Evening star., 1939-03-05
Canadian Capital District, =
Modelled After D. c., Studied
Washington of the North Was First Proposed
by Premier Laurier During
Term in 1893
By Carleton J. Kefchum.

and proportionately according to popula-
ton. Municipal authorities of both
cities at the time agreed to cooperate
with the government for the success of
the proposal and to bear their share of
the cost involved.
There was therefore appointed an hon
orary commission consisting of the fol-
lowing:
Sir Herbert Holt, internationally
known banker and industriahst, chair
man; Sir Alexander Lacoste, K. c., of
Montreal Frank Darling and R. Home
Smith of Toronto and the mayors of
Ottawa and Hull. This commission was
authorized to employ clerical and other
assistants, to engage city planners land
scape gardeners, architects, engineers
and other experts, to summon witnesses
and generally to take such steps as
might be necessary to accomplish the
objects of the commission.
The commission went to work soon
after its formation in 1918 and two years
later submitted to the federal govern
ment comprehensive report dealing
with every conceivable problem relating
capital. The report, known today as
the Report of the Federal Plan Commits
sion for the Cities of Ottawa and Hull,
was a masterpiece of its kind. 1t re-
viewed the history and development of
the District of Columbia and the
methods of government of other federal
districts, of which there are five in the
world outside the District of Columbia;
and laid down specific plans under
variety of headings including govern
ment buildings, national and other
parks, widening of streets, erection of
bridges, general and local zoning or dis
tricting. Its report of 1873 closely
printed pages. illustrated by q drawings,
left little to the imagination. It was as
complete as any document of it's kind
could be-
Outstanding Suggestions.
The most outstanding of its recon-
mendations were:
That the future Improvements in the
area about the capital city of Canada
and the city of Hull, which lies in its
vicinity in the French-speaking Province
of Quebec, should not be attempted
without first establishing federal dis
trict and securing for the federal au-
thority some control of local govern
ment.
That the pivot on which hinges the
success or failure in carrying out any
comprehensive plan lies in proper solu-
ton of the problem of steam railway
transportation.
That, in order that proper admins
trative and Office accommodation may be
permitted for the work of government,
the extension and development of the
government buildings should be carried
out on comprehensive plan.
That there should be proper control
of residential and manufacturing dis
tricts by enforcing building restrictions.
That the highly commendable work of
the Ottawa improvement Commission,
now known as the Federal District Com
mission, should be extended and enlarged
by the development of a broad and
forceful policy as to future park lands,
and that there should be established a
national park or forest reserve of $4,000
to 100000 acres in the Laurentian Hills,
north of Ottawa, under control of the
Dominion government.
That the plan should not be taken as
final in detail but be considered as a
general study of the conditions affecting
the probable future growth of national
government center.
Various Elements Weighed.
The report concluded:
THE plan was one in which the various
elements have been weighed in their
relation to one another and after care
full study have been recorded and is one
which, in our belief, will serve as real
guide in the future growth and develop
ment of the cities of Ottawa and Hull.
THE plan has not been prepared on
the assumption that the cities of Ottawa
and Hull would be remodeled at once but
with the idea of a gradual adoption of
definite objective to be reached as ne
cessity arises and finance permits.
Both private and public works and
improvements in the future should be
co-ordinated and carried out along lines
which will conform with the general plan
and at the same time emphasize the
many graceful physical characteristics
with which Ottawa and Hull are now
blessed. Thus ultimately we should have
a beautiful federal district of which not
only citizens of Ottawa and Hull and
the surrounding country will be proud,
but capital in which every one in the
Dominion of Canada can take salts
faction"
1t should be explained for the benefit
of those not aware of the relationship
of the two cities referred to that Ottawa
is and has been since 1858 the federal
capital. 1t lies in the English-speaking
Province of Ontario and has an area OF
eight square miles. Hull lies just across
the Ottawa River. spanned by several
bridges; is in the French speaking
Province Of Quebec, and has an area Of
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