Evening star., 1937-02-20
The Jefferson Memorial.

AAS SAAS4 oOA1 1oxe
Final plans for the jefferson Me-
mortal at the Tidal Basin site have
stood the test Of conformity with the
Mcmillan plan Of 1901 and Of comparison
with many other proposals for architec-
tural treatment, use and location Of
such memorial. These plans repre-
sent the considered best judgment of
those charged with responsibility for
their approval. Such approval should
bring to an end the friendly controversy
between advocates of other forms of
monuments and other locations, uniting
everybody in enthusiastic determina-
tion to see the plans materialize in the
inspiring transformation Of the Tidal
Basin area which they contemplate.
Many have grown to love, through as
sociation, the informal and simple
beauty Of this area. with the curving
shore line Of the Tidal Basin and its
soft border Of Japanese cherry trees
and their reflection In the still waters.
To these the change to the strict for
mality OF the memorial conception may
be unwelcome, even as the advocates of
more utilitarian forms of memorial may
look askance at another temple of
marble" Such differences of opinion
are always difficult to reconcile and If
any memorial depended upon unanimous
consent there would be few of them.
1t is to be remembered that the Tidal
Basin area as it is today, however, repre-
sents merely temporary development;
land lying fallow, as it were, pending the
time when it could be treated in ac-
cordance with the Washington plan Of
nearly forty years ago, which, in turn,
attempted to project L'Enfants original
conception. Now that the time has ar
rived. 1t finds this section the last un-
completed point" Of those five cardinal
points which were to be represented in
the Capitol, the Washington Monu-
ment, the Lincoln Memorial, the White
House and q great memorial" lying
at the intersection of the White House
axis with the axis Of Maryland avenue.
In projecting anew this harmonious de-
velopment, thirteen years before con-
struction OF the Lincoln Memorial was
begun, the Mcmillan report found some
comfort in the thought that "at least
the site will be ready" for the memorial
that was to be on the White House axis.
Though the site Is there, 1t is far from
being ready.
Chairman Boylan Of the Jefferson
Memorial Commission has made assur-
ing statements that the engineering
problems to be solved In preparation Of
the site have been fully investigated.
Though the Tidal Basin is a decorative
establishment Of Potomac Park, its
purpose is strictly utilitarian. It's shape,
as an adornment Of the new memorial,
will be radically altered, but its area
will not be reduced enough to affect the
necessary flushing of washington Chan
mel. Though the engineers may have
to 60 as far down as seventy-five feet
to reach bed rock. their task is not re-
garded as prohibitive in expense. Though
some may fear the artistic effect Of
proximity of the Jefferson Memorial to
the Lincoln Memorial, Chairman Boylan
Is confident that the proposed treatment
will not dim the luster OF either struc-
ture.
It is likewise to be assumed that the
changes to be wrought in the Tidal
Basin contemplate a continuing and
adequate display of the Japanese cherry
trees, possibly bordering the causeways
which give access to the memorial build
ing itself. Entirely incidental, as far
as the Washington plan Is concerned, the
cherry trees in blossom have, neverthe-
less, become one of the beautiful sights
Of the Capital and ample provision un-
doubtedly will be made to retain them
In an even more effective setting.
The Jefferson Memorial Commission
legislation authorized an expenditure Of
$3,00o,o00, leaving approval of plans and
their execution to the commission. The
only new legislation now required is the
appropriation of the initial amount to
begin the work. 1t is to be hoped that
this will be made available at this ses-
sion Of Congress.