Evening star., 1939-08-20

OlQ 1Ou nave oil dutUudl5 "dlSl
electric recirculating system for four
ton for saving water by electrically :
pumping the same water around
and around So it is that new
visions of beauty. coupled with new
ideas in engineering, have given us
the exquisite cascades of Meridian
Hill Park. the spectacular Terrace
Fountain of the Capitol Plaza and
the handsome twin fountains in
front of the Federal Reserve Build
ing, as representative of some of the
best modern ideas on this subject.
Ali Washington knows and loves
the Meridian Hill fountain on Six
teenth street NV, but if you
haven't seen it cleaning in radiant
sunlight or weaving a magic spell
by moonlight, put it down on your
date book in the first vacant space
and feast your eyes upon its beauty.
1t will refresh your soul, no matter
what the temperature.
Sit on the tarthest bench beyond
the lovely spherical sundial. where
you will be directly in line with the
cascades and can see on above them
to the fountain head, where three
spouts of water are silhouetted
against three inches in the high
wall, and, still higher up, Joan of
Arc sits on her horse, gazing out
over the city.
Below the first pool begin the l3
steps. or shell spills, down which
the water cascades so thrilllngly,
finally reaching a large basin at the
bottom. With an interruption of
walkway, this fountain system is
continued in a long shallow, rec
tangular pool with four spouts at
either end. No mermaids dlsport
themselves. no Neptune rises from
the sea. Nothing cutters the rip
pling surface of the water. Chill
dren bring their toy boats to test
their power and if they sail out of
reach the boys roll up their pants a
little higher and wade after them,
adding to the amusement of the
passersby.
Largest in World.
Horace Peaslee. Washington's own
architect, designed this beautiful
fountain, which was finished in
1887, and Is said to be the largest
man-made fountain in the world
It takes 100000 gallons of water to
feed the recirculating system
Moonlight shimmering over the
water at night turns it to sparkling
silver and the formal planting OF
dark evergreens f1anking the steps
on either side adds a balancing
3. contrast of shadow against the light
The Terrace Fountain of the Capt.
tol Plaza is ideally situated in the
midst of the wide-open spaces be-
: tween Union Station and the Capt.
tol. so that it is visible over wide
area In every direction.
This fairy fountain, encirclec
with smaller, nymphlike jets Sc
white by day, takes on ar
added enchantment by night, wher
many colored lights play upon it
From a distance the form that th'
spouting water takes seems to re-
semble a beautiful lady with pow
dered hair and wide panniered skirt
She belongs to the age OF tn
stately minuet. She is there ant
vet she is not there-our lovely lad,
of fantasy. She is like the lady il
the moon-some see her, some d.
not.
The fountain system extends owe
three levels, finally becoming
long, quiet rejecting pool on tn
side facing the station. Distinctly
features of the various basins ar
the deeply scalloped rims, owe
which the water pours in pleasin
effect, especially when lighted a
night. This is particularly eviden
on the center level.
This fountain was designed b
the Arm of Bennett, Parsons {
Frost of Chicago under the super
vision of the Capitol architec
David Linn. It was completed /
October, 1882, and first used tn
following spring. Three thousan
gallons of water per minute are re
circulated in the fountain during
summer day. The delightful cole
effcts In the water are produced 6
night by eight 1,O0O-watt lamps an
e6 lamps of 250-watt power, usin
red, amber and blue lights.
Fountain Is "Bathed."
Every two weeks this fountai
has q bath. The chemical use
for publication of the water is pe