Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-17
Washington's Needs
For the Bicehtennial
To the Editor of The star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Washington Is looking forward X
vast numbers of visitors during 1882
but, In so far as the general public Is
aware, little preparation has been made
for their comfort or convenience. Most
of these hundreds of thousands will ar
rive by automobile, and doubtless viii
be both chagrined and disguised to find
that even on very wide thoroughfares
the most inconvenient and space-wast.
ing method of parking known to per-
verse ingenuity is required-parallel
They viii perhaps be astonished to find
that. while the voteless citizens pay fol
street paving by direct taxation. thosf
the use of streets by its citizens. nearly
a., all of whom ride in machines, as dim
cult and unsatisfactory as possible.
These visitors will be primarily in
| terested in the great Government build
ings. museums and libraries, which are
grouped at magnificent distances from
each other. They will have to pay tax
bills from morning to night. or walk
as their own machines will have to be
parked out In Maryland or Virginia.
During the Summer these people will
become converts to the mistaken theory
that Washington has tropical climate
ALiO NOuAd NC HCly aASCAP0OSa Ny LAX
installation of numerous outdoor drink
/ ing fountains at regular intervals alone
Pennsylvania avenue and at prominent
corners on Fourteenth street and other
, points. 1t would be an act of hos
pitality for a number Of these fountains
to be equipped with water-cooling ap-
paratus, which may be accomplished al
moderate cost, and thirsty visitors re.
called with delightful ice water on sultry
days.
Two Of the busiest entrances to the
Capital are Highway Bridge and the
Seventh street wharves. The abomi-
nsble paving from Highway Bridge to
the Bureau Of Engraving gives a very
undesirable impression to the visitors
| arriving from the South, it having a
slovenly and down in-the- heel appear
ance. Those who come and go BY boat
| may bump over the same rough Belgian
blocks which have remained undisturbed
for many years. some say for genera
ton. along Water street.
Visitors from the North and East
will no doubt wonder why the gloomy
viaducts on H street and Rhode Island
avenue are not made safe and sensible
by two or three coats of white paint
| which will reflect the daylight and the
searchlighs Of the machines. And
while on the subject of paint and clean
illness. some property owners have shown
the right spirit by steam-clea ming their
/ buildings. One of the most prominent
most finely designed. and filthiest build
, ings on the exterior is the United States
| Treasury.
Cannot The Star or some other in
fiuential agency wheedle the proper
authorities into spending sufficient OF
the small change housed with the bill
| lions in this great granie structure to
| steam clean 1t to its pristine wilderness
and beauty? Surely Uncle Sam does
not need to keep his wealth in dirty
pocketbook
A few new and attractive commercial
structures have been recently erected in
Washington. but the business district
as whole is conglomeration of sooty
red brick buildings of uncertain age
and nondescript architecture. Owners
and tenants wishing to make marked
improvement in the appearance oil
these old facades should take a cue from
the ladies and investigate the appear
ance possibilities of paint; not red. how.
ever, but white! It Is remarkable how
ugly old buildings may be made to look
almost new and attractive by painting
the brickwork
AS a final touch to this salmagundi
of suggestions. why not attire the long-
suffering policemen and traffic officers
next Summer in cool, light uniforms
preferably white? This would be an act
of humanity to the men and also DEM
onStrate that Washington has an up
to-date idea at least once in q been
| tennial.
RossEL EDWARD MITCHELL.