Evening star., 1937-04-03
Park Commissions Concept
OF Nations City Beautiful

To the Editor Of The Star:
It has been touching to read OF the
valiant efforts of horticulturists in the
Offices of the National Capital Parks to
save the cherry trees from frost. It is
also interesting to learn that there are
any mere horticulturists left in this de-
partment. From recent developments
and from the present well-Scraped and
barren appearance of our local parks
one would suppose that the various COM
missions and committees that control
them at present were entirely In the
hands Of blueprint craftsmen and
steam shovel engineers, whose sole con-
cern was to pour two feet of asphalt or
concrete where but one was before, and
to whom a tree was something to be
chopped down wherever possible be-
cause it stood in the path of this con-
ception of progress. Or to be uprooted
and dragged somewhere else in the name
of another project"
Fortunately for our much publicized
and photographed cherry trees, these
have acquired a commercial value and
so will be protected-at least until they
too, are uprooted to make way for the
Jefferson "mausoleum," which to date is
the crowning achievement of the con-
crete and cement operators, offering as II
does the biggest sink hole possible to be
filled up with masonry.
When it is finished I wonder how
many tourists that will attract COM
pared to the cherry trees. And I Won
der how long it will be before those In
authority learn that other trees as well
as the Japanese cherries have value
as lure for countless thousands OF
annual visitors even if they have none
for their own sakes. AS 1t Is, citizens
and citizens associations appeal in vain
for few thousand dollars to replace
their appalling destruction and neglect
all over Washington, at the same time
that millions are being freely appropri-
ated for any sort of proposal calling for
concrete and cement construction.
A cynical catch-phrase has become
current what pity that horticultural
and nursery interests have not powerful
political connections instead OF cement
How different would be the appearance
Of the Nations Capital today.
Meanwhile we 60 ahead rapidly killing
the goose that lays the golden egg
Lafayette Square, for over century a
sylvan beauty spot, now looks about as
inviting and well-kept as a COW pas
ture. Magnolia trees, literally worth a
thousand dollars apiece, are hacked down
to make another parking lot, garishly
disfgured with red and yellow signs
HAS the Zoning Commission no control
over these blatant effronts to good taste
in otherwise still good residential areas?)
And when Washington has come to
look just about like every other second
or third rate commercially degraded
American city it will cease to be a
mecca for leisure class visitors and resi-
dents, who will take themselves and
their pocketbooks to more inviting
scenes.
For automobile storage lots, hot dog
stands and filling stations, surrounded
by unkempt streets with ragged remains
of untended trees, do not make beau
tiful or attractive city.
Neither do twenty-five million dollars
worth of 'petrified pillars" marble
mausoleums and speedways through bar
rem parks, whether perpetrated in the
name of the Mcmillan plan the Len
FAINT plan or any other specious justifica-
ton.
MRS. CHARLES EDWARD RUSSELL.