Evening star., 1932-11-19
FINE ARTS GROUP
DECIDES ON ELMS
FOR MALL HIGHWAY
Reaches Agreement With Ma
tionaI Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
REPORT MADE ON GARDEN
PLANS AT MONUMENT
Possible Effects Upon Stability Of
Shaft Discussed by Maj.
D. H. Gillette.

American elm trees will line the four
pretentiouS highways in the Mall from
the Capitol to near the Washington
Monument.
This decision was reached yesterday
afternoon at Joint meeting of the Fine
Arts Commission and the National Capi-
tai Park and Planning Commission.
considerable discussion preceded the
vote, IN which the planting of oak,
sycamore. red oaks and several types OF
ems was discussed. The consensus was
tnat American elms should be utilized,
because the arching together of the trees
on either side of a highway gives a
Gothic arch effect, such as along New
Hampshire avenue.
Traffic Problems Discussed.
Traffic problems on Columbia Island
engaged the attention of the two COM
missions, but 1t was decided TO ask the
arcnltectS OF the Arlington Memorial
Bridge, McKim. Mead g. White of
New York, to give the problems addi-
tlonal concentration. The commissions
discussed advisability Of having two
traffic circles on the axis between the
Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House.
as well as another circle at the north
west end of the island, to connect with
-NN
at the southeast end of the island. link
ing traffic with the Mount Vernon Me-
mortal Highway and the Virginia road
system. Under the proposed traffic pro-
gram, only national parades and State
funerals, travelling along Constitution
avenue and over the Arlington Memorial
Bridge to Arlington National Cemetery,
would pass unhampered along the axis.
In nolmal timsSe a chain would be
fixed between the two circles across
the axis, thus diverting traffic in q
circular shape, around the circles.
Another traffic plan for Columbia
Island proposed traffic distribution,
without assistance of the exterior cir
cles at either extremity of the island,
but Capt. E. N. Chisolm, jr., engineer
Of the Planning Commission, explained
today that the whole matter will have
to be given further thought.
Maj. D. H. Gillette, assistant execu-
tive officer of the Arlington Memorial
Bridge Commission and specialist on
the Washington Monument foundation,
submitted lengthy report to the two
commissions, relating to the proposed
development of gardens at the base Of
the shaft. He discussed the possible
effects the 1901 plan might have on the
stability of the monument, pointing out
that a Special Engineering Board, ap-
pointed by Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd,
vice chairman and executive officer of
the Planning Commission, decided that
no great amount of earth should be
either taken away from or added to the
area surrounding the base of the WASH
ington Monument.
The two commissions will attempt to
decide the best thing to do that will
least affect the stability of the menu
ment. So-called formal and informal
plans were discussed.
Caemmerer Reports.
H. p. Caemmerer, executive secre-
tary of the Fine Arts Commission, made
a report on proposed regulations for
Washington builders under the Ship
act, requiring Government
Endorsement for plans of structures
properties here. A copy of the pro-
posed regulations was placed in the
hands of each member of the Plan
ming Commission and given the per-
sonnel of its staff Earlier, the Fine
Arts Commission. at separate meet
ing, had approved the proposed regula-
tionS and the final vote will be taken
by the planners.
At noon, the Fine Arts Commission,
holding its own meeting, visited the
site of the proposed Fort Reno High
School and decided that architectural
plans should fit in with the location to
the best advantage. A. L. Harris. NUM-
cipal architect. is perfecting the final
plans for the new school The COM
also studied preliminary de-
S gns for oil stations, one at Twenty
seventh, F streets and New Hampshire
avenue, submitted by Architect Williem
I. Deming. and another proposed sta
ton, plans for which were drawn by
Julius Wenig, another architect.