Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-12-02

He was a pioneer in his line, and much OF
what We know today about artistic park plan
ming comes to us from his genius. All the
changes being made in the Mall may mean
much to modern science, but they do not
appeal to the old timer who would rather see
this noted park as it was before the World
War and hoped to see it so restored, when the
temporary buildings were all removed.
THERE are few early descriptions of this area.
which was entirely undeveloped until Mr.
Downing was employed to transform an almost
barren waste into a park of beauty and en-
chantment Practically no extensive improve
ments were made until 1850. when the Mall,
from Seventh to Twelfth streets and, from the
canal to street south (now Independence
avenue), presented a surface Of yellow or
white clay, cut into by deep gullies and with
out trees except one or two scraggy and dying
sycamoreS.
The streets named were mud roads, along
which an omnibus scrambled once a day to
the steamboat wharf, and foot travel paced
its muddy or dusty way over the bleak,
inhospitable common zig-zag meanderings"
At the time the Government moved here, in
1900, it was being given no attention, and
squatter sovereignty was even permitted, for
we find "Old Jack" a colored man, residing
on the south side Of the Tiber, and when he
died, they buried him at a point now within
the grounds of the Department of Agriculture
Good intentions-which frequently mean
no intentions-were manifested as early as
1893, when a letter was written by the COM
missioners To Daniel Carroll Of Duddington,
expressing the desirability of leaving the orna-
mental trees in the Mall unframed.
Fearing" as the Commissioners said, that
cutting any part at present may lead to conSe-
quences which cannot be repaired in many
years, If at all, we wish to treat with you
for the purchase of all the trees standing in
the Mall, so that the whole may be left standing,
till q settled design is formed for partially
clearing that part of the city" But here the
matter was allowed to drop and maybe it was
just as well, for If we grieve now over the
removal Of these trees, we would surely weep
If they belonged to the forest primeval.
At one time in 1882, Congress actually trans
ferred to the District all that part Of the
Mall from Sixth to Fifteenth streets, and from
street north to B Constitution avenue) and
then from street south to B Independence
avenue), retaining only for itself q strip one
block north and south of what would be West
Capitol street, if this street were run through.
That part transferred to the District, which
aggregated IS acres, was to be divided into
lots and sold, and the proceeds devoted toward
acquiring and improving the canal, which then
ran along Constitution avenue. Fortunately,
at the next session, Congress reversed itself,
and retained title to the Mall, believing that
it should be kept intact as delightful source
Of recreation" for the inhabitants and soon
thereafter appropriated $1,000 to plant grass,
lay out walks and fence in the area. In 1913,
additional planting and grading were done from
Seventh street west to the Potomac River, but
again the appropriation was too small to
make any particular showing.
As the writer has said before, the first real
awakening, in caring for these grounds, did