Evening star., 1937-01-23
Washington's Growth.

Washington's Growth.
When Topsy in the story of Uncle
Toms Cabin" was admonished by little
Eva's aunt that she was creation OF
the Divinity, she said: Il spect growed;
don't think nobody never made me-"
The belated but happily earnest and
seemingly determined proposition for the
construction in Washington of a great
national auditorium, inspired by the cir
cumstances of the Inauguration cere-
monies on Wednesday, illustrates the
manner in which the National Capital
has "just growed" in the course of its
more than a century and a third of
existence.
In its history as seat of government,
Washington has followed a distressing,
costly and altogether undignifled course
of development, not the fault OF its
citizenry, which has been impotent and
helpless, but as a result of tardy and
often confused planning by the Govern
rlent AS far as the ground plan was
concerned, the Capital was well started.
A diagram was prepared and adopted,
known as the L'Enfant plan. In the
main that has been followed. A start
was made in construction, with the Capt.
tol at one focal point, the White House
at another From that beginning, how
ever, the Capital "jusr growed," some
x,s,or with tho ,,1np again
without regard to it. The strictly urban
section was laid out in conformity, but
the suburbs sprawled at variant angles,
with the result that when in time the
urban area became crowded and the
suburbs were annexed costly and in some
cases distorting readjustments of street
lines we're necessary.
There was tardy attention to the
urgent needs of government Buildings
we're set here and there, out of line with
the established axes. The Civil War
checked the regular growth of the Capt.
tai and spurred its irregular develop
ment. The Great War later brought Ill
results in the invasion of the public
parks with so-called temporary buildings,
some of which are still standing, twenty
years after.
The pestilential nuisance Of the Po-
tomac fats was endured for several
generations before 1t was abated, with
the incidental development of a great
park, which is now one Of the Capitals
most valuable features. Rock Greek
Park came along through the public
spirited enterprise of citizens. Little by
little the park system was developed The
Washington Monument was started early.
then remained an ugly stump Of masonry
for many years and finally was completed
when Congress adopted plan for its
erection and provided the funds. The
Memorial Bridge was merely PROPOSE
ton for fully thirty years before it was
at last undertaken by the Government
and constructed. The Union Station,
replacing two separated railroad ter
minals that were eyesores and public nui-
sances, came into being as an incident
to the adoption of the general park plan.
So it has gone, the Capital "just grow
ing" for close upon a century and a
third. And for considerable portion Of
that time the necessity of place Of as
semblage, commonly styled an audi
torium, has been repeatedly urged, its
needs made evident on numerous occa-
sions, when the Capital has been the
meeting place of important gatherings,
often of international character. And
now-although there had been many
inclement Inauguration days in the past
because the rain fell on Wednesday,
drenching thousands, menacing the
health of the leaders of the Nation, it Is
proposed to proceed with the execution of
this long delayed, often urged and as
often neglected task.
Washington will probably continue
in the future to grow" as new needs
arise and as old ones come to the point
OF being further unbearable. But there
Is present comfort in the reasonable as
surance that in these further advances
toward the ideal Capital of the Republic
q sound plan, that has become the
veritable skeletal structure of the city,
will be faithfully followed.