Evening star., 1944-07-25
Letters to The Star
Wants Western Ridge Acquired
to Protect the Mall
ro the rA,tor ~ rh. ~

to Protect the Mali
To the Editor Of The star:
Few cities In the world can boast Of
. finer setting for great buildings and
monuments than the Warrington Mall.
Extending from the Capitol on the east
the west, 1t is one OF the great monu-
mental city planning achievements of
modern times. Capitol Hill, crowned
with its great domed edifice, housing the
legislative bodies Of the worlds greatest
democracy, forms magnificent eastern
terminus. From there the park leads
unencumbered In suitable distance to the
beautiful mound which forms q natural
base for the chaste and towering obelisk
of the Washington Monument. Still
further west, and mirrored In the calm
beauty Of the Rejecting Pool on the one
side, while the broad Potomac flows on
the other, stands, in perfect proportions
of noblest Greek architecture, Henry
Bacon's erandly conceived design for the
memorial to Abraham Lincoln.
These three extraordinarily noble and
beautiful creations of mems minds and
hands, together with the Mall itself,
combine to constitute the heart Of the
Grand Plan" Of Washington, unmarried
except for the unfortunate oyercrowding
of Government once structures In the
Triangle" north of Constitution avenue,
and also the so-called temporary" Navy
and Munitions Buildings which extend
into the Mall area.
With commendable foresight and skill,
the authorities charged with response
bility for the development of Washing
ton parks and planning have acquired
the low-lying land on the Virginia side
Of the Potomac, including the ground
opposite the Lincoln Memorial, which is
directly in line with and forms natural
extension Of the Mall. Unfortunately,
however, present acquisitions stop short
Of the ridge which forms q natural west
ern terminus and "back-drop" for the
Mall, even as Capitol Hill forms the
eastern.
Government agencies notably the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, repeatedly have urged the ac-
QUESTION by Congress Of this ridge to
prevent its threatened use for apartment
and dwelling structures, thus spelling
the Mall conception at one of Its two
focal points. Each time, however, some
sinister and unsympathetic influences
have blocked it. in spite Of favorable
recommendation by committees of the
Senate. Now 1t waits only the go" sign
to the pent-up postwar building boom,
to be used Immediately by private inter-
ests for apartment house and other res
idential buildings. The tidal wave of
building brought on by Washington's
enormous increase in population already
has reached the back crest of this ridge.
1t is not to be expected that such an
extremely desirable site will remain
available much longer. Nevertheless, it
would be an historic crime to permit
such misuse.
At least two possibilities for the proper
development of this ridge and hillside
may be visualized, either of which would
complete the Mall. There should be
al VooiiAA6tOAis Slc0t xAdA Va cAIuc
devoted to memorializing the names of
the increasing number of Americans who
have contributed notably to the scien-
tific. educational. social, political and
economic progress of the United States,
or whose craftsmanship has conferred
great benefits on the country, and whose
leadership in times of national crises has
brought the people to safety and to .
nobler place in the councils and estima-
ton of the nations Of mankind.
Another worthy possibility is Is q site
for an international institution of learn
ing in the sciences Of government, suit.
ably housed in structures designed In
keeping with the classical traditions Of
Washington. In such an institution, sit-
uated in the free and wholesome atmos-
phere of the worlds greatest exemplifi-
cation of popular rule, the keenest kinds
of the world could be brought into con-
tact with each other to devise scientific,
factual, and permanent bases for CO.
operation and good will among nations.
In any case. that ridge should be Sc
cured at the earliest possible moment
and held for future development.
RUSSEL EDW. MITCHELL