Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-02
CAPITAL OF future
PICTURED BY ELIOT
IN CIVIC YEAR BOOK
Palmer Foresees Develop
ment Along Two Axes,
Keeping L'Enfant Plan.
PROGRESS OF FIVE YEARS
REVIEWED BY COL. GRANT
Definite Suggestions Offered for
Making Washington More
Beautiful City.

A vivid picture Of the National Cap
ttal Of half century hence, laid out
along advanced city planning ideas but
preserving the original L'Enfant Plan,
with monumental Government build
ings, Chassis memorials and beautiful
parks, is portrayed in the third issue
of the American Civic Annual, just
published by the American Civic As
ISOLATION.
Stating its purpose as that Of pre-
serving 1.-The natural beauties OF our
Nation" the book this year emphasizes
some Of the more stupendous beauties
Of nature unspoiled" and the necessity
of making cities more useful, more
wholesome and more enjoyable by in
telligent planning.
A chapter entitled, 1.-THE Federal
City" written jointly by Lieut.: Col. y.
8. Grant, Sd, director OF public build
tngs and public parks, and Charles w,
Eliot, I'd, of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, reviews past
plans for identifying the Capital and
anticipates the Washington Of the
future.
Resistnces Disclosed.
That resistance to the Park and
Planning Commissions proposals 1or
LAYING out the city and parks has been
Encountered from ultra conservative
municipal officials" and from private
interests, as we'll as individual govern
ment agencies, Is disclosed in the sec
ton written by Col. Grant, entltIeo
give Years Progress"
In general" Col. Grant wrote, the
Commission and its staff have enjoyed
the cooperation of both governmental
authorities and OF private mtereSts
throughout the entire region.
A. u,ac ~ "a oYnaCtod resistance
been encountered from ultra conserva-
tive municipal officials who naturally re-
sist any change in their established
routine and from private interests as
we'll as individual government agencies
who prefer an inadequate and merely
expedient solution Of a problem TO
better and generally advant oagSs S0iu-
"On the whole, however, the Com
mission has found unexpected support
In most quarters, and has been happy
to experience the readiness OF most ex-
ecutives to concur in any and every
well thought-out plan"
Eliot Looks Ahead.
It Is Mr.. Eliot who anticipates the
Washington of the future in chapter
headed, 1.-THE Two Axes Of the Wash
ington Plan"
Along the two axes-one running
north and south from Sixteenth street
through the White House and down the
Potomac River to Mount Vernon, the
other east and west from Fort Chaplin
through the Capitol Grounds, Monu.
nent Grounds, Lincoln Memorial and
Arlington Bridge-he would build the
most magnificent buildings, memorials
and parks ever seen.
Among his proposals for the beautih-
cation Of the Capital along the east
west axis, he discusses the plan Tor a
stadium to accommodate $4,000 or
100000 in the low-lying park lands
along the Anacostia River at the foot OF
EAST Capitol street: transformation of
Lincoln Park into Colonial Square" or
Independence Square" by the erection
Of IS buildings representing the original
States: changing the name of East
Capitol street into THE Avenue OF
states" with sites made available for
construction of buildings for the re-
naming IS States; development OF
Union Square" at the Capitol end OF
the Mall; and a broad, tree-lined, four
Wav drive from the Capitol to the
Monument, with central overpasSes pro-
vided to cross the more important
trafic-laden streets, the outside high
ways opening into all intersections.
Avenue Of Presidents.
Across the Arlington Memorial Bridge
on Arlington Ridge, the western termi-
vocates development of great formal
terrace, similar, perhaps, to that at 81:
Cloud overlooking Paris and the Seine"
Harking back to the old controversy
over proposals to change the name OF
sixteenth street to THE Avenue OF
Presidents" Mr.. Eliot termed it "un-
fortunate" that prejudice against change
and opposition to the length OF the
name prevented the change.
However, If the east-west axis Is 10
be called the Avenue Of States, 1t would
seem appropriate to revive the name
he asserted.
Characterizing the changes around
LAFAYETTE Park as not always Tor the
better" Mr.. Eliot urges extension OF
the Treasury annex along the entire
block of Madison place and construc-
ton Of a new State Department build
ing on the Jackson place side.
"A new building for the Department.
Of state and for formal occasions, such
as international conferences, has often
been suggested ." he said. Further
additions to the White House to pro-
vide ONCE space would almost inevitably
mar the beauty Of the building. An
alternative 70 such an addition is to
utlllZG SOIItC cHdNC 4AA bAAO SODVSt
and Navy Building, after its exterior
has been remodeled, and to connect
these ofices with the White House by
9 tunnel"
White House Changes.
Although admitting the dignity and
charm of the White House grounds, Mr.:
Eliot charges that "the planting OF
shrubs and arrangement Of flower beds
in many cases violate elementary prtn-
ciples Of the art Of landscape archi-
lecture"
"A great improvement could easily
be made in the grounds without in
yolving any radical changes IN the
character or beauty Of the surround
sngs Of the White House"
3 The writer suggests removal OF trees
sn the Ellipse to provide clear view
<hrough the Monument Grounds to the
Tidal Basin and Potomac River.
The Tidal Basin and surrounding
area, which would have been filled In
and developed as playneld under the
Mcmillan Plan of 1901, Is called by
Kliot without doubt, the most i'm
portant site still remaining in the
great central composition Of Wash.
ington."
Reconstruction and Identification of
the two bridges south Of the Tidal Basin