Evening star., 1937-04-18

ofnciaA say. Soon about 100 addi-
tional trees will be planted there.
Authorities assert that 1t will be DIFF
flcult, II not impossible, successfully
to transplant the original Japanese
cherry trees around the Tidal Basin.
They have been there for 4 quarter
Of century. and their roots have
become so interlocked, because OF the
closeness of the trees, to achieve the
mass bloom effect, that it Is con-
sidered fatal to attempt to move them.
Further. the trees would have to be
pruned to transplant them and achieve
a balanced effect above and below
ground, according to those In a posi-
ton to know.
This pruning would interfere with
the present "feathery" appearance Of
the much-publicized trees, say some
officials
1t is possible, they say, to construct
a memorial at the Tidal Basin site
SO that only a few trees will be AZ
fected, but in the absence Of an ap-
proved plan the officials shrug and
say they do not know
If the Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Commission is now given 100000 to
make a start on the memorial, this
will be the last year the Tidal Basin
Oriental floral display will be seen
in its present setting, some authori-
ties assert. Dredges and other equip
ment in the Tidal Basin, they hold,
will detract from the peaceable set
ting that now reigns there.
Suggest Construction Delay.
One suggestion is for erection of the
memorial be delayed until the end of
the life-span Of the original trees from
Japan. Then, the theory is, the
younger trees might be more easily
transplanted, with the old trees out
OF the way. The projected rearrange-
ment of the shores of the Tidal Basin
could then proceed with less thought
Of interfering with the gift from ia
pan. 1t is argued that it might be
preferable to wait until the young
trees have reached their maturity be-
fore interfering with the present status
of the trees
The $3,000000 announced as the
cost of the Thomas Jefferson Me-
mortal will have to be duplicated for
the development projected at the end
Of East Capitol street, on the banks
Of the Anacostia River, say opponents
OF the Tidal Basin project. They argue
that It would be better to put that
money into stadium and auditorium
rather than destroy the cherry trees
and the present Tidal Basin.
The Fine Arts Commission and the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission have submitted reports to
te Thomas Jefferson Memorial Com
mission, urging that = study be made
OF the whole area Of West Potomac
Park. This would provide for 4 study
OF an adequate setting for the me-
mortal and all its approaches, includ-
ing bridges, proper highways, land
scaping and other features, consider
ing the project as a harmonious
whole.
Broad Enabling legislation.
80 broad Is the enabling legisla-
ton, which set up the Thomas JET
ferson Memorial Commission, that
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission is not even men,
toned. The commission is clothed
with wide powers, for it was author
lied by Congress to pick the site, re-
tain the architect, select design and
construct the memorial. The Fine
Arts Commission, under the law,
might be asked by the Memorial Com
mission for its advice, which was
mandatory, if requested, but was not
binding upon the Memorial Commits
SION
The Memorial Commission has now
named the National Park Service of
the Interior Department Is its agent
to build the memorial and has ap-
pointed Arno B. Cammerer, director
Of the service, as its executive Of
f1cer. The members Of the Thomas
Jefferson Memorial Commission are
Representative John J. Boylan, DEM