,
o tree plarting program is under way.