[The National Commission of Fine Arts, Ninth Report, July 1, 1919-June 30, 1921]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS
NINTH REPORT
JULY 1,1919-JUNE 30,1921
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1921
THE MALE AND MONUMENT GARDENS, PLAN OK 1901.
THE NATIONAL
COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS
NINTH REPORT
JULY 1, 1919-JUNE 30, 1921
THE MALL AND MONUMENT GARDENS, ULAN OF 1901.
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1921
3 1223 09320 5822
LETTER OE TRANSMITTAL.
To the Senate and House of Representatives :
I transmit herewith for the information of the Congress the Ninth Report of the National Commission of Fine Arts for the period from July 1, 1919, to June 30, 1921.
The report deals with the progress made during the past 20 years in realizing the comprehensive plan for the entire District of Columbia reported to the Senate as a result of extensive studies of the plans of capital cities in Europe. This plan was prepared as a public service by men of the highest standing in the professions of architecture, sculpture, and landscape architecture. Professedly it was based upon the L’Enfant plan of 1792 for the Federal city in the District of Columbia, designed under the personal supervision of President Washington; and indeed was largely an extension of that plan to cover the entire District. The L’Enfant plan was the first and most comprehensive design for a national capital ever adopted. The plan of 1901 reasserted the authority of the original plan; extended it to meet the needs of the Nation after a century of growth in power, wealth, and dignity; and marked the path for future development. During the past two decades the essential features of the plan have been established, so that the work of the future will be largely a filling in of outlines. It is a source of satisfaction that so much has been done to make the city of Washington conspicuous among national capitals in respect of dignity, orderliness, convenience, and beauty. All that has been done increases the importance of adhering to a plan that during nearly a century and a quarter has abundantly justified the foresight and the vision of the founders of the Republic.
The report of the Commission of Fine Arts deals also with the plans made under the direction of the Secretary of War for the cemeteries in Europe where rest the bodies of American men and women who gave their lives in the World War. By reason of their location on the field of battle the French cemeteries have a double claim to our reverent consideration—they mark both the places of burial of our heroic dead and also the very field on which their sacrifice was made. These cemeteries are indeed fields of honor. They represent in the highest and most sacred way the participation of this Nation in the Great War. They should be treated in a manner befitting their representative character.
in
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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
Further, the report discloses the work of the Commission in its many details. During the 11 years since Congress created that body, its helpfulness has constantly increased. In many fields it has established and maintained standards of taste; and in furthering and safeguarding the plan of Washington it is especially useful.
WARREN G. HARDING.
The White House, November 22, 1921.
CONTENTS.
Page.
I. Ninth Report of the National Commission of Fine Arts----------- 1
TT. Progress in the McMillan Plan_________________________________ 5
Authority of the L’Enfant Plan____________________________ 7
The record of twenty years____________________________________ 7
The Union Station____________________________________________ 11
The Capitol group____________________________________________ 13
The head of the Mall_________________________________________ 14
The development of the Mall__________________________________ 16
The Department of Agriculture________________________________ 17
Restoring the Mall Axis__________________________ ________ 18
The Lincoln Memorial----------------------------------------- 19
The Memorial Bridge__________________________________________ 22
The Monument Gardens_________________________________________ 23
The cross axis_______________________________________________ 24
The Washington Common__________________,------------------ 26
Site for a future great memorial-------------------------- 26
The Executive group__________________________________________ 27
The need of fountains---------------------------------------- 29
Cleaning up of Pennsylvania Avenue------------------------ 29
Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway------------------------------- 30
The Anacostia Water Park_____________________________________ 31
The National Botanic Garden---------------------------------- 32
The Mount Vernon Road________________________________________ 35
Connections between Rock Creek and Anacostia Parks--------	36
The Palisades of the Potomac------------------------------ 36
Washington of the future------------------------------------- 37
III. American cemeteries in Europe----------------------------------- 39
Excellent temporary arrangements----------------------------- 41
The policy of concentration---------------------------------- 43
Location and treatment--------------------------------------- 43
Control of American cemeteries------------------------------- 43
British cemeteries------------------------------------------- 44
Problems of the American cemeteries__________________________ 45
Adequate space for graves------------------------------------ 49
Headstones___________________________________________________ 49
Trees_________________________________________________________ 49
The title to the land----------------------------------------- 56
Areas of cemeteries proper___________________________________ 50
Buildings, fences, and gateways------------------------------ 51
Planting the chief reliance for effects______________________ 53
Relations of cemeteries to adjoining towns------------------- 53
Military parks—---------------------------------------------- 53
Control of monuments__________________________________________ 56
Suresnes_____________________________________________________ 56
Cantigny and Belleau Wood------------------------------------- 57
Bony or Flanders Field--------------------------------------- 59
The Meuse-Argonne_____________________________________________ 59
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VI
CONTENTS.
III.	American cemeteries in Europe-—Continued.	Page.
Additional cemeteries_______________________________________ 63
American cemeteries in England______________________________ 63
Conclusion-------------------------------------------------- 65
IV.	Memorials of the Great War-------------------------------------- 67
The Verdun Medal____________________________________________ 68
The Victory Medal_________________________________________   69
War Memorial for the First Division_________________________ 69
Fourth Division Memorial------------------------------------ 70
Second Division Memorial___________________________________  70
Soldiers’ Memorial Cross____________________________________ 70
The Gold Star______________________________________________  70
Vicksburg Memorial Arch_____________________________ .	71
The Army Congressional Medal of Honor_______________________ 72
Insignia for the Militia----------------------------------   74
R. O. T. C. and warrant officers’ insignia________________ 76
Regimental colors___________________________________________ 76
Interstate Commerce Memorial Tablet_______________________ 76
Forest Service Memorial Tablet------------------------------ 77
District of Columbia Memorial_______________________________ 77
Red Star Animal Relief War Memorial Tablet________________ 78
War Memorial, Agricultural Department_______________________ 78
Me	morial to Labor_____________________________________    79
Memorial to Negro Soldiers and Sailors____________________ SO
V.	Public buildings and grounds__________________________________  81
The Freer Gallery of Art__________________________________ 83
National Gallery of Art Commission-------------------------- 85
Archives Building------------------------------------------- 86
National Academy of Sciences________________________________ 86
Space requirements for the Treasury Department______________ 86
Army War College planting plan______________________________ 87
The Capitol grounds, Montpelier, Vt_________________________ 88
National Park Service--------------------------------------- 89
Hospital buildings, Soldiers’ Home__________________________ 89
Smithsonian Grounds, lodge and comfort station______________ 89
Stanton Park lodge------------------------------------------ 89
Gas holder, Analostan Island-------------------------------- 89
Wholesale terminal, District of Columbia____________________ 90
Zoning in the District of Columbia_______________________    90
VI.	Monuments and statues___________________________________________ 91
The Grant Memorial__________________________________________ 91
The Meade Memorial__________________________________________ 92
The Ericsson Memorial_______________________________________ 94
Roosevelt Memorial__________________________________________ 95
Dupont Memorial Fountain------------------------------------ 95
Francis Asbury Memorial------------------------------------- 96
Jeanne d’Arc Memorial--------------------------------------- 97
Francis Scott Key Memorial__________________________________ 98
Darlington Memorial Fountain________________________________ 98
Memorial tablet, Japanese cherry trees_______________________ 98
Zero milestone_______________________________________________ 99
Nuns of the Battle Field Monument____________________________ 99
Statue of William Pitt_______________________________________ 99
CONTENTS.
VII
VI.	Monuments and statues—Continued.	Page.
Reflectors, city post office-------------------------------- 100
Police memorial_____________________________________________ 100
Flag and floral emblem for the District of Columbia-------- 100
Exhibition by the Commission of Fine Arts------------------ 100
Congress of the National Housing and Town Planning Council- 101
International interchange of	modern art--------------------- 101
VII.	Coins and currency--------------------------------------------- 103
Maine commemorative coin------------------------------------ 101
Missouri centennial coin------ ---------------------------- 104
Alabama centennial coin___---------------------------------  104
Plymouth memorial coin—	_ . _	  105
United States currency--. ---------------------------------- 105
VIII.	Parks, playgrounds, bridges—	_ --------------------   107
Meridian Hill Park------------------------------------------ 108
Lafayette Park---------------------------------------------- 108
East Potomac Park___________________________________________ 109
Band stand for Potomac Park--------------------------------- 109
Judiciary Square-------------------------------------------  119
McPherson Square_____________________________________________ HO
Rock Creek Park, recreation grounds near Brightwood Reservoir ___________________i------------------------------------ no
Pierce Mill, Rock Creek Park------------------------------- 110
Highway plan of the District of Columbia-------------------- 111
Southworth Cottage------------------------------------------ 113
Minor reservations----------------------------------------   113
Public playgrounds----------------------------------------- 113
Georgetown Bridge------------------------------------------- 114
IX.	The Arlington National	Cemetery------------------------------- 115
Monument to Lieut.	Luigi	Bartolucci-Dundas-------------- 120
Peary Monument______________________________________________ 120
Fort Lincoln Cemetery__________________________________________ 120
Rostrum, Georgia Avenue National Cemetery---------------------- 121
X.	Administration----------------------------------------------- 123
Maintenance----------------------------------------------    123
Jurisdiction________________________________________________ 125
Appendix------------------------------------------------     127
Members of the Commission----------------------------------- 127
Secretaries and executive officers-------------------------- 128
Organic act_________________________________________________ 128
Index__________________________________________________________ 129
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
The Mall and Monument Gardens, plan of 1901—•__________________Frontispiece.
Progress in the McMillan Plan:
Plan of 1901; bird’s-eye view of Washington from Arlington-------- 4
The Union Station_________________________________________________ 5
The L’Enfant plan of the Federal city, 1792----------------------- 8
Suggested designs for Union Station Plaza------------------------- 10
Transformation of the Botanic Garden area; Union Square----------- 12
Grant Memorial____________________________________________________ 15
Plan for public buildings and the Mall____________________________ 10
The Mall from the Washington Monument, showing present conditions______________________________________________________________ 17
The Mall, from the air^___________________________________________ 18
Potomac Park, October, 1921, from the air------------------------- 19
The Lincoln Memorial, as completed________________________________ 20
Potomac Park, showing obtrusive temporary war buildings----------- 21
Plan of Potomac Park, showing interference of temporary war buildings ______________________________________________________________ 22
National Academy of Sciences; designed by Bertram G. Goodhue------	25
Plan of East Potomac Park, showing also proposed development of
Water Street____________________________________________________ 26
The Dupont Fountain, designed by Daniel C. French and Henry Bacon______________________________________________________________ 28
Plan of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway---------------------------- 30
Plan of Anacostia Water Park______________________________________ 31
Plan of the proposed National Botanic Garden---------------------- 33
The Monument from Mount Hamilton-------------------------------,—	34
The Capitol from Mount Hamilton----------------------------------- 35
The District of Columbia, showing proposed outer-parks system_.---	37
American cemeteries in Europe:
Village scene in France------------------------------------------- 39
British military cemetery at Brookwood, showing the Altar of Sacrifice (the American cemetery lies just beyond on the right)--------	40
British military cemetery at Forceville, showing the memorial cross with bronze sword__________________________________________________ 41
Memorial Day, May 30, 1921, American cemetery at Suresnes, near
Paris___________________________________________________________ 42
Suresnes, looking west on central axis, showing area not yet occupied, and Mount Valerien above, the slope to be improved with planting___________________________________________________________ 42
British military cemetery at Forceville, showing the Altar of Sacrifice ______________________________________________________________ 44
Preliminary plan for permanent American cemetery at Suresnes. near
Paris; the Boulevard George Washington on the east; Mount Valerien on the west------------------------------------------------- 46
Arlington National Cemetery, used as a type for American cemeteries in Europe__________________________________________________________ 47
IX
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ILLUSTRATIONS.
American cemeteries in Europe—Continued.	page.
The American cemetery at Belleau Wood; to be enlarged and made permanent__________________________________________________________ 4S
American cemetery at Thiacourt, near St. Mihiel, showing temporary wooden crosses with no shade, but clean and neatly kept____________ 48
The grave of Quentin Roosevelt, made a cemetery by the French Government____________________________________________________________ 51
Preliminary plan for American cemetery at Romagne, in the Meuse-Argonne sector, showing eight rectangular blocks of graves on south side of the avenue in the valley, with central building on the opposite hill overlooking the graves__________________________________ 51
American cemetery at the Oise-Aisne fields, at Seringes et Nesles, near
Fere en Tardenois. Orderly arranged and carefully kept with its rows of neat white crosses_________________;____________________ 52
American cemetery at Romagne, in the Meuse-Argonne sector, looking north from the center, showing the public road through the valley, and a few trees on the opposite hill, where a central building surrounded by masses of trees is proposed____________________________ 52
Preliminary plan for American cemetery at Bbny, with main axis extending eastward from central burial area toward the chapel to meet the main roads of the village. Grave areas to be shaded by trees and surrounded by wooded areas______________________________ 54
Preliminary plan for American cemetery of St. Mihiel, at Thiaucourt, showing rectangular lot areas on present cemetery, and proposed semicircle on the ridge overlooking the valley on the south_______	55
One of the many memorials of the various wars of France. French monument on the bleak and barren battlefield of L’Mort Homme, near Verdun. Scene of the terrific sacrifices of human life_______	57
Preliminary plan of American cemetery at Belleau Wood in the Aisne Marne fields. Graves to be located on the curving terrace below the hill and in the level fields near the main entrance at either side of the central circular open space________________________________ 58
Ruins of hunting lodge on hill above cemetery at Belleau Wood_____	58
Forest scene in Belleau Wood______________________________________ 59
Preliminary plan for American cemetery at Oise-Aisne, at Seringes et Nesles, near Fere en Tardenois, showing proposed grouping of graves about an open center in the space inclosed by Forest of
Nesles and by public highways___________________________________ 60
Chapel at Bony soon to be rebuilt_________________________________ 61
American cemetery at Bony, near the battlefields of the Somme, as seen from Bony; it appears at first like a pocket handkerchief spread out on the grass to dry_____________________________________ 62
Preliminary plan for American cemetery at Brookwood, showing proposed grouping of graves and a central point with the main approach from the south, protection by existing woodland on the north, and connecting walk to British cemetery on the east________	64
Burial ground at Cliveden, seat of Lady Astor_____________________ 65
At sunset__________________________________________________________  66
Memorials of the Great War:
The Verdun Medal____________________________________________________ 67
The Victory Medal,	World War insignia_____________________________ 68
The Soldiers’ Memorial Cross at Arlington (accepted design)_______ 70
Regimental colors, Ninth Infantry_________________________________ 71
ILLUSTRATIONS.
XI
Memorials of the Great War—Continued.	Page.
Insignia for the Militia------------------------------------	'io
Insignia for warrant officers---------------------- —	75
Insignia for the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps----------- 75
Interstate Commerce memorial tablet_____________________________ 76
Forest Service memorial tablet__________________________________ 77
Red Star Animal Relief war memorial tablet------------------ —	79
The court of the Freer Gallery-------------------------------------- 81
The Freer Gallery-----------------------------------------------—	82
The floor plan of the Freer Gallery--------------------------------- 83
The Meade Memorial----------------------------------------------------- 91
The Ericsson Memorial-------------------------------------------------- 94
View of suggested site for Roosevelt Memorial, Sixteenth Street Heights- 96
Jeanne d'Arc Statue---------------------------------------------------- 97
The Alabama Centennial coin-------------------------------------------- 103
The Maine Commemorative coin------ --------------------------------- 104
The Missouri Centennial coin------------------------------------------- 105
Meridian Hill Park, lower garden, showing the cascades-------------- 107
East Potomac Park (relief map)----------------------------------------- 109
The Georgetown Bridge----------------------------------------------- 112
Rostrum, Georgia Avenue National Cemetery------------------------------ 115
General plan for World War section, Arlington National Cemetery-----	116
Arlington National Cemetery in its relation to the park system of the
District of Columbia--------------------------------------------- US
.. .. . ...
NINTH REPORT OF
THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
Washington, D. C., August 8, The President.
Str: The Commission of Fine Arts has the honor to submit the following report, covering the period from July 1, 1919, to June 30. 1921:
The Commission was created by the act of Congress approved May 17, 1910. Its members, appointed by the President for a term of four years, or until their successors are appointed, consisted, throughout the period covered by this report, of—
Charles Moore, chairman.
Herbert Adams, sculptor.
John Russell Pope, vice chairman, architect.
James L. Greenleaf, landscape architect.
J. Alden Weir, painter.
Charles A. Platt, architect.
Wm. Mitchell Kendall, architect.
Sergeant Kendall, painter, appointed April 10, 1920, to succeed J. Alden Weir, deceased.
James E. Fraser, sculptor, appointed May 7, 1920, to succeed Mr. Adams, whose term expired.
Louis Ayres, architect, appointed February 19, 1921, to succeed Wm. Mitchell Kendall, whose term expired.
Henry Bacon, architect, appointed February 21, 1921, to succeed Mr. Platt, whose term expired.
H. Siddons Mowbray, painter, appointed February 24, 1921, to succeed Sergeant Kendall, resigned.
The secretary and executive officer of the Commission is ex officio the officer in charge of public buildings and grounds. Maj. C. S. Ridley served in such capacity until March 31, 1921, when he was succeeded by Lieut. Col. C. O. Sherrill. Corps of Engineers. U. S. Army. The assistant to the secretary is Mr. H. P. Caemmerer.
Mr. Herbert Adams and Mr. Charles A. Platt served successively as vice chairman.
On the death of Mr. J. Alden Weir, December 8, 1919, the Commission placed on their records the following minute:
President Wilson appointed J. Alden Weir a member of the Commission of Fine Arts on the expiration of the service of Edwin Howland Blashfield, on
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2 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
September 1, 1916. Mr. Weir brought to his work a catholic taste, and clear and distinct judgments. Firm in his convictions, uncompromising as to essentials, and fearless in his expression of opinion, he was nevertheless quick to recognize sincere work well done, and cordial in his appreciation of it. Strongly individual as was his own work, he welcomed new ways of looking at a subject and new methods of treatment. His services, therefore, were of great value to the Commission.
Mr. Weir had the gift of perpetual youth. He loved out of doors and good companionship; his laughter was infectious, and his smile made congenial natures his friends.
He met with the Commission for the last time in May, on the occasion of the luncheon given to Elihu Root. Often he expressed a desire to resign his membership in favor of one who could attend the meetings; but he was dissuaded from so doing by his fellow members, who clung to the hope that, he would recover his health and again take his large part in the fellowship. He died on December 8, at his home in Ridgefield, Conn. The Commission make this record of the loss they have sustained by reason of his death.
The secretary was directed to send a copy of the resolution to Mrs. Weir.
The President addressed the following letters to Mr. Adams, Mr. Sergeant Kendall, Mr. Platt, and Mr. Wm. Mitchell Kendall upon the completion of their services:
The White House, Washington, 10 June, 1920.
My Dear Mr. Adams: Your term as a member of the Commission of Fine Arts having ended, I desire to express to you my appreciation of your patient and painstaking efforts in all your work, and especially in connection with both the medals commemorative of the Great War, and also the insignia worn by our soldiers. The work that you have done to bring these medals and insignia up to higher standards has been largely of a pioneer kind, and I hope that the paths which you have opened will be followed in the future with increasing advantage to the Government.
Cordially and sincerely yours,
Woodrow Wh.son.
Mr. Herbert Adams,
New York City.
29 January, 1921.
My Dear Dean Kendall: I have received and accept your resignation as a member of the Commission of Fine Arts.
May I not express to you my appreciation of and thanks for the services you have rendered?
Sincerely, yours,
Woodrow Wtlson.
Dean Wm. Sergeant Kendall,
School of Fine Arts. Yale University, New Haren. Conn.
2 March, 1921.
My Dear Mr. Platt: On the expiration of your term of office as a member of the Commission of Fine Arts, I thank you for having given to the Government four years of service. Your wide knowledge of gardens as related to architecture has been of especial advantage on the plans for Meridian Hill Park and the planting around the Lincoln Memorial.
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
3
It is a satisfaction to know that as the architect of the Freer Gallery you will continue to be in touch with the work of the Commission and that your advice will be available.
I am, very sincerely, yours,
Woodrow Wilson.
Mr. Charles A. Platt, New York City.
2 March, 1921.
My Dear Mr. Kendall : It must be a satisfaction to you to reflect that during the past four years.you have had an opportunity as well as a duty in protecting and advancing the plan of Washington prepared in 1792 by L’Enfant and in 1901 reaffirmed, enlarged, and vitalized by a Commission of which your friend and associate, the late Charles F. McKim, was a member.
It certainly is a cause for satisfaction on the part of the Government that a means has been found to secure the advice of men, like yourself, of taste and training in matters of art, so that permanently agreeable qualities may be imparted to those Government works which make an appeal to the public eye.
It is a further satisfaction to know that the Commission of Fine Arts, during the 10 years of its existence, has maintained the spirit of continuing service; and that even after the official terms of the members have expired thej still meet with the Commission when called upon to discuss matters of high importance.
I am, very sincerely, yours,
Woodrow Wilson.
Mr. Wm. Mitchell Kendall, New York City.
In resigning from the Commission Prof. Kendall sent the following letter to the President:
I submit with deep regret a request to be permitted to resign from membership upon the Commission of Fine Arts, finding that my obligations and duties as an officer in Yale University have interfered most seriously with my usefulness as a member of the Commission, and will, in the future, still more completely prevent my giving proper service.
Plan of 1901 : Bird’s-eye view of Washington from Arlington.
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The Union Station.
II.
PROGRESS IN THE McMILLAN PLAN.
TWENTY years ago, Senator James McMillan reported to the
Senate from the Committee on the District of Columbia1 a plan for the development of the park system of the District and for the location of Government buildings. This plan was prepared by direction of the Senate. There was no intention to have the plan adopted; it was simply a project for the development of the Capital along lines of convenience, good order, and beauty. The inherent excellence of the plan as presented is proved by the fact that during the two decades that have elapsed since its publication many and great improvements have been made in accordance with it; its main outlines have been filled in beyond the possibility of change; those departures which have occurred (as in the case of the location of the Interior Department, the architectural design of the War Risk Insurance building, and the location of the Navy and the Munitions buildings) are conceded to be mistakes and blemishes. There is no movement to change the plan. On the contrary, all forces are working together toward the realization of it.
1 Fifty-seventh Congress, First Session, Senate Report No. 166 : The Improvement of the Park System of the District of Columbia. I. Report of the Senate Committee on the District of Columbia. II. Report of the Park Commission. Edited by Charles Moore, clerk of the Senate Committee on the District of Columbia, Washington, 1902, pp. 171; illustrations and maps.
06941°—21---2	5
6 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
The making of the new plan was entrusted to Daniel H. Burnham and Charles F. McKim, architects; Augustus Saint-Gau dens, sculptor; and Frederick Law Olmsted, landscape architect. The first three and the father of the fourth had been the chief factors in bringing about the results attained at the World’s Fair at Chicago in 1893, an achievement from which dates a new impulse in American civic art, an impulse now working throughout this land to produce well-ordered cities. Later Mr. Burnham, Mr. McKim, and Mr. Olmsted were consulted unofficially by Presidents Roosevelt and Taft in regard to the location of public buildings and memorials; but such unofficial consultations engendered misunderstandings, antagonisms, and lack of continuity. As a remedy Congress in 1910 created the Commission of Fine Arts as a body of experts to whom Congress and the executive departments could refer questions relating to the development of the city of Washington and any other subjects in which questions of art are involved.
Mr. McKim died in 1909. His reputation is unsurpassed by that of any other American architect. One of his claims to distinction is based on the fact that he and his firm were the pioneers and have continued the exemplars of a return to classic precedents, which are the American inheritance from Washington and Jefferson. Mr. McKim’s work is to be seen especially in the designs for the Mall, the Monument Gardens, and the setting of the Lincoln Memorial, as well as in the restoration of the White House at the behest of President Roosevelt.
Mr. Burnham was appointed by President Taft the first chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts, and in that capacity served until his death in 1912. He was the architect of the Union Station and the new post office building, and it was his influence that prevailed with President Cassatt to make the sacrifice of the Mall location by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Both before and after his appointment as a member of the Commission of Fine Arts he strove earnestly for the development of the Mall, for the location of the Lincoln Memorial according to the plan of 1901, and for carrying out that plan in the design of the memorial itself.
Mr. Olmsted served for eight years as an active member of the Commission of Fine Arts, aiding effectively not only in the plans for the Mall system but especially in the creation of the Rock Creek Parkway and the Anacostia Water Park. In common with all past members of the Commission he is consulted in regard to any projects of especial significance in the progress of Washington.
Mr. Saint-Gaudens died in 1907, leaving as a special heritage the principles which should govern the treatment of Arlington and other national cemeteries. These principles are being carried out in the creation of the American cemeteries in Europe. Quiet, sim-
PROGRESS IN THE McMILLAN PLAN.
7
plicity, and a sacred feeling are to pervade the places where our dead lie in soil made theirs and ours by sacrifice for the peace of the world.
Senator McMillan died in 1902, but not until he had formulated and carried through the Senate the legislation for the removal of the railways from the Mall and the construction of the Union Station.
AUTHORITY OF THE LENFANT PLAN.
When the Senate Park Commission came to consider the problems that confronted them, they turned first to the L’Enfant plan of 1792. The more they studied that plan the more firmly they became convinced that it was at once the finest and the most comprehensive plan ever devised for a capital city. Other great capitals combine private and public business. London and Paris are great commercial and manufacturing centers; government activities are rather an incident than a dominant feature. Washington, on the contrary, is primarily a seat of government. All other activities are either dependent on Government or are incident to it, and so are properly subordinate to the main purpose. Nothing of a private nature, therefore, should be permitted to stand in the way! of the dominant purpose of the founders, as embodied in the Constitution of the United States, to give Congress exclusive control over the District of Columbia for the purpose of establishing and maintaining throughout that territory the capital of the United States.
The plan of 1901 called for no appropriations. It provided simply that as Congress should see fit to provide for new public buildings and additional parks or parkways or for the improvement of existing public spaces the work should be done in accordance with a well-considered general plan covering the entire District of Columbia. The object was to secure a harmonious and consistent building up of the entire city of Washington, instead of the piecemeal, haphazard and unsatisfactory methods that had theretofore prevailed.
The new plans were not original. Actually and professedly they were an enlargement and extension of the century-old plan prepared by L’Enfant under the immediate direction and supervision of Washington and Jefferson. Such changes were made as were necessary to restore that original plan and to adapt the principles of its design to new and enlarged conditions. It was realized that years, perhaps even a century, would elapse before many of the new features could be carried out.
THE RECORD OF TWENTY YEARS.
It is worth while to review the record of the past 20 years in order to note the progress made, to concentrate attention on projects of immediate concern, and to specify those portions of the plan which
The L’Enfant plan of the Federal city, 1792.
PROGRESS IN THE McMILLAN PLAN.
9
may well be postponed. In making such a survey there is no intention to urge action on the part either of Congress or of officials. As one generation succeeds another it becomes necessary to reiterate the fact that there is a logical, well-considered plan for the continued and continuous development of the entire District of Columbia. The plan provides for such a harmony of parts as shall conduce to convenience in doing public business and to good conditions of living for public servants.
Inasmuch as Washington exists primarily as the seat of government, all else should be subordinated to this main idea. Members of Congress and their families, as well as Government officials generally, must live here during their terms of office. Moreover, the citizens of the country come to the Capital to transact public business. Hence the city must be provided with all those facilities demanded by the civilization of to-day—with libraries, schools, hospitals and asylums, parks, and playgrounds. Public buildings, besides performing the indispensable function of affording places in which to work, should also express the dignity, power, and permanence of the Nation. Here, too, should be erected those national memorials and monuments which not only commemorate great men and events but also teach the history of this country to the successive generations about to take their turn in the administration of government. All these elements have their place in the development of the national capital. All were considered in the L’Enfant plan of 1792, and all have been restudied in the light of the requirements of this present twentieth century.
According to the plan of L’Enfant the city of Washington had two dominant features—the Capitol as the seat of the legislative branch of the Government and the White House as the seat of the executive. From the Capitol and the White House the great avenues radiate, and on them these avenues converge. These tw o foci have two connections—Pennsylvania Avenue as a direct traffic thoroughfare and the Mall as a park connection. The Senate Commission found that during a century Pennsylvania Avenue had gradually been developed according to the original conception but that the Mall had been cut up into pieces, each section being developed separately without reference to other sections, and that continuity which was the basis of the plan of 1792 had been lost. The chief concern of the Commission therefore was to restore the Mall to its intended status and to give to it once more the preeminence destined for it in the original plan of the city.
Two great obstacles stood in the way of such restoration: First, the Botanic Garden had been located in such manner as to cut off access from the Capitol grounds to the Mall; and, secondly, Congress had


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PROGRESS IN THE McMILLAN PLAN.
11
granted authority to railroads to construct tracks across the Mall at about the middle of its length and to build a station in the public grounds. Of these two obstacles the first was subject to the control of Congress and therefore seemed easy of removal. The second, however, involved questions of vested rights, but recently confirmed by Congress in the course of prolonged legislation for the elimination of grade crossings.
THE UNION STATION.
With the purpose of convincing the railroad authorities that their higher duty lay in removing the chief obstacle to the adequate development of the national capital, the Park Commission arranged a meeting with President Cassatt, of the Pennsylvania Railroad, in Europe, whither the Commission had gone to study precedents for the designs of parks and for the treatment of landscape in connection with public buildings.2 They found President Cassatt actuated by the same patriotic motives that had led the members of the Commission to undertake their own task. At the first interview he agreed that, under certain reasonable conditions, he would withdraw tracks and station from the Mall and would build a new union station to accommodate all railroads entering Washington. The station should be so located and of such an architectural character as would further the development of the city. Cheered and encouraged by this assurance of cooperation in a vital matter, the Commission were able to prosecute their work along large and comprehensive lines.
A union station has been constructed in accordance with the Commission plans. To-day it forms the gateway to Washington. In its architecture, in its landscape setting, and in its subordinate but vital relation to the buildings on Capitol Hill the Union Station is unsurpassed among the railroad terminals of the world. If the plan of 1901 had produced only the one result of removing the railroads from the Mall and the creation of the Union Station with its plaza, the Senate Commission would have justified its creation. The Washington station, with its architectural treatment and its setting, has established a precedent that has been followed more or less closely in many cities. The railway station has come to be recognized in this country as a public building—the real gateway to the city.
Impressed by the desirability of making a suitable connection between the Capitol grounds and the Union Station, Congress has purchased 12 squares for that purpose. The legislation was initiated and carried through largely by the efforts of Senator George
2 The European party, made up of Daniel H. Burnham, Charles F. McKim, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Charles Moore visited France, Italy, Austria, Hungary, and England during June and July, 1901.


Transformation of the Botanic Garden area, Union Square.
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Peabody Wetmore, of Rhode Island. Since its purchase 11 years ago,3 the land has been cleared of buildings save in those few instances where the title is not yet perfected in the Government. Inferior service buildings occupy small areas. Temporary buildings to house women employes of the Government (buildings sightly and well designed in themselves but manifestly short-lived) occupy a portion of the space; the remainder is ungraded, unimproved, neglected, and unsightly. The gateway to the Capital leads only to the weed-grown fields.
The Union Station plaza needs a frame and the now neglected space in part may properly be occupied by public buildings designed to form a portion of the group begun by the station and the new post office building. The remainder of the space may well be occupied by gardens as fine and as beautiful as can be devised. Congress should provide for a plan for the development of this entire area, leaving to the future the carrying out of the work. Several years must be occupied with securing the necessary legislation and making and approving the design, so that no considerable appropriation will be possible for several years.
THE CAPITOL GROUP.
Naturally the plan of 1901 began at the Capitol. It was recommended that the chief legislative building of the Nation be surrounded by structures dependent on or supplementary to legislative work. The Library of Congress had been completed in 1897. The enjoyment and satisfaction taken in the Library by the thousands of persons from all parts of the country who visit it daily is an indication of the manner in which the American people regard the upbuilding of their Capital. Since the Library Building was designed we have learned lessons of subordination in grouping (as shown in the Senate and House Office Buildings and in the Union Station), and also of restraint in decoration; but the Library contains individual work of the leading painters and sculptors of its era. Moreover, during the past 20 years the Library itself has been developed from a collection of books for the use of Congress to a truly national library, the direct influence of which is felt in every public library in this country. Its collections attract and minister to scholars, and the sight-seeing visitor finds it one of the sights of the Capital.
The idea of office buildings for the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives was in the air when the plan was being made, and therefore the areas these buildings would naturally come to occupy were marked. The two buildings have been designed and constructed in such manner as to make them an integral part of the
Act approved June 25, 1910.
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Capitol group. Simple, elegant, dignified, the Senate and House Office Buildings carry on the great tradition established by Washington and Jefferson in the selection of the Thornton design for original building, and persistently maintained by President Fillmore in the extension of the Capitol by Thomas U. Walter.
By common consent the remaining vacant space facing the Capitol on the east has been assigned to a building for the Supreme Court of the United States, a coordinate branch of the Government, but, since the removal of the seat of government to the District of Columbia in 1800, occupying the same building with the Congress. A separate building for the Supreme Court is one of the projects to be left to the time when the increasing demands of Congress for space in the Capitol shall make the removal of the court imperative. Occupiers of land to be taken, however, should face the probability that sooner or later their holdings will be required for Government purposes.
On the south below the House Office Building the frontage is occupied by nondescript buildings, by a gravestone factory, and by billboards, all undignified and unsightly. The obvious use of this land is building sites and House gardens to balance those to be put into the area on the north. This also is a project for the future.
THE HEAD OF THE MALL.
The area directly west of the Capitol grounds was marked on the L’Enfant map as an open plaza, affording an approach to that building similar to the one on the east. Owing to the slow development of Washington the west front underwent various vicissitudes. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad tracks once were located about on a line with the Peace and Garfield monuments. The Botanic Garden area was reclaimed from an alder swamp, and the James Creek Canal wound its slow length through it. A quarter of a century ago the House passed a bill for the removal of the Botanic Garden fence, with the view of giving public access to that park in the same manner that other parks are open.
The plan of 1901 aims to restore this area to its intended uses as a broad thoroughfare so enriched with parterres of green as to form an organic connection between the Capitol grounds and the Mall. At present it is necessary to go around this obstruction to get from the drives on the Senate and House sides of the Capitol into the Mall drives. Anticipating the improvement of this square as outlined in the plan, Congress located therein the memorial to General Grant, the base of which was designed to be used as a reviewing stand, and later a site in the same area was fixed for the monument to General Meade. The Grant Memorial is now finished with the exception of
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two panels for the sides of the pedestal, the absence of which need not delay the dedication. The Meade monument is about ready for its foundations, which are to be laid in the near future. Congress has repeatedly legislated for the removal, in whole or in part, of the fence, but has failed to provide a place on which the greenhouses and superintendent’s cottage may be reerected. Until a definite plan shall be adopted and carried out, the development of this part of the Mall
The Grant Memorial.
system is checked and the monuments to Grant and Meade have no proper or adequate settings.
The present Botanic Garden is used to supply to members of Congress cuttings of shrubs and plants for distribution among their constituents, and flowers for their own use. Both of these purposes can be subserved and enlarged by removing the present greenhouses to the area once occupied by the James Creek Canal and now filled in and left in an unimproved condition, a location in close proximity to the space occupied by those portions of the Botanic Garden outside of the Mall area. When the project for Congress Gardens north and south of the Capitol grounds shall be carried out, the green
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houses so provided for can be utilized for propagating the required plants and shrubs. Moreover, the improvement of the James Creek Canal spaces would work a much-needed change in a tract of land sadly in need of development and would result in an agreeable park connection between the Capitol grounds and the grounds of the Army War College.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MALL.
That section of the Mall between Third and Four-and-a-half Streets has been laid out and planted with elms in accordance with the plan of 1901, and Congress has provided for putting in the roadways. The temporary war buildings in the Mall were so located that upon removal the roadways will be in accordance with the Mall plan, and as fast as the buildings are razed the planting of trees can be made. The space between Four-and-a-half and Sixth Streets will be so improved and restored during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1921.
Congress has authorized the occupation of the north side of the Mall between Sixth and Seventh Streets (the former site of the Pennsylvania station) by the George Washington Memorial, a building to be occupied by a large auditorium and several smaller halls. Plans for such a building were prepared and were approved by the Commission of Fine Arts. Auditoriums, both large and small, designed for the uses of conventions, inaugural exercises, and meetings of patriotic societies are among the prime necessities of Washington. Such gathering places would meet governmental needs and others semipublic, but no less advantageous to the growth of American feeling. It is unfortunate that in the endeavor to raise money for construction the proposition has been put forth and subscriptions have been asked on the basis of converting the building into a memorial of the Great War. When Congress shall determine to erect a war memorial, the project should be executed by a commission created by that body and responsible to it. The Nation’s memorial should not be erected by private individuals. Meantime a convention hall should be constructed to serve actual needs.
The space between Seventh and Ninth (extended) Streets, now occupied by temporary buildings, is reserved for the site of a building to hold the National Gallery of Art, under the control of the Smithsonian Institution. Until such time as Congress shall provide for a building to house the really fine collections of works of art that have been given to the Nation, this space, when freed from the temporary buildings, will maintain its place as a portion of the Mall. The planting and roadways continuous with those already in place can then be put in.
Plan for public buildings and the Mall.
66941°—21. (To face page 16.)
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The new National Museum building was the first structure to be located and erected according to the plan of 1901, having been aligned in conformity to the new Mall axis. On the south side of the Mall the new Freer Gallery also conforms to the revised axis. This gallery is a constituent portion of the National Gallery of Art. It represents the largest gift ever made by an individual to the Government. Although comparatively small in extent, both the building
The Mall from the Washington Monument, showing present conditions.
itself and the collections now being arranged within it represent the very highest standards of art. Moreover, the Freer Gallery is a type of the small, adequately housed, and well-endowed galleries which doubtless will be established from time to time by private individuals and given to the nation to be administered by the Smithsonian Institution for the instruction and gratification of the taste of the people.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The section of the Mall between Twelfth and Fourteenth Streets is occupied by the Department of Agriculture. The location of the two
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wings of the building designed to accommodate the administrative offices of the department precipitated a contest on the result of which depended the fate of the plan of 1901. It was due to the firm stand taken by President Roosevelt and Secretary of War Taft that the location was made in accordance with the plan. That crisis having been met with satisfactory results, the future of the Mall scheme was assured, and now it is only a question of time when the plan of Washington and Jefferson for a park connection between the Capitol and the White House will become an established fact.
When Congress shall provide for the completion of the Agricultural Department building the materials from the excavation will be available to grade the northern portion of the area, so that roads and planting can be put in throughout the entire square.
The Mall; from the air.
With the settlement of the location of the Agricultural Department buildings the path was virtually cleared for the development of the Mall according to the ideal arrangement, time alone being necessary to bring about the changes indicated. The plan contemplates first an expanse of undulating green park, a mile and a half in length and 300 feet wide, extending from the Capitol to the Monument. This central green space is bordered by park roads, flanked by four rows of American elms, under the shade of which are walks and resting places. Back of these rows of trees are other roads furnishing access to public buildings like the National Museum, the Agricultural Building, and the Freer Gallery, which have been located according to the plan. The driveways form an uninterrupted park connection between the Capitol group and the White House group.
RESTORING THE MALL AXIS.
According to the L’Enfant plan the monument to George Washington was to be located at the point where a line drawn due west
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from the center of the Capitol would intersect a line drawn due south from the center of the White House. On these axial relations the Mall composition depended for its effect. The builders of the Washington Monument, despairing of securing adequate foundations in the lowlands at the intersection of the main and the cross axis, located the Monument without regard to points fixed in the plan. Feeling the absolute necessity of restoring these relationships, the Park Commission boldly determined to create a new main axis by drawing a line from the Capitol dome through the Washington Monument and prolonging it to the shore of the Potomac, where they
Potomac Park, October, 1921 ; from the air.
proposed, on the then unimproved lands dredged from the river to form Potomac Park, a sate for a new memorial. Here they placed the long-contemplated memorial to Abraham Lincoln. This they did with full comprehension of the fact that by common consent Lincoln is the one man in the history of this Nation worthy to stand with Washington in the great central composition.
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL.
While this location commended itself to men like Theodore Roosevelt, John Hay, Elihu Root, and William II. Taft, it was opposed by many others who had regard to the immediate future and who did not consider either the historical significance of the situation or the prospective development of Potomac Park, then far from the more populous parts of the city and thus seemingly isolated and
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remote. The struggle over this location, and indeed over any memorial of an ideal character, was long and bitter. Nor was it ended during the lifetime of Mr. McKim and Mr. Saint-Gaudens. Happily, however, the result was determined in accordance with the Commission plan; and to-day no other site seems possible. This was a distinct victory for the plan, virtually insuring the realization of the large scheme as laid out in 1901.
It is both interesting and instructive to note that the chief objection raised to the present location of the Lincoln Memorial was that the flats were so remote and so malarial that “ the building would shake itself down with loneliness and ague.” Yet by the time the memorial was begun the new driveways around the site had made
The Lincoln Memorial as completed.
the location so popular that the object now is to secure by proper planting a needed degree of isolation.
The lesson is that no space within the District of Columbia is now so remote as to be beyond the reach of the people, provided only that means of access are provided. This is the argument for the harmonious development of every portion of the District.
“From the Monument garden westward,” wrote the Park Commission, “ a canal 3,600 feet long and 200 feet wide, with central arms and bordered by stretches of green walled with trees, leads to a concourse raised to the height of the Monument platform. Seen from the Monument this canal, similar in character to the canals at Versailles and Fontainebleau in France and Hampton Court in England, introduces into the formal landscape an element of repose and great beauty. At the head of the canal a great rond-point, placed on the main axis of the Capitol and the Monument, becomes a gate of approach to the park system of the District of Columbia. Cen
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tering upon it as a great point of reunion are the drives leading southeast to Potomac Park and northwest by the Riverside Drive to the Rock Creek system of parks. From this elevation of 40 feet the Memorial Bridge leads across the Potomac directly to the base of the hill crowned by the mansion house of Arlington.
“ Crowning the rond-point, as the Arc de Triomphe crowns the Place de 1’Etoile at Paris, should stand a memorial erected to the memory of that one man in our history as a nation who is worthy to stand with George Washington—Abraham Lincoln. Whatever may be the exact form selected for the memorial to Lincoln, in form
Potomac Park, showing obtrusive temporary war buildings.
it should possess the quality of universality, and also it should have a character essentially distinct from that of any other monument either now existing in the District or hereafter to be erected. The type which the Commission has in mind is a great portico of Doric columns rising from an unbroken stylobate.”
The foregoing recommendations were among the fundamentals of the plan of 1901. Ten years were required to embody them in legislation. To-day the Lincoln Memorial itself is completed along the general lines suggested. The canal is nearing completion. The land for Riverside Drive and the connection with Rock Creek Park is being purchased, and about 75 per cent of it is now owned by the Government. Plans for the Memorial Bridge have been authorized.
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REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
THE MEMORIAL BRIDGE.
Daniel Webster says that Andrew Jackson proposed to span the Potomac with “ arches of ever-enduring granite, symbolical of the firmly established union of the North and the South.” In Webster’s day the wooden structure known as Long Bridge was the main passage across the river, and so it continued until after the plan of 1901 was published. It was used by both railroads and vehicles, and for years the decrepit structure was kept from being carried down stream by piles of stone dumped into the river from time to time until they came to form a dam. In 1889 the ice gorge thus created put the Mall under several feet of water, from which the Peace Monument arose like a beacon.
The McMillan Act for the elimination of grade crossings in the District of Columbia provided for the construction of two bridges.
Elan of Potomac Park, showing interference of temporary war buildings.
one for steam railroads and the other for vehicles. The railroads were facing the expenditure of ten millions—a large sum in those days—and the District was piling up deficits instead of being the opulent partner it has now become. Hence the two brutal bridges. The Highway Bridge connects Potomac Park with a little race track, with marshes lately used as the city dump, and with Agricultural Department barns, so designed and constructed as to thrust their ugliness upon one’s attention with all the insistence of a spoiled child at table. Through this variegated area a narrow, tortuous, dangerous road winds its uncertain way to Arlington National Cemetery. The bodies of the Nation’s dead take this path to their last resting place. Over the same road distinguished visitors from other nations carry wreaths to place upon our national shrine at Mount Vernon.
The bridge now being constructed between Georgetown and Rosslyn will relieve traffic on the Highway Bridge: but both bridges
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will be primarily utilitarian as to both traffic and design. Meantime Andrew Jackson’s idea of a memorial bridge has not died. Thirty-five years ago the report called for a bridge to cost $650,000; in five years the project grew to a viaduct a mile in length, to cost three and a half millions. In 1900 a competition resulted in plans for a bridge to cost five millions. None of these ambitious projects got beyond the report stage.
The plan of 1901 came to change the entire conception of the Memorial Bridge. Instead of a long, high, elaborate, ornate, and even grandiose structure, the plan calls for a simple, broad, low bridge beginning at the Lincoln Memorial and crossing to Analostan Island, where a concourse suited to memorial treatment is to be created.
By dredging, a large area of land adjacent to the Arlington Farms has been created. This -area should be developed as part of the park system of the District. The private ownership in Analostan Island should be determined and purchased. Such ownership is a threat and a menace. A proposition before the District Commissioners is to place on Analostan Island a gas holder 212 feet in height when inflated. The gas holder is the most brutally ugly structure devised by man. It is more blatant than a power house, a water tank, or an ill-designed and smoking chimney.
Congress has authorized the expenditure of $25,000 to secure plans for a memorial bridge, and some day the project will be realized. Its realization should carry along with it the cleaning up of all the approaches to Arlington and Fort Myer and the addition to the park system of the reclaimed areas adjacent to the Virginia shore of the Potomac.
THE MONUMENT GARDENS.
The two ends of the main axis—the Mall and the setting for the Lincoln Memorial—are well along in process of development according to the plan of 1901. The central feature, known as the Washington Monument Gardens, has not been even approached, nor is it likely to be undertaken for some years to come—probably not until the high development of the two parts when finished shall force the adequate and harmonious development of the spaces about the Washington Monument. When this time arrives, the plan for the center will be found complete and of a character to give the requisite finishing touch to a composition that, once worked out, will be as fine and as noble as any composition ever designed during all the ages.
In the plan the rows of elms bordering the central open vista from Capitol to Monument “ climb the slope up to the Monument and, spreading to right and left on extended terraces, form a great body of green, strengthening the broad platform from which the obelisk
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rises in majestic serenity. The groves on the terraces become places of rest from which one gets wide views of the busy city; of the White House, surrounded by its ample grounds; of the Capitol, crowning the heights at the end of the broad vista; of sunny stretches of river winding at the foot of the Virginia hills.
“Axial relation between the White House and the Monument are created by the construction of a sunken garden on the western side of the great shaft, the true line passing through the center of a great round pool, to which marble steps 300 feet in width lead down 40 feet from the Monument platform. Surrounded by terraces bearing-elms, laid out with formal paths lined by hedges and adorned with small trees, enriched by fountains and templelike structures, this garden becomes the gem of the Mall system. Seen from the lower level the Monument gains an additional height of nearly 45 feet, while at the same time nothing is suffered to come so near as to disturb the isolation which the Monument demands.
“At present the immediate surroundings of the Monument are so inadequate as to cause the beholder near at hand to lose that very sense of grandeur which it inspires when seen from a distance; and the lack of harmonious relationship between it and the great structures with which it comes into juxtaposition disturbs one’s sense of fitness. No portion of the task set before the Commission has required more study and extended consideration than has the solution of the problem of devising an appropriate setting for the Monument; and the treatment here proposed is the one which seems best adapted to enhance the value of the Monument itself. Taken by itself, the Washington Monument stands not only as one of the most stupendous works of man but also as one of the most beautiful of human creations. Indeed, it is at once so great and so simple that it seems to be almost a work of nature. Dominating the entire District of Columbia, it has taken its place with the Capitol and the White House as one of the three foremost national structures.”
THE CROSS AXIS.
The report of 1901 says: “ Taking the Monument Gardens as a center, one looks northward over the White Lot, which is retained as the great drill grounds of the District. On the east and on the west, along Fifteenth and Seventeenth Streets, walks shaded by four rows of lindens tempt one from the hot and busy streets of the city to the cool and quiet of the gardens or to the field of sports beyond.”
The White Lot has become more and more the center of drills, parades, and concerts. The planting along Seventeenth Street has been completed, using the elm rather than the linden. In order to give this space its intended character small shrubs and alien trees
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of no value should be removed. It is proposed to locate south of the State, War, and Navy Building a memorial to be erected by the First Division in the Great War, and the construction of this monument will require the clearing up of the space. The corresponding area along Fifteenth Street will yield readily to similar treatment.
The line of semipublic buildings along Seventeenth Street has been completed by the erection of the Bureau of American Republics, with its beautiful gardens, and by the building of the American Red Cross. The corresponding area along Fifteenth Street has been purchased by the Government for departmental buildings instead of for the Armory, as contemplated. The clearing of this space from unsightly buildings and the erection of structure for Government uses awaits the adoption by Congress of a building program.
National Academy of Sciences ; designed by Bertram G. Goodhue.
The completion of the Lincoln Memorial calls for the continuation along B Street of semipublic buildings architecturally in harmony with the Memorial, which shall serve as a frame for that structure. One such building has been provided in the headquarters of the National Academy of Sciences, designed by Bertram G. Goodhue, to occupy the square between Twenty-first and Twenty-second Streets.
The temporary war buildings used by the Navy Department and the Munitions Division of the War Department may be used for a time in order to house Government workers until new and appropriate buildings can be constructed elsewhere. These temporary buildings are so factorylike in design and they so invade, encroach upon, and disfigure Potomac Park that the American people will not suffer them permanently to overawe and dwarf one of their greatest memorials. Sooner or later the Lincoln Memorial will
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drive the intrusive structures to destruction. They represent to-day one of the hideous consequences of the Great War. No memorial of that war in Washington should be undertaken or even considered while these buildings remain.
THE WASHINGTON COMMON.
In the plan of 1901 the space south of the Monument was to be devoted to the people as a place of recreation, with a great stadium for athletic contests, a swimming pool, and fields for sports. The development of East Potomac Park as a place of sports has modified the plan in some particulars, and the change is an improvement,
Plan of East Potomac Park, showing also proposed development of Water Street.
both because of the greater area and also because of the more diversified treatment. East Potomac Park now has public golf links; the encircling drives are lined by beds of flowers and by rows of Japanese cherry trees. A canal joining the Potomac and the Washington Channel is under construction, and places for a stadium for the Army and Navy games and other contests, and numerous tennis and baseball grounds are marked out. In Washington, the report says, “ the positive dearth of means of innocent enjoyment for one’s leisure hours is remarkable.” Much has been done during 20 years to work a change in this respect, but in the matter of out-of-door life this city still lags far behind Paris.
SITE FOR A FUTURE GREAT MEMORIAL.
When the Mall and Potomac Park shall have been developed, and when the demand for a site for a memorial of high significance shall
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manifest itself the Washington Monument grounds and the space to the south will receive attention. This latter area is the one remaining site for treatment in accord with the other elements in the central composition—-the Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial. Whether the memorial shall be raised to the makers of the Constitution or to the heroes of the Great War or shall be some other monument of high significance time will determine. When the demand arises the site will be waiting.
The project of placing a power house in immediate proximity to the Monument, where it would exercise the dominance of ugliness over East Potomac Park, met with such unqualified disapproval on the part of the people of the United States that the scheme was abandoned. There is need, however, for such central service, and when the demand again presses it is to be hoped that the project can be taken up anew and a location found that will serve the intended purpose without doing violence to Monument or park.
THE EXECUTIVE GROUP.
The plan of 1901 suggests that buildings of the executive departments be located to face Lafayette Square, so as to bring them into proximity to the White House. In locating the new buildings for the Departments of Justice, Commerce, and Labor, and State, Congress purchased the blocks between Fourteenth and Fifteenth Streets, south of Pennsylvania Avenue, as sites for these buildings. Lack of room in this area forced the State Department site south into the Monument grounds. The plan of 1901 carried Fifteenth Street through the Mall and provided a building site in the Mall. The plan also involves public buildings along Fifteenth Street, facing the White Lot. There is no marked divergence from the plan in so locating the departmental buildings named. Plans for the buildings have been prepared and accepted; but matters were arrested at that point.
In 1920 a bill was introduced in the Senate to purchase as a site for the State Department the entire block between Lafayette Square and Seventeenth Street. This bill had the approval of the President and the Secretary of State. Considering the combined business and social uses for which the State Department building was designed, the Lafayette Square site is the logical location. The Government already owns a portion of the square. The character of the occupancy has steadily declined during the past decades, so that there are now but one or two houses of consideration where 20 years ago the square was one of the city’s social centers.
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The Treasury Annex, constructed in harmony with the Treasury Building, forms a constituent portion of the group to frame Lafayette Square. The plans already developed contemplate extending the annex to H Street, the present building being one-third of the complete structure.
In the hurry of war needs the plans for a hotel at the northwest corner of Vermont Avenue and H Street were used for a building to house the War Risk Insurance activities. The building in its design
The Dupont Fountain ; designed by Daniel C. French and Henry Bacon.
and its height is a serious departure from the plan of 1901, and for an indefinite time the only purpose it can serve the cause of good planning is that of a terrible warning.
The Chamber of Commerce of the United States will construct, at Connecticut Avenue and H Street, a building of proper character, akin in design to the Treasury Annex.
There is no element of more vital moment to the effectiveness of the development of Washington than that of proper Government buildings to complete the White House group. This matter should have first consideration in the building program about to be formulated and undertaken.
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THE NEED OF FOUNTAINS.
The report of 1901 laid particular stress upon the need in the District of Columbia for the abundant use of water in fountains, both as an ornament to the city and as a means of mitigating the intense heats of summer. The McMillan fountain, one of the beautiful fountains of this country, is the chief feature of McMillan Park, so named in honor of the Senator to whom so many improvements in the District of Columbia are due. A fountain of exquisite design has replaced the statue of Admiral Dupont in Dupont Circle, and three fountains in the Union Station Plaza represent the additions since 1901 to the city fountains. Meanwhile the water supply, inadequate 20 years ago, is now so limited as to preclude the playing of the fountains during periods when they are most needed. Washington fountains are dry fountains. The McMillan fountain is designed to use water on its way from the reservoir to the filter beds; the Dupont fountain is supplied by an electric pump which pumps the same water over and over again; but Congress has not made the appropriation necessary to supply the current, and the fountain remains dry. The Plaza fountains also are supplied by electric pumps. It is to be hoped that in the increase in the water supply recently provided for by Congress, a sufficient quantity of water may be available to utilize these sources of health and enjoyment. In Rome, the Eternal City, the jets of water in the fountains are eternal. In Washington when fountains are added to trees the two great elements of beauty will be supplied.
CLEANING UP PENN SYLVANIA AVENUE.
The McMillan Report advises the purchase of the squares south of Pennsylvania Avenue between that thoroughfare and the Mall. Congress made a start on such purchases by taking the blocks bounded by Pennsylvania Avenue, Fifteenth, B, and Fourteenth Streets for the Department of Justice, the then Department of Commerce and Labor, and the Department of State. Plans for these buildings were secured by competition, were submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts and approved, but a change of administration intervened to prevent the project from being carried out. No further action has been taken, and the frontage on Pennsylvania Avenue near the Capitol has steadily deteriorated until to-day it is admittedly a disgrace to the Capital. Rooming houses, laundries, the cheapest class of hotels, and junk shops line the chief thoroughfare.
Meantime a building designed for the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines has been constructed on the block facing Rawlins Square, a site purchased for an archives building. The upper floor is occupied as the Interior Department, and the old Interior Depart
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ment building on F Street, one of the finest public buildings ever erected by the Government, has been turned over to the uses of the Patent Office, and has been outgrown by that office.
In 1916 Congress created a Public Buildings Commission to investigate and report a plan for the location of buildings needed for Government uses. This report (published as S. Doc. No. 155, 65th Cong., 2d. sess.) follows substantially the plan of 1901. The modifications have been such as changed conditions call for. The legis-lation provided that the Public Buildings Commission should have the advice of the Commission of Fine Arts, and in a report which forms a portion of the public buildings report, the findings of the Public Buildings Commission were approved and emphasized by the Commission of Fine Arts. This report will be the basis for Government action as Congress shall from time to time provide for new Government buildings.
Plan of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway.
ROCK CREEK AND POTOMAC PARKWAY.
A parkway connecting Potomac and Rock Creek Parks, recognized as desirable by Congress so far back as 1893 and favored by the Washington Board of Trade in 1889, was studied by the Senate Park Commission, which reported in favor of the open treatment of the valley of Rock Creek, the regrading of the banks, and the construction of roads and paths within the park thus formed. A constant agitation was maintained by local associations. Senators Wetmore and Root took up the matter and secured the necessary legislation.4 The task of acquiring the necessary lands, begun in 1915, has been carried on steadily as appropriations by Congress became available, until now about 75 per cent of the lands necessary has been purchased.
At the time of the report it was thought necessary to carry the portion west of the Lincoln Memorial and along the Potomac on an elevated structure, so as to avoid the commerce on the water front.
4 See Senate Miscellaneous Document 21, Fifty-second Congress, second session ; also Park Improvement Papers, No. 7 ; and Senate Report No. 166, Fifty-seventh Congress, first session, pp. 83 and 137.
PROGRESS IN THE McMILLAN PLAN.
31
The diminution of water-borne freight and a partial transfer of commerce to the mouth of the Anacostia has made possible a connection at grade. The remaining obstacle is the, Chesapeake and Potomac Canal Co. rights, which are in such a complicated and indefinite condition that probably a suit at law will be required to determine them and to secure the necessary penetration.
When the lands shall be secured, the plan for the open treatment of the parkway can be carried out expeditiously. Thus the park areas will be consolidated and their availability increased many fold. At present pleasure traffic circles about the Lincoln Memorial and returns to the city through the narrow throat of Seventeenth Street. The paving of New Hampshire Avenue to the river should be supplemented speedily by the improvement of the short connection between that avenue and Potomac Park. Thus a needed entrance to and exit from Potomac Park will be made available.
THE ANACOSTIA WATER PARK.
“ The present outrageous condition of the Anacostia River,” says the report of 1901, “ has been so fully discussed before Congress in various reports during several years that there is no occasion for us to describe it in detail again. Suffice it to say that within the District of Columbia the Anacostia is a fresh-water estuary with a normal tide of about three feet, which alternately covers and exposes to the sun a great area of mud flats upon which aquatic plants constantly entangle deposits of mud, slime, and putrifying organic matter. * * * No conditions could be more favorable to the development of malaria, and because of these conditions the disease has made constant havoc with the inmates of the Government Hospital for the Insane, the jail, the workhouse, and the persons at the Navy Yard, and at the Washington Barracks. * * *
“The pressing sanitary problem is simply to do away with the low, amphibious areas that are alternately flooded and exposed and convert them into either deep water or dry land; but incidentally
32 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
the improvements may be made to provide commercial water frontage, while a part of the reclaimed lands may be used as a park. Plans and estimates for the improvement of the river with a view to commercial occupancy below Bennings Bridge were submitted to Congress by Col. Allen in 1898. For the portion above Bennings Bridge, the time and appropriation did not suffice for complete surveys and estimates. * * * ”
The report proposed a great lake surrounded by natural meadows and groves that need only to be cultivated and protected from inundation to become a charming park. The lake would provide opportunities for boating, and the meadows, besides their landscape beauty, would provide the best of playing fields. The total area of the proposed park was 1,143 acres, of which 535 would be water.
At the instance of Senator McMillan, items were inserted in the rivers and harbors bills for the beginning of the work of reclamation at the mouth of the Anacostia; and as a result the Army is using for flying purposes a great area known as Bolling Field. In 1917 the projects for the treatment of upper portions of the Anacostia were worked out by the Army engineers and the Commission of Fine Arts and the portion below Bennings Bridge is well advanced. For the present Congress has halted the work at Bennings Bridge. For the upper area the Commission of Fine Arts has offered a new solution in connection with a National Botanic Garden.
THE NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN.
The report of 1901 called attention to the advantages to botanical science, to horticulture, to forestry, and to landscape architecture of a great, systematic collection of living plants, such as have been brought together by the Governments of England, France, Holland, Germany, and Russia, and in our own country in the Arnold Arboretum at Boston, the Shaw Botanical Garden at St. Louis, and the New York Botanical Garden. The report also recommended the taking for park purposes of Mount Hamilton, one of the highest hills between the Anacostia and Rock Creek. Mount Hamilton rises above the general level as a steep, isolated summit, reaching an elevation of 225 feet, at a point just east of the Bladensburg Road and adjoining the Anacostia flats, over which it commands extensive prospects. In other directions also the views are remarkably good, especially across the city in the direction of the Capitol, to which it is nearer than any other hill of such considerable height.
It was Col. W. W. Harts, then officer in charge of public buildings and grounds, who first called attention to the desirability of securing Mount Hamilton as the site of a National Botanic Garden. A survey of the various sites suited to such a garden was made by
PROGRESS IN THE McMILLAN PLAN.
33
the Commission of Fine Arts, at the behest of the House Committee on the Library, and the experts of the Department of Agriculture, after careful examination of several different sites, pronounced Mount Hamilton the one most available from the standpoint of variety of soils required for botanical purposes. It was further developed that by the purchase of about 367 acres included in the Mount Hamilton tract, a further 433 acres in the valley of the Anacostia would be made available. Then the idea occurred that by a
I’lan of the proposed National Botanic Garden.
change in the plans for the upper Anacostia and the inclusion of that area in a botanic garden a saving of costs sufficient to provide for the purchase of Mount Hamilton could be made.
The park features were not lost sight of. As the Arnold Arboretum is a portion of the park system of the city of Boston, so the Mount Hamilton-Anacostia region could be made a park entrance to the city of Washington by diverting through it the pleasure traffic to and from Baltimore.
At the request of the House Committee on the Library the Commission of Fine Arts, after a careful investigation of the situation.
34
REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
made a report in which it favored the removal of the plants, shrubs, greenhouses, and other buildings of the present Botanic Garden to the vacant James Creek Canal spaces near by and the creation of an adequate botanic garden in the Anacostia Park and on the adjacent highlands known as Mount Hamilton. This written report was supplemented at a hearing held by the Joint Committee on the Library on May 21, 1920, at which leading managers of botanic gardens in the United States and the chiefs of divisions of the Department of Agriculture testified as to the need for the estab-
The Monument from Mount Hamilton.
lishment of a national botanic garden and the suitability of Mount Hamilton for that purpose. On both points the testimony was clear and distinct, being unanimous in favor of both the project and the location.
Subsequently bills were introduced to carry out the recommendations of the Commission—in the Senate by Senator Brandegee, chairman of the Joint Committee on the Library (S. 1560), and in the House by Mr. Cooper, of Wisconsin (H. R. 6683). Both bills are now pending before the respective committees on the Library. Inasmuch as the proposed site adjoins the lands embraced in the Anacostia Park project, the bills simply extend the taking line of the land included in that project so as to include the Mount Hamilton tract. By this means the machinery of purchase or condemnation now in operation can be utilized to carry out the enlarged plan.
PROGRESS IN THE McMILLAN PLAN.
35
The project is fully set forth in hearings before the Joint Committee on the Library.5 The leading societies and associations interested in a national botanic garden have considered the revised project and have unanimously recommended its adoption by Congress.6
THE MOUNT VERNON ROAD.
“The great desirability of connecting Mount Vernon with the Capital by an agreeable and dignified approach was recognized by Congress in 1889,” says the Senate Report. “ Not only is such a boule-
The Capitol from Mount Hamilton.
vard desirable on account of the historic associations of Mount Vernon, but also the driveway itself would present such a series of beautiful views of broad portions of the Potomac valley as would give it a priceless recreative value for the future population of the
5 Hearings before the Joint Committee on the Library, Friday, May 21, 1920.
6 The organizations thus far favoring the plan are: Smithsonian Institution, New York Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Missouri Botanic Garden, Arnold Arboretum, Department of Agriculture, Association of Agricultural Experiment Stations, American Pharmaceutical Association, American Society of Landscape Architects, American Association of Nurserymen, American Superintendent of Parks Association, American Civic Association, American Rose Growers Association, Ornamental Growers Association, National Association of Gardeners, American Bornological Society, The Audubon Society, American Federation of Arts, Society of American Foresters, Garden Clubs of America, The Carnegie Institution, Wild Flower Preservation Society of Washington, Botanical Society of Washington, American Forestry Association, American Institute of Architects, the National Geographic Society, the Botanical Society of America, American Phyto-pathological Society, the Ecological Society of America, the American Association for the Advance of Science, Washington Academy of Sciences.
36 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
District in addition to its sentimental value as linking the Nation’s capital with the home of its founder.”
The desirability of a boulevard to Mount Vernon has become greater with the growth of sentiment among the American people, while the necessity of an adequate road has been emphasized by the development of Belvoir, the former seat of Lord Fairfax, into Camp Humphreys as the training station of the Corps of Engineers. It is greatly to be regretted that the occasion of the construction of a durable roadway to Camp Humphreys was not taken advantage of to force the dedication of lands sufficient to create such a boulevard. This project should be taken up and pushed to completion.
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ROCK CREEK AND ANACOSTIA PARKS.
The need of parkways across the city on the north, so as to connect the two great parks of Washington, were carefully studied and mapped in the report of the Senate Park Commission. Owing to the fact that this portion of the report was neglected by the citizens in the regions to be traversed, the rapid growth of building has made impossible several of the parkways proposed.
The old city of Washington was well provided with small parks; but when the streets were extended and the area beyond Florida Avenue was platted, the matter of public squares and small parks was neglected. These necessary spaces must be acquired, and every year of delay increases both expense and difficulty of obtaining the necessary land. This means securing for public use the Patterson and Dean tracts, the development of the Fort Drive, and the development of the Klingle Valley Parkway from Fourteenth Street to the District line.
Some others, however, are still possible, and on these attention is now being focused. Among these is the chain of forts which were used as defenses of the city of Washington during the War of Secession. The views from these points, as the report points out, are impressive in proportion to their commanding military positions, and they are well worth acquirement as future local parks, in addition to any claim their historical and military interest may afford. The movement now in progress to secure the Fort Drive should be pushed vigorously to its realization.
THE PALISADES OF THE POTOMAC.
The desirability of widening the Conduit Road from Georgetown to Great Falls and securing the control of the Potomac banks was dwelt upon in the Report of 1901. This project depended more or less on the necessity, even then apparent, of increasing the Washington water supply. That necessity has now become so acute that
GG9410—21.	(To face page 37.)
The District of Columbia, showing proposed outer-parks system.
PROGRESS IN THE McMILLAN PLAN.	37
Congress has been forced to act. In the work of increasing the water supply the park features should not be lost sight of. An area on both sides of the river at Great Falls necessary to protect the Government works should be secured and become a portion of the park system. The roads leading thereto on both sides of the Potomac from Great Falls to Georgetown and Rosslyn should be boulevarded. The Conduit Road, now much used, but narrow, dangerous, and ill kept, should be turned into a well-ordered and well-policed pleasure drive.
CONCLUSION.
In comparing the projects for the improvement of the park system of the District of Golumbia as presented in the report of the Senate Park Commission with the actual accomplishment during two decades one must be struck with the largeness of the actual accomplishment. Professedly that report outlined development to cover an indefinite period of years; and even the most optimistic of its authors could not have anticipated the actual strides toward accomplishment that 20 years would bring about. It is a tribute to the inherent worth of the plan that, while so little has been done contrary to it, so much has been achieved in accordance with it. It is doubly fortunate, also, that the great features of the plan, its general outlines, its fundamental principles as to the disposition of public monuments and buildings and parks and parkways, have been adopted and are the controlling motives for future work. This is due largely to the fact that the plan of 1901 was based on the L’Enfant plan of 1792, the authority of which plan needed only to be asserted to be recognized. It is no disparagement, but is rather a tribute, to the authors of the plan of 1901 that they recognized the excellence of the work done in the beginning and set themselves to the task of carrying on what had been so well begun.
This is a restless era. All sorts of suggestions are being made for improvements and changes. Manjr of these new projects are based on the desire of individuals to exploit themselves. Others are due to ignorance of the existing plan and the progress of the work being done in accordance with it, or to impatience at delays in accomplishing results. The Commission of Fine Arts are not concerned with the rate of progress: they are vitally concerned that the progress shall be always toward the goal set in 1792 and again in 1901. It is a matter of satisfaction to them that both Congress and the executive departments are giving an increasingly strong support to the plans, as the understanding of what they mean and whither they tend become apparent in the unfolding of the designs. Every year sees progress toward the ideal of the American people—that 66941 °—21------4
38 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
Washington, shall be unsurpassed among the great capitals of the world.
The lesson is one for the future. No living person can foresee or even imagine the future of the United States in wealth and power. The utmost one can do is to build as wisely and as adequately as his limited vision will permit. No plan is final in so far as comprehensiveness is concerned. No plan will be large enough for the future. The spirit that should animate every person who has to do with the development of Washington should be one of modesty as to his achievements, and of optimism as to the future. He should understand that in his day and generation he is building according to his lights and should seek to understand what has been done in the past as the sure foundation for his work of to-day and also as his justification for so ordering affairs that what he does now shall be worthy to have its place in the progressive development of his nation’s capital city.
Village scene in France.
III.
AMERICAN CEMETERIES IN EUROPE.
DURING the autumn of 1919 the Quartermaster General of the Army asked the advice of the Commission of Fine Arts concerning the care of the American dead of the World War. Atj, the time of the signing of the armistice there were 2,400 places where Americans were buried in France, Belgium, and England; this number was reduced to about 1,700 places in the course of the year. Further concentration was deemed advisable, and it became necessary to provide for the development of the permanent cemeteries.
In March, 1921, at the request of the Secretary of War, three members of the Commission of Fine Arts, Mr. Moore, Mr. Wm. Mitchell Kendall, and Mr. Greenleaf, visited France in company with Lieut. Col. C. C. Pierce, chief of the Graves Registration Service, and Maj. George Gibbs, jr., landscape architect (who had been selected for the work at the request of the Commission), with a view to preparing plans for the permanent American cemeteries in France and England. The members of the Commission were received in Paris by Col. H. F. Rethers, in charge of the Graves Registration Service, Q. M. C., in Europe, and by the members of his staff. At the time it was the intention of the War Department to concentrate the burials in four cemeteries in France—namely, at Suresnes, Romagne, Belleau Wood, Bony—and in Brookwood Cemetery, near London, England.
39
British military cemetery at Brookwood, showing the Altar of Sacrifice. The American cemetery lies just beyond, on the right.
AMERICAN CEMETERIES IN EUROPE.
41
Each of these places was visited by the members in company with Col. Rethers and Lieut. Col. Pierce, and a plan drawn for each was prepared under the direction of the members of the Commission by Maj. Gibbs. Those plans were recommended for approval by Col. Rethers and Lieut. Col. Pierce. On June 9, 1921, the plans were submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts and were approved. They now await the approval of the Secretary of War.
EXCELLENT TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS.
The members of the Commission found that the existing cemeteries were excellently cared for, being neat, orderly, and well kept. In
British military cemetery at Forceville, showing the Memorial Cross with bronze sword.
every respect they compared favorably with the French and British cemeteries. Even in the case of the small cemeteries and of isolated graves there was evidence of respectful and reverent care. There was no instance of neglect. The officials in charge had done and were doing their work with painstaking care and with a close attention to the many and exacting details involved in identifications, the transshipment of bodies to the United States, and the reinterment of those which were to remain. The provisions for relatives visiting the cemeteries were excellent, considering the changing conditions and the uncertainty of visits. The spirit of willing helpfulness manifested more than made up for the meagerness of the facilities afforded. Moreover, it was noted that France has sufficiently recovered from the shocks of war to provide good food and shelter to visitors and at normal prices.
AMERICAN CEMETERIES IN EUROPE.
43
THE POLICY OF CONCENTRATION.
While the policy of concentration of the American dead in a comparatively few cemeteries seemed to the members of the Commission both expedient and desirable, it is a question whether so small a number as four will be satisfactory to the American soldiers or the American people. No British bodies are to be returned; and it is the British policy to maintain a cemetery wherever 40 bodies or more are buried, thus necessitating more than a thousand separate places of burial. This policy involves a cost of maintenance and an amount of care which would be embarrassing in the case of American cemeteries maintained at such a distance from this country. In the opinion of the Commission, however, the number of American cemeteries might well be increased to at least six or seven.
LOCATION AND TREATMENT.
Our cemeteries are located in the regions where our troops were engaged. They occupy sections of the battle fields over which our men fought bravely and successfully. They mark historic spots dear to the American heart. They will be the objects of pilgrimages by our people. Therefore they should be maintained permanently in all those places where American valor was conspicuous. Otherwise our participation in those historic battles is in danger of being lost sight of both by our own succeeding generations and by our associates in the war. This is even more apt to be the case owing to the fact that, due to our entry late in the war, our losses are small when compared with the losses of France and England.
The same reasons which apply to maintaining cemeteries at the strategic points of the war also apply to the necessity for adequate treatment in the case of the cemeteries themselves. Unless the area of land included within them shall be increased appreciably and that land treated according to a well-considered plan, our participation in the war, in so far as it is visible to the eye, will be negligible. This does not mean that large areas shall be taken and highly developed. The highest estimate of the cost of all the lands needed for the four cemeteries already decided upon falls well within $150,000, and the treatment recommended involves only plantations of trees traversed by convenient roads. In fact, the Commission believe that their recommendations will probably be found more moderate and more modest than the American people will come to demand. For the present, however, they are deemed adequate.
CONTROL OF AMERICAN CEMETERIES.
By direction of the President, a Graves Registration Service, Quartermaster Corps, was organized August 7, 1917, with a total in 1920
44 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
of 34 officers and 850 men. The duties are to acquire land for cemeteries ; the location, maintenance, control, and preservation of cemeteries and marking of graves; the registration of graves; and all other matters pertaining to administration. The total number of burial places was 2,400; there were 15,000 isolated graves; and to December 1, 1919, there were registered 75,636 graves.
The United States Government adopted the policy that on the request of the next of kin the body of a deceased soldier will be returned to the United States. The requests for removal to the United States have amounted to 69 per cent out of the total number, leaving for retention in Europe 30.61 per cent.
British military cemetery at Forceville, showing the Altar of Sacrifice.
A discussion of the advisability of making removals is outside the scope of this report. This work has already been practically completed.
BRITISH CEMETERIES.
The Imperial War Graves Commission, constituted by royal charter, is intrusted with the care of the British cemeteries, which organization is proceeding with the view of “ so designing and planting their cemeteries that they shall serve for all time as worthy and permanent memorials to those who have so gallantly laid down their lives for their countries and empire.” In the words of Rudyard Kipling, the central idea is that, “ above all, each cemetery and individual grave should be made as permanent as man’s art could
AMERICAN CEMETERIES IN EUROPE.
45
devise.” It is of interest to note in connection with the planting that for the Canadians the maple is used, the Canadian seed having been developed in the National Botanic Garden at Kew; for the Australians, the Tasmanian eucalyptus trees are selected; for the New Zealanders, the daisy bush. The British are also using perennial plants, planted at the foot of each headstone, while daffodils, snowdrops, and crocuses are planted on the graves. On the Somme battle held, that shell-pitted region is covered in summer—“is transfigured and glorified ”—by the common scarlet poppy.
The British plan is to inclose each cemetery with a wall, within or without which is a hedge of thorn, beech, hornbeam, yew, or holly, or a screen of pleached and trained limes or hornbeams. Within the cemetery “it is intended to rely mainly on the peaceful effect of a smooth grass lawn marked by its headstone, and to plant avenues and groups of suitable trees or shrubs. Relatives may plant dwarf polyantha, rose bushes, or bulbs on a particular grave, provided they conform to the general design.1
In each cemetery is to stand a Cross of Sacrifice and an altar-like Stone of Remembrance bearing the inscription “ Their name liveth forevermore.” The headstones, uniform for officers and men, measure 15 by 30 inches, and each bears a cross or other religious symbol, together with the man’s name and rank and regimental badge. In the cemetery building is a register giving the man’s birthplace, age, and parentage.
Memorials to commemorate the parts borne by particular armies, divisions, or regiments in campaigns and battles are to be advised upon by a fully representative military committee, and the best art of the empire is to be employed in designing them.
England has over half a million of her dead in France alone; and the removal of the bodies would be impossible, even were there a demand for it, but “the overwhelming majority of relatives are content that their kin should lie—officers and men together—in the countries that they have redeemed.
PROBLEMS OF THE AMERICAN CEMETERIES.
The first problem involved in the treatment of the American cemeteries in Europe is the adequate, reverent care of the remains of our soldiers—such care as shall justify the action of the relatives who elected to allow the bodies of their dead to remain in the soil for which they fought and died. In a majority of cases this action on the part of relatives in itself was an act of patriotism and sacrifice. They felt that by foregoing their right to have the bodies
1 Our Soldiers’ Graves, by Capt. A. W. Hill, assistant director Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, H. M. Stationery Office, 1920.
Preliminary plan for permanent American cemetery at Suresnes, near Paris ; the Boulevard George Washington on the east
AMERICAN CEMETERIES IN EUROPE.
47
£	brought to the United States they were setting their mark and seal
5	on the sacrifice made by sons and husbands and brothers. They had
§	confidence that the Government would see to it that these graves
§	would not be neglected, but would be held in respect and honor.
|	The honored treatment accorded to the dead of the War of Secession
gave reason and justification for this belief.
While it is true that two-thirds of the bodies of our dead have been or will be brought home, the question of the numbers remaining is a secondary consideration. The concentration of the bodies into a small number of cemeteries makes development and care of those
plan for permanent American cemetery at Suresnes, near Paris ; tlie Boulevard George Washington on the east
Arlington National Cemetery, used as a type for American cemeteries in Europe.
few cemeteries vitally important. Whether there are 1,000 or 10,000 graves in a given cemetery has no relation to the condition in which that cemetery should be maintained. The treatment of each burial place retained should be just as adequate as if all the American dead had found permanent rest in the land in which they perished.
The fact that the graves of our soldiers in France are few as compared with those of the French and the English, few even as compared with the Americans who fell, does not signify. Those graves are the permanent visible symbol in France of the entire strength and soul of America, devoted without reserve to the decision of a great cause.
-is
AMERICAN CEMETERIES IN EUROPE.
49
ADEQUATE SPACE FOR GRAVES.
The treatment of our cemeteries, therefore, should be adequate. This is the first consideration. The lands occupied should be ample to secure an appropriate amount of space for each grave. By an appropriate amount is meant the same amount as is now allotted in (he most adequately developed portions of the Arlington Military Cemetery. The best portions of Arlington are the earlier areas, where the space between graves is sufficient both to make the green grass count as against the white stones and also to permit the growth of large trees covering the entire area of interments.
HEADSTONES.
Secondly, the stones used should be uniform in size and design. All display of an individual character is as much out of place as civilian clothing worn by individual soldiers in a regiment drawn up on parade. In the case of officers individualistic treatment of monuments at Arlington has introduced elements of incongruity, self-assertion, and poverty of design complicated by lavishness of expense. Of late years the newer sections assigned to officers are being quieted; but there, as in France, the uniform size of the stone should be the rule. The same feeling which forbids individual treatment of the stones at the graves should prevail throughout the cemetery proper. Statues, memorials, ornaments of any kind should be excluded. The entire area devoted to burials should be as sacred as a temple or a church. The British provide for each of their innumerable cemeteries the Altar of Service and the Cross of Sacrifice. Those are the only emblems permitted. The effect is reverent and solemn and full of significance.
The American headstone is smaller and simpler than either the French or the British. In so far as relates to size, ours is a copy of the stone used in all American military cemeteries. It is of marble; the inscription is not produced by sandblast, as heretofore, but is cut in V-shaped Roman letters. As it happens, the same form of cutting and the same design of letter is used by the British. Inscribed in a circle at the top of the stone is either the cross or the star of David. The same design of stone is now used both in this country and in Europe to mark the World War graves. The comparative smallness of the American stones enables them to be set farther apart than are the British and the French, so that the green grass counts and the sense of quiet is greater.
TREES.
The third element which gives distinctive character to the American military cemetery is trees, which cover the entire area. It is
50 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
true that for some years, beginning with the Spanish-American War, planting at Arlington has been neglected, but measures are being taken to cover the newer areas there with the same degree of shade that makes so impressive the soldiers’ fields in the older portions. In other of our battle cemeteries, like the ones at Yorktown, Chattanooga, and even Alexandria, the trees contribute their full part.
THE TITLE TO THE LAND.
France, in 1915, passed a law under which the French Government undertook to purchase all cemeterial plots occupied by her allies and associates in the war, and to present “the right of enjoyment” of them as a free gift to the nations, those Governments becoming responsible for maintenance. Under this law the title to all the burial places of our men, some 2,400 in number, is vested in the United States. As cemeteries are evacuated, these lands revert to the French Government and eventually to the former owners.
AREAS OF CEMETERIES PROPER.
The area to be devoted to cemeterial purposes must vary with particular circumstances in the case of the individual cemetery. In general it is safe to assume that it should be adequate to provide for roads and paths and a sufficient amount of planting to set it apart as a cemetery as distinguished from the fields adjoining.
The impression an American now gets on approaching one of our cemeteries is of a handkerchief spread out on the grass to dry. The white spot has no vital relation to the great expanse of rolling country ; it is a speck, an incident. Without shade, unrelated to the town near which it is located, the white crosses making a single square, the buildings and fences temporary in character and located at random, the cemetery at first sight seems a problem impossible of solution, and one’s convictions that the bodies of Americans should lie where they fell are apt to be badly shattered. The answer to the question is clearly indicated. If this Government shall provide as suitably and as adequately for the World War cemeteries in Europe as it has provided for the military cemeteries in the United States, then the field of battle will also be the field of honor. Otherwise, the sooner all the bodies shall be withdrawn from France the better. Money will be saved and a more suitable treatment will be accorded to our dead. The time to decide the question is at the beginning. The cost should be counted now. Either the cemeteries should be well developed and well maintained or they should be abandoned. To-day they are simply expectations and promises. It is true that now the white wooden crosses are kept well painted and that the exhumations and reburials are being conducted decently and in order.
Preliminary plan for American cemetery at Romagne, in the Meuse-Argonne sector, showing eight rectangular blocks of graves on south side of the avenue in the valley, with central building on the opposite hill overlooking the graves.
G09410—21. (To face page 51.)
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51
But that is not enough. If our cemeteries are not to fall behind those of Great Britain and France, we must adopt some comprehensive plans and carry them out thoroughly, as those nations are doing.
BUILDINGS, FENCES, AND GATEWAYS.
Buildings for service, gateways, and fences will be necessary. The number of the buildings will vary with the individual cemetery, with
The grave of Quentin Roosevelt, made a cemetery by the French Government.
its remoteness from sources of labor, and the necessity of providing for American visitors. Gateways and fences also are subject to special requirements to be developed as occasion demands. One general rule is applicable to every case. All of these structures should be of such design and construction that they will appear to be at home in the country. This means simplicity, good proportions, and absence of ornament for the sake of ornament. It means also appropriateness to the intended uses, a certain modesty, and the eschewing of anything approaching boastfulness. We should remember that we are building in countries with fine architectural traditions and long his-

52
AMERICAN CEMETERIES IN EUROPE.
53
tories, and our work should respond to the best that has been done there. If our architects shall add restraint to knowledge the result will be satisfactory.
PLANTING THE CHIEF RELIANCE FOR EFFECTS.
Our chief reliance, however, should not be on architecture but on the planting of trees. Almost any tree that will grow in America will grow in France. Trees are enduring and require less care and attention than any other forms of planting. Shrubs should be used sparingly, and flowers not at all. Invariably attention given to flower beds is exercised at the expense of trees and grass, which are of first consideration. On Decoration Day and like occasions the use of flowers to express remembrance and honor is to be encouraged, but the existing rule requiring the removal of flowers before they are withered should be adhered to.
RELATIONS OF CEMETERIES TO ADJOINING TOWNS.
All care should be taken to relate each cemetery to the town near which it is situated. There should be no parched and uncared-for area through which one must pass to go from town to cemetery. This result is to be secured by tree-bordered roads such as are the rule throughout France. In traversing what are known as the devastated regions one is impressed with the quickness and thoroughness with which the people have rebuilt the roads and replanted their borders. No one feature will count more than the adequate treatment of those short stretches of roadway into which one turns from main highways to reach the American cemeteries.
All of the foregoing considerations are vital. They represent the irreducible minimum of what must be done to put our cemeteries on a par with those of England and France. No question of expense should stand in the way of carrying out each and every one of these requirements. So much our self-respect and the duty we owe to our dead require.
MILITARY PARKS.
There is, however, a further consideration If the history of our national dealings with battlefields where Americans have fought and died may serve as a guide, the people of this country will not be satisfied merely with providing a God’s acre for the bodies of the dead. The places where our men lie are historic places. They are parts of that far-stretching line along -which civilization itself, as we believe, set barriers against the onslaughts of brute force. They represent our part in that struggle, and in that part justly we take pride and satisfaction. The battlefields of the War between the
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Preliminary plan for American cemetery at Bony, with main axis extending eastward from central burial areas toward the chapel to meet the main roads of the village. Grave areas to be shaded by trees and surrounded by wooded areas.
54
roads of the village. Grave areas to be shaded by trees and surrounded by wooded areas.
on the ridge overlooking the valley in the south.
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States, whether they represent Northern or Southern victories, have been reserved as memorial parks, and have been covered with commemorative monuments representing the struggles that took place there. These monuments have reflected American taste at the time they were erected. We of to-day, with our growing appreciation of things artistic, may deplore the tombstone art of former days; but the sentiment which called forth those monuments is a permanent factor in human progress and must be reckoned with, yielded to, guided and directed toward better things.
Recognizing the foregoing facts, the plans as presented in certain cases provide for areas beyond those needed for burials—areas which are set apart for monuments to American valor. The location of such monuments have been fixed, so that the disorder which riots in so many of our national battle parks may be avoided in the future.
CONTROL OF MONUMENTS.
It has not been possible, even were it desirable, to control the design and location of monuments that have been erected in France by divisions, regiments, or organizations: France has a large area and many memorials of the various wars that form so large a portion of her history. Not all of these memorials are well designed or now seem appropriate.
The American monuments to be placed in the park spaces connected with our cemeteries, however, should be controlled first as to historical accuracy of the inscriptions by the historical branch of the War Department and as to design and location by the Commission of Fine Arts. It is realized fully that doubtless the cemetery plans will be found too small to meet American demands, for the commemorative spirit is increasing among our people and is bound to grow with many succeeding years. At least, the plans are believed to be adequate for to-day, and they can be enlarged and developed in the future. Only at Bony and Belleau Wood is any considerable area indicated for national park purposes, and even in these instances the cost of the land is so small as to be negligible.
Having discussed the general principles on which this report is based, we now come to the treatment of the five cemeteries for which thus far plans have been prepared.
SURESNES.
The little cemetery at Suresnes is reached from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris by a drive down the Avenue du Bois de Boulogne, through the wooded park and across the Seine, and a climb up the steep slopes to the Boulevard George Washington. This well-developed avenue, skirting a sharp declivity, passes along the entire front of the narrow cemetery. Back of the cemetery arise the steep
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slopes of Mount Valerien, the summit of which is occupied by the French military post of that name. The plan contemplates additional planting of trees and shrubs on the hillside to provide a solid green background. No changes are made in the general disposition of the landscape. Because all the space in the cemetery will be required for burials, a small area opposite the main entrance is to be taken for the necessary buildings. By so doing the American cemetery, instead of being an incident along a frequented thoroughfare, becomes a feature of it. Opportunity also is obtained to place along the crest of the hill a small terrace overlooking the Seine and the
One of the many memorials of the various wars of France. French monument on the bleak and barren battle field of L’Mort Homme, near Verdun. Scene of the terrific sacrifices of human life.
city of Paris. Moreover, a direct and short approach from the railway station is provided for those visitors who do not motor thither.
Because of the nearness to Paris the cemetery at Suresnes is and must continue to be the most visited of all the American cemeteries in France. Here every structure should be studied, and the utmost restraint should be exercised to the end that this place shall represent adequately the deepest sentiment, expressed in terms of good taste. Suresnes should be the gem.
CANTIGNY AND BELLEAU WOOD.
“On the 28th of March, 1918,” says Marshal Foch in his Fourth of July address to the American nation, “ at the supreme moment of the German drive against the Franco-British front, by an act
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already consecrated in history, Gen. Pershing spontaneously offers to the commander in chief of the allied forces the direct cooperation of the American divisions already trained.
“ The 24th of April the first American division comes into line before Montdidier, and one month later distinguishes itself by capturing in a brilliant assault the village of Cantigny (28th of May).
“ In June two new divisions take part in the battle of the Marne at Chateau Thierry and at Belleau Wood, where in hard and heroic fighting they take an important part in the checking of the enemy.”
A short run from the half-ruined town of Chateau Thierry brings one to the cemetery lying under the slopes of Belleau Wood. Near by are squares of French white crosses and German black crosses.
Ruins of hunting lodge on hill above cemetery at Belleau Wood.
The approach to the American cemetery is like a labyrinth. The improvised landscape effects of the Graves Registration Service bear eloquent testimony to the feelings of the men who paused in their grewsome tasks to pay tribute to the heroism of the brave boys whose resting places they were preparing. These designs, crude and amateurish, were the foretaste of what thought and training may provide when the time comes to make permanent improvements.
The plan provides for a short, direct approach from the little town of Belleau. The cemetery area, designed for 8,800 graves, extends in part in a segment of a circle, along the base of the hill and in part in the fields below. This plateau above is known as Belleau Wood, once covered with a dense forest used as a hunting preserve, a region of rock out-crops and deep gullies, that afforded the best of protection for nests of German machine guns. The intensity of the struggle required to gain possession of this strategic point is the
Preliminary plan for American cemetery at Belleau Wood, in the Aisne-Marne fields. Graves to be located on the curving terrace below the hill and in the center near the main entrance at either side of the central circular open space.
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theme of the historian and will be for years to come, long after, as one hopes, war is a thing of the past.
To secure this area, to improve it with roads, to develop on it sites for memorials of the fight, is an opportunity to stop the removal of the forest already started and to fix for all time the record of
the participation of our country in the War for Civilization. The cost of the entire area of woods and lowlands, about 300 acres, would be less than $90,000. The money so paid would be spent by the owner of the land in rebuilding his portion of the ruined town of Belleau.
BONY OR FLANDERS FIELD.
The present cemetery comprises but 4 acres. It lies in an exposed position on the side of a wide and gentle treeless slope. The road from the little town of Bony passes down into a valley, where it divides into two branches, between which the cemetery lies. It is proposed to take the triangle between the two roads, to create a tree-lined avenue leading from the town to the entrance to the cemetery
Forest scene in Belleau Wood.
proper, and to take a sufficient amount of land, about i 5 acres, to provide opportunity for such an amount of planting as will give to the cemetery an entity and also a significance which the historic
character of the place deserves.
THE MEUSE-ARGONNE.
The largest of all the American cemeteries is known as the Meuse-Argonne. Here few problems are presented, and these few are of
Preliminary plan for American cemetery of Oise-Aisne at Seringes et Nesles, near Fere en Tardenois, showing proposed grouping of graves about an open center in the space inclosed by forest of Nesles and by public highways.
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a simple nature. The present area is sufficient. The existing cemetery, containing about 23,000 graves, lies on a gentle slope, while the service buildings have been located on the opposite slope. The present entrance is in the middle of the cemetery. It is proposed to make entrances at both ends of the valley traversing the property and to develop the space between these entrances, so as to give unity and cohesion to the two portions now separated and disassociated by the roadway. A short avenue connects the western entrance with the small town of Romagne sous Montfaucon. From the eastern entrance the road leads to the small village of Cunei, and both roads are used as approaches from Verdun.
Chapel at Bony, soon to be rebuilt.
The historic importance of this site may best be appreciated from the statement that on clear days the American flag that floats over it may be seen from the outlook on the chateau that served as headquarters of the German Crown Prince at Montfaucon. This town was captured by the American forces after a two days’ fight, on September 27.
The choice of sectors was left to Gen. Pershing. In his opinion no other Allied troops had the morale of the offensive spirit to overcome successfully the difficulties to be met in the Meuse-Argonne sector. So the Meuse-Argonne front was chosen. During October “the almost impassable Argonne Forest was in our hands.
The cemetery of the Argonne represents our greatest sacrifices in human lives. Other cemeteries, which may or may not be evacuated, possibly mark points of more intense fighting and heavier losses. These are matters for the military historian to decide. I he fact
American cemetery at Bony, near the battle fields of the Somme, as seen from Bony. It appears at first like a pocket handkerchief spread out on the grass to dry.

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remains that to-day the cemetery of the Argonne stands for so much that its development along the most comprehensive and best devised plan becomes at once a privilege and a duty.
ADDITIONAL CEMETERIES.
In visiting the four French cemeteries planned by the Graves Registration Service the question of additional burial places was often brought to the attention of the members of the Commission. If cost of administration and sufficient areas for the bodies remaining in France are chief considerations, then the four cemeteries of Suresnes, Belleau Wood, Bony, and the Meuse-Argonne are quite sufficient. If, however, there is the eminently proper desire to mark American sacrifice and participation, then a cemetery should be maintained in Bel gium, and one or more cemeteries should be kept east of Verdun. This is not primarily a matter for this Commission. Our function is to assist in the preparation of such cemeteries as have been or shall be determined by the War Department—a service rendered with much satisfaction.
Since this report was written the War Department has decided to retain three other cemeteries: In France, the one at Thiaucourt, a shadeless plain near St. Mihiel, and the Oise-Aisne Cemetery at Seringes et Nesles, near Fere en Tardenois. As it happened, members of the Commission, anticipating such retention, had visited these cemeteries and are able to present preliminary plans for the improvement of them. The third cemetery, in Belgium, was not visited.
AMERICAN CEMETERIES IN ENGLAND.
Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey, England, established about 1855, about 28 miles southwest of London, has been developed into a cemetery known throughout the United Kingdom for its solemn beauty. An area adjoining that occupied by the British and provincial soldiers has been secured as the burial place of Americans who died in Great Britain. Here will repose all of our men except possibly those who are buried on the island of Islay and the 21 who died in the hospital improvised by Lady Astor at her seat of Cliveden and are buried in a space set apart in those grounds and developed in a manner incomparably fitting and beautiful.
At Brookwood the approaches to the American section are planned to be separate from and independent of those to the British portion, but at the same time the two sections march together, and persons may pass directly from one to the other. The American portion extends to a wooded hill, which is to be taken over for the purpose of control. The American development will be less formal in its paths and gardens than is the British, but we are persuaded that
Preliminary plan for American cemetery at Brookwood, showing proposed grouping of graves and a central point with main approach from the south
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it will be no less fitting and significant on that account. From the main driveway of Brookwood a shaded walk leads to the burial plot, which has for a background the wooded hill above adverted to. A driveway along the side opposite the British section furnishes a convenient and separate entrance. The effort has been to emphasize the ideas of both companionship and independence.
It is impossible to forecast the number of burials that will take place here. Any soldier or sailor of the Great War who dies hereafter in Great Britain may find sepulture in this spot, so that
Burial ground at Cliveden, seat of Lady Astor.
it will continue to be used for many years to come. The plan is designed to afford opportunity for expansion.
CONCLUSION.
A service which the War Department asked the Commission of Fine Arts to perform in relation to the permanent American cemeteries in Europe was regarded as an opportunity. It was carried out in the spirit consistent, we believe, with the precedents of our Nation in dealing not only with its cemeteries but also with its battle fields. In the plans prepared the duty to the dead has been interpreted and expressed in terms of gratitude and reverence. At the same time the duty owed to the living and to the generations to whom the war will be an historical event has not been forgotten or neglected. There is
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no apprehension on our part that the plans will be found too extensive or too comprehensive, but rather we are confident that the plans here presented will in time be enlarged and amplified. For such extensions the way has been prepared, and those who succeed us will find the way indicated and the paths marked out.
Designs for buildings and other necessary structures will come up later, and the Commission will welcome a continuation of the association with the War Department in the ensuing work. To all the officers with whom we have been associated we give our thanks for sympathetic, courteous, and intelligent consideration and cooperation. In particular, appreciation is due to Lieut. Col. Pierce, by whose death in France, as the work was nearing its close, the United States loses the services of an officer known throughout the Army and beloved by all to whom his helpful and sympathetic ministrations as chaplain and friend were shown. Also to Col. Rethers, on whose capable shoulders rests the exacting task of performing labors calling for administrative ability of high order and tact unremitting and unfailing. And to former Maj. Gibbs, intelligent, trained, patient, untiring, and indefatigable, to whom is due the preparation and presentation of the plans. To Col. Geo. H. Penrose is entrusted the difficult and delicate task of overseeing the work of the Graves Registration Service, and from him also the Commission has received sympathetic and intelligent support.
At sunset.
The Verdun medal.
IV.
MEMORIALS OF THE GREAT WAR.
DURING the past two years no meeting of the Commission has been without its discussion of memorials of the Great War.
Submission after submission has been before the Commission and questions of both art and policy have been considered. After almost infinite pains and much time a marble tablet inscribed in Roman letters has been evolved from the seemingly hopeless submissions of sculptured forests and insignia. Tablet makers selling their goods strove with one another to overleap the bounds of the possible in sculpture. In one instance out of more than 60 competitors for a commission of $800 only one submitted a design in which the lettering was good. The tablets that have come down to us from the earliest days are examples of the effective presentation of a sentiment and the names associated with it; and such is the standard which the Commission has striven to set before committees and manufacturers, sometimes with success.
The Commission believe that in time the issues of the war and its result's and ideals will detach themselves from the confusion and conflicting emotions of the present, and that then the artist will be able to express something higher and more enduring than the incidents of strife and costume of fighting men. On the way to the heights there will be resting places, works of art good for their day, and artists with ability to discern something of the great vision.
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More than, half a century has elapsed since the close of the Civil War. The national memorials to Lincoln and Grant are about to be dedicated and the memorial to Meade is yet to be completed. Such instances bid us pause to let Time make sure foundations under our heroes.
The Verdun Medal.—On July 12, 1920, the Commission received a request from the Secretary of War for cooperation in the matter of the medal provided for in the Army appropriation act approved June 5, 1920:
That the President be, and he is hereby authorized, in the name of the Congress and the people of the United States, to present to the city of Verdun
The Victory medal, World War insignia.
France, a suitable memorial medal or tablet as a mark of America’s appreciation of the valor of its defenders, the cost to be paid from the appropriation for contingencies of the Army.
The Secretary of War having designated Col. Robert E. Wyllie, General Staff, to represent him, the Commission arranged a competition for the design of a medal, in which competition eight medalists took part. John Flanagan was selected to make the final design and model. The medal will be of gold, 4 inches in diameter. After presentation it will have a place with the numerous orders, medals, banners, and other emblems preserved in the public building at Verdun. To the members of the Commission who visited France, the mayor of Verdun expressed his satisfaction that the United States has arranged to bestow this honor on his city.
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The Victory Medal.—Upon approval of the design of the Victory Medal by the Secretary of War, on the advice of the Commission of Fine Arts, the Quartermaster General was authorized to proceed with their production. There were struck 4,765,000 medals—one for each soldier, sailor, or other person enlisted for service in the World War. In addition to the medals, there were 14 battle bars, commemorating great battles and campaigns of the World War, and five service bars, designating the countries in which Americans served, were made. These are as follows:
BATTLE BARS.
Cambrai.
Somme Defensive.
Lys.
Aisne.
Montdidier-Noyon.
Champagne-Marne.
Aisne-Marne. Somme Offensive. Oise-Aisne.
Ypres-Lys.
SERVICE BARS.
St. Mihiel.
Meuse-Argonne.
Vittorio- Veneto.
Defensive Sector.
England.
France.
Italy.
Russia.
Siberia.
Q. M. Gen. Rogers designated Maj. C. F. Burkhardt to supervise the production of the Victory Medals. The advice of the Commission of Fine Arts was sought from time to time during production with the object of maintaining the standard. Experts in metallurgy were designated by the Bureau of Standards to assist in the preparation of the metal, an inspector representing the War Department was stationed at each of the factories producing the medals, and a board of inspectors was appointed to make a final inspection of the medals. Considering the immense quantity of medals, the distribution of the orders among three factories—one on the Atlantic, one on the Pacific Coast, and one in St. Louis—and considering also the necessity of expedition, the results have been good. The task was interesting and instructive, but arduous and exacting. At the request of the War Department, the Commission sent a Victory Medal and a full set of battle clasps to each of the Allies.
War Memorial for the First Division.—A joint resolution (FI. J. Res. 81) is now pending in Congress providing for the erection of a memorial to the First Division of the American Army in the World War. Maj. Gen. C. P. Summerall, U. S. Army, president Association of First Division, had consulted the Commission in advance of the legislation.
The question of erecting war memorials in the National Capital in commemoration of the World War has brought up an interesting yet also a perplexing problem. It was found that many sites in the old city of Washington are now taken up with monuments of the
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The Soldiers’ Memorial Cross, Arlington. (Accepted design.)
Civil War, mostly equestrian statues of generals. The Commission believe that the predominating idea in memorials in the city of Washington should be ornamental and historical. The Commission would prefer a single memorial of large importance and beautiful design; but obviously the time for such a monument is in the. distant future. Meantime, memorials to certain units may properly be erected, provided each one shall be a distinct and unqualified work of art according to the best standards of public taste of the day. With this understanding the Commission has approved the project of erecting a memorial to the First Division in the vista south of the State, War, and Navy Building.
Fourth Division M emo rial.— The Fourth Division, through Brig. Gen. Mark L. Hersey, has conferred with the Commission in regard to erecting a monument to commemorate the services of this division in the World War.
Second Division M emo rial.— The Commission has been consulted by members of the Second Division, who desire to erect in Washington a war memorial. Such considerations are still in progress.
Soldiers'' Memorial Cross.—The Commission has approved a design and plans for the erection of a Soldiers’ Memorial Cross in the World War section at Arlington by the American Women’s Legion. The
cross will be 13 feet high, in marble, with landscape setting. It will be dedicated to the memory of our dead in France. (Five submissions.)
The Gold Star.—On May 27, 1921, the War Department referred to the Commission for report H. R. 5422. The bill reads as follows:
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States is hereby authorized to give to the mothers of ail men and women who lost their lives in line of duty in the late war with Germany a gold star of such weight and fineness as the President shall direct, such gold star to be as nearly as possible in the form of the silver star presented to men and women who were wounded in the World War, and to be mounted in such form as the President shall direct.
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71
That it shall be unlawful for any person, other than the mother to whom such gold star has been awarded, to display upon his or her person in the United States, or in any other country subject to its jurisdiction, such gold star with an attempt to deceive or mislead. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine not exceeding $300, or by imprisonment not exceeding thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
That the expense of making the gold stars herein provided for and the expense of their presentation to the mothers entitled thereto shall be paid out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Regimental colors, Ninth Infantry.
The Commission suggested enlarging the Victory Button to the size of a 25-cent piece; that the wreath be finished on both sides so as to make a place on the reverse for the name of the recipient; also that the star be finished so that it can be worn on a ribbon or as a pin. To accomplish these results, the Commission recommended that the bill be amended by inserting the word “ size ” before the words “ weight and fineness.”
Vicksburg Memorial Arch.—In April, 1920, the Commission received designs from the Albert Weiblen Marble & Granite Co., at

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New Orleans, for the Vicksburg Memorial Arch, with letter, as follows:
At the suggestion of Capt. William T. Rigby, vice chairman, Vicksburg Memorial Arch Commission, I have the honor to submit herewith full-size drawings of the proposed lettering on the frieze of each of the two faces of the Vicksburg Memorial Arch, for the construction of which the Albert Weiblen Marble & Granite Co. of New Orleans is the contractor, with the request that the Fine Arts Commission give my company and the arch commission the benefit of its consideration and criticisms of the proposed drawings.
The drawings were approved, subject to slight changes in the lettering.
The Army Congressional Medal of Honor.—At the request of the War Department, Mr. Paul Manship made studies for a medal to take the place of the present Congressional Medal of Honor, which is based on the design of the French Legion of Honor Medal, the star in the American medal taking the place of the cross in the French medal. In the opinion of the Commission the medal is open to these criticisms: It is finished on only one side; the star hangs from two points instead of from one, as is proper; the green oak leaves on the star conflict with the laurel leaves of the surrounding wreath and confuse the design; the medal looks cheap and insignificant. In the design submitted the star hangs from a single point; the general form is convex; a head of Columbia replaces that of Minerva; the head faces the right instead of the left; the panel from which the medal hangs avoids the present mechanically weak attachment and relieves the eagle, whose neck is pulled by the ring attached to the head; a reverse has been made to the medal, having for its feature an American shield. This highest award to American valor now resembles a bit of jewelry and lacks the elegance and simplicity characteristic of high military medals of other countries. The designs were made by Mr. Manship at his own cost.
Under date of December 20, 1919, the Commission addressed the following letter to the Secretary of War concerning the matter:
Last summer there was presented to you for your consideration a medal for a new Army Congressional Medal of Honor. I understand that you took this to France with you and submitted it to Gen. Pershing. The medal was prepared by Mr. Paul Manship, one of the leading sculptors of this country. After much study, Mr. Manship, with the cooperation of Mr. .Tames E. Fraser, * designed a medal which is an excellent sample of medallic art and does away with the crudities, lack of finish, and inconsistencies in the present Medal of Honor.
The work done by the artists was a labor of love on their part, and they were asked to do it by the Committee on Pictorial Publicity, of which Mr. Charles Dana Gibson was the chairman.
Nothing has been heard from this submission, and I am writing to ask what disposition, if any, has been made of it. Photographs of the medal are inclosed.
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The Secretary of War replied in June, 1920, and submitted the following memorandum from Col. Robert E. Wyllie on the subject:
Ever since the receipt of your letter of December 20. with regard to the suggested design for the Medal of Honor prepared by Mr. Paul Manship, I have had the subject under occasional consideration. The difficulties which the subject presents to me are not wholly matters of the acceptability of design, but rather the extent to which feeling in the Army and among those to whom the medal has been awarded is against the change. I have, however, had the matter studied by a committee of the General Staff, and herewith inclose a copy of a memorandum on the subject made for the Chief of Staff by Col. Wyllie, to which I ask the attention of the Commission.
I realize that the Commission approached the problem with the thought of modifying and beautifying the present design, but probably if the subject could be approached with the idea of making a design which by its simplicity and chasteness would make a distinct appeal the result might well be a wider departure from the present design but still a satisfactory one.
I should be very glad, indeed, to have the Commission consider the suggestions made in this memorandum and if it has the leisure to restudy the question the results will be very carefully considered by the War Department.
Memorandum for the Chief of Staff.
Subject: Design for Medal of Honor.
1.	Herewith is a letter from Mr. Moore, chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts, to the Secretary of War. asking what disposition has been made of the new design for the Medal of Honor submitted by the Commission to the Secretary. The letter states that this new design “ does away with the crudities, lack of finish, and inconsistencies in the present Medal of Honor.”
2.	Nothing is known officially in the Equipment Branch concerning this matter. It is understood that it was taken up by Mr. Moore directly with the Secretary. However, I have discussed this matter with some of the members of the Commission and I am acquainted with it in that way.
3.	The following are the criticisms of the design of the present Medal of Honor: The star is incorrectly hung; a point should always be up. The eagle from which the medal is suspended is very poor; as described by one, it looks more like a chicken than an eagle. The green enamel of the wreath does not blend well with the light blue ribbon. The green leaves on the rays of the star-look out of place. The edges and ends of the rays are cumbersome. The entire design is too flat and insufficient in relief, giving a lack of boldness and strength in its general appearance.
4.	The suggested design of the Commission of Fine Arts obviates the above defects and from a purely artistic standpoint it would be presumptuous to criticize the work of Mr. Manship and Mr. Fraser, but it is very doubtful whether it is suitable for the purpose for which it is designed. Medals can be roughly divided into two general classes—first, those for heroism in action; second, those for other distinguished services. A study of the decorations of the principal countries reveals the fact that medals and badges for the second class are usually made on graceful, delicate lines and enameled in colors. The different orders of the European countries afford examples of this and we have followed that precedent to a certain extent by the enamel on our Distinguished Service Medal. Decorations for valor in action, however, are universally plain—that is, without any enamel—being in the natural color of the metal. The Victoria Cross, the French and Belgian Croix de Guerre, and the War Crosses of Italy and the Czechoslovakia are bronze. The Military
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Medal and the Military Cross of England are silver. The Obilitch Medal of Montenegro is gold. The Serbian Medal for Bravery is in two classes, silver and gold, and the Italian Medal for Valor is in three classes—bronze, silver, and gold. All of the above are awarded exclusively for valor in action and in no case is there any colored enamel. The Medal Militaire of France at first appears to be an exception, but this medal plays a double role; it is awarded not only to enlisted men for valor in action but also to successful generals who have already received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, as an additional reward, making it in that case the highest decoration in the bestowal of the French Government. In fact, I know of no case except our own Medal of Honor where a decoration awarded exclusively for valor in action is anything but a plain medal or cross, without any enamel. For this reason it would seem that this suggested design is not appropriate for the purpose for which it is intended, although it would be excellent as a decoration for other distinguished services.
5.	In addition, the crossed fasces behind the eagle which surmounts the star is open to criticisms as not being sufficiently military to be placed on a medal which is given only for valor in action. The fasces were carried by the Roman lictors as a symbol of authority—in no sense military, but rather civil in character—and it would therefore seem that crossed swords, rifles, or cannons would be more appropriate for the Medal of Honor. Judging by the medals of other countries, cross swords seem to be the favorite. Finally, the eagle, obviously taken from the coat of arms of the United States, is facing the sinister inside of the dexter.
6.	Everything considered, it is not believed that the new design meets the situation. If it is desired to eliminate “ the crudities, lack of finish, and inconsistencies in the present Medal of Honor,” it is suggested that the simpler the design the better, and it is believed that nothing would be more appropriate and more dignified than a star in bronze, with crossed swords, hung with point up, as in the Commission’s design ; and the eagle on the center of the star, with the motto, “ For Valor,” with no enamel, no wreath, and nothing surmounting the star, the reverse to have the shield as in the Commission’s design.
There the matter rested. The Commission agrees with Col. Wyllie that the design of the Medal of Honor should be simple to the last degree, but perfect as to form and elegance.
Insignia for the militia.—Under date of July 12, 1920, the Commission received the following letter from the War Department, through Col. Wyllie:
The Secretary of War desires to have an insignia for the Militia Bureau, War Department, which under the Army reorganization act is now a separate and distinct branch of the Army, and any help which you can render in the design of this insignia will be much appreciated.
The Commission recommended crossed fasces with an eagle in the upper angle, the symbolism being: The citizen-soldiers to be represented by tlie fasces, denoting the unity of the States, and the eagle representing the Federal Government. The design and model were made by Anthony de Francisci, sculptor, and approved by the Commission. (Three submissions.)
Insignia for the militia.
Insignia for warrant officers.
Insignia for the R. O. T. C.
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R. O. T. C. and warrant officers’’ insignia.—At the request of the War Department the Commission approved a design and model made by Anthony de Francisci, sculptor, of New York City, for insignia for the Reserve Officers Training Corps and also insignia for warrant officers. (Two submissions.)
Regimental colors.—In July, 1920, the Commission approved, subject to certain changes, a design submitted by the War Department for the regimental colors of the Ninth Infantry under the new regulations.
Interstate Commerce Memorial Tablet.
Interstate C ommerce Memorial Tablet.—In August, 1919, the Interstate Commerce Commission asked for cooperation in the matter of securing a suitable war memorial tablet. Mr. A. Holmead, Assistant Secretary, on behalf of the war memorial committee, stated that out of 2,216 men connected with the Interstate Commerce Commission, 977 enlisted, 14 died in service, and 3 received citation for bravery in action. The Interstate Commerce Commission received 75 designs for war memorial tablets, sent from all parts of the United States. These were brought to the attention of the Commission of Fine Arts. The Commission advised the rejection of all the designs on the ground that the designs were crude and mechanical and the lettering poor. Whereupon the Interstate Commerce Com
MEMORIALS OF THE GREAT WAR.
77
mission selected Alfred Cookman Cass, of Philadelphia, to design a tablet. This tablet, approved by the Commission of Fine Arts, is 4 feet long by 2 feet 7 inches wide, of Istrian marble. The Roman letter. V-cut, is used. The tablet is placed in the vestibule of the Interstate Commerce Commission building, and the result is satisfactory to a high degree. (Four submissions.)
Forest Service Memorial Tablet.—On June 23, 1919, the Forest Service asked aid in obtaining a suitable memorial for those of their service who died in the World War. A design, prepared by a firm of reputation, was submitted in the form of a pencil sketch. The Commission told the Forest Service committee that the design was be-

THESE MEN OF THE FOREST SERVICE GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE WORLD WAR
FOR THE WELFARE OF MANKIND
CHARLES E SIMPSON CLARK B WATERHOUSE
HERBERT H-HARVEY
ROY MUNCaSTER
HORACE B-QUIVEY
STANLEY RAUGSPURGER
DONALD R-FRAZIER
BERT LEWIS
COSMER M-LEVEAUX
JOHN LMOONEY HUBERT C-WILLIAMS EUGENE RMEGLAUGHLIN WARD NORRIS WOODWARD ERROL D-CRITTENDEN MARCY MM EADEN HARRY A-CHAMBERLAIN THOMAS V-KEEFE _____ HOMERS-YOUNGS RAY L GREATHOUSE
II
Forest Service Memorial Tablet.
yond the field of sculpture and that the result must prove unsatisfactory. As the result of conferences protracted over two years a tablet of sienna marble (39 by 27 inches), bearing in incised letters an inscription and names, but without ornaments, was accepted. The tablet was executed by the firm under the direct supervision of the sculptor member of the Commission, who experienced all the vicissitudes incident to the rapid changes in labor in the factory. The result, however, justified the pains. (Nine submissions.)
District of Columbia Memorial.—A memorial tablet, designed by Mr. Jerome Connor, to be placed in the Municipal Building of the District of Columbia in honor of those men of the District Office who died in service during the World War was submitted to the Commission.
78 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
The Commission on October 7, 1919, reported as follows:
After reading a statement as to the design and seeing photographs of the model, the Commission of Fine Arts feel strongly that the memorial to the men who were killed in the Great War should take an architectural form in harmony with the location in the main corridor of the District Building. The Commission suggest a panel of marble, suitably inscribed. Attention should be given to the material, to the design of the lettering, to the inscription, and to the workmanship. The Commission have in mind tablets in the Lincoln Memorial, which suggest standards of taste and workmanship that can not be surpassed at the present time. The fact that such standards exist in Washington makes it incumbent on all in authority that the precedents be maintained. Furthermore, the Commission deprecate, the use of sculpture in a tablet which is intended to be as a lasting tribute to the men who died in the war. A tablet designed for the public building of the District of Columbia should be of the highest and most enduring character. This quality they do not find in the design submitted.
The District Memorial Committee advised this Commission that they had decided to erect, instead of a plain tablet, a memorial in detached form. Subsequently they submitted a model in such form. After five submissions the work was accepted.
Red Star Animal Relief War Memorial Tablet.—The American Red Star Animal Relief submitted a design to the Commission for a war memorial tablet to commemorate the services and sufferings of 243,133 horses and mules employed by the American Expeditionary Forces overseas during the World War. The tablet is 40 by 48 inches in size, bronze, and has been placed in the State, War, and Navy Building. Lionel Moses, sculptor, was designated to design and complete the tablet. The model was approved by the Commission. (Five submissions.)
War Memorial, Agricultural Department.—The Commission received a letter from the war memorial committee, Department of Agriculture, inclosing a copy of a joint resolution authorizing the erection in the Department of Agriculture grounds of a memorial to former employees of the department who lost their lives in the military or naval service of the United States in the war with Germany.
The war memorial committee had under consideration the character of the proposed memorial, and requested the assistance of the Commission in formulating plans for the memorial and making the necessary arrangements for its erection.
The committee proposes to raise $10,000.
It was the opinion of the committee that the memorial might properly take the form of a stone and bronze drinking fountain, bearing a bronze tablet setting forth the names of the persons in whose memory it is to be erected. The committee, however, was not definitely committed to this form of memorial, but would gladly avail itself of the counsel of the Commission in the matter, and trusts it may receive the cooperation of the Commission in preparing plans for this project and in carrying them to completion.
MEMORIALS OF THE GREAT WAR.
79
The Commission preferred that no war memorial be placed on the Mall until the lands had been graded to conform to the Mall plan. A.t present the lower story of the new buildings is below grade. The legislation provides—
That the Secretary of Agriculture be, and he is hereby, authorized to grant ermission to the Department of Agriculture war memorial committee for the erection in the Department of Agriculture grounds, Washington, District of Columbia, of a memorial to the former employees of the said United States Department of Agriculture who lost their lives while in the military or naval
Red Star Animal Relief War Memorial Tablet.
service in the war with Germany: Provided, That the site chosen and the design of the memorial shall be approved by the Joint Committee on the Library with the advice and recommendations of the Commission of Fine Arts, and the United States shall be put to no expense in or by the erection of this memorial.
Memorial to Labor.—In February, 1920, Mr. Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, conferred with the Commission concerning a memorial which the Federation proposes to erect in Washington to represent “Labor” in the World War. The design represented a marble shaft 56 feet high and 12 feet in diameter, to weigh 350 tons, and to rest on a pedestal having 15 steps, this to be in an inclosure 180-184 feet square, with tablet in relief at each of the four corners to represent “ Science,” “ Education,” “ Me
80 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
chanics,” and “Arts.” A globe to represent the world is to be on top of the shaft. The memorial is to cost $700,000. The Commission expressed readiness to act after Congress had provided for the selection of a site.
Memorial to Negro soldiers and sailors.—Under date of April 3 1920, the Commission received the following letter from the House Committee on the Library:
At a meeting of the Committee on the Library held yesterday, it was recommended that copies of bills H. R. 5131 and H. R. 3613, introduced by Representatives Dyer and Sherwood, respectively, be referred to the Commission of Fine Arts with request that the chairman of the Committee on the Library be advised as to what sites there may be on Government property within the District of Columbia which in the opinion of your Commission might be suitable for the erection thereon of a memorial to the Negro soldiers and sailors, in case the Committee on the Library decides to take favorable action in the premises,
The Commission gave the matter consideration in connection with a general discussion of the problem of erecting war memorials in the District of Columbia. While recognizing the services of the Negro soldiers and sailors and that of other divisions of the population, the Commission thought that no action with regard to designating a site for the memorial proposed should be taken until such time as in the judgment of Congress it shall be decided to signalize in some appropriate way the participation of the United States in the World War.
The court of the Freer Gallery.
V.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
FOUR matters of high importance to the promotion of the interests of Washington deserve mention. The building for the Freer collections has been completed and the work of cataloguing and arranging the articles is progressing. It is expected that the gallery will be opened in the autumn of 1922. The collections themselves and the means provided for exhibition and study will give to the Freer Gallery an international importance.
The recognition by Congress of the National Gallery of Art and the provision made for its support, meager though it is at present, marks the beginning of an undertaking certain to have large influence in setting and maintaining standards of taste in the fine arts. The opportunity is thus opened to receive gifts of works of art, and it may be anticipated that in due time Congress will provide for the exhibition of such gifts.
A third item of large promise is the establishment of the Phillips Memorial Gallery of Art. The collections forming this gallery are at present exhibited in a private house; but steps have been taken to build a gallery of high excellence both in location and in architectural design. The building will be adapted for the display of paintings, sculpture, and articles of taste; and the grounds will furnish a fine landscape setting.
The zoning law enacted by Congress and put into effect by a board consisting of the District Commissioners, the officer in charge of public buildings and grounds, and the architect of the Capitol pro-
81
in i p 3! i I
The Freer Gallery.


PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
83
vides for the orderly development of the District, and for the stability of real-estate values. The advantages of the law will become increasingly felt.
The Freer Gallery of Art.—The building for the Freer Gallery, founded by the late Charles L. Freer and presented by him to the Nation, has been in course of construction for several years. This gallery is one unit of the National Gallery of Art, under the charge of the Smithsonian Institution. The Freer Gallery is situated on the south side of the Niall, west of the Smithsonian building. It is one of the buildings located according to the comprehensive scheme for restoring the original plan of the park space connecting the Capitol with the White House. It will cost approximately $1,500,000.
The building, designed by Charles A. Platt for Mr. Freer, is in the style of the Italian Renaissance. It is 228 feet long and 185 feet wide, with an interior court open to the sky. This court is about 60 feet square, exclusive of the loggias which surround it. The exterior building is constructed of a warm gray granite coming from Milford, Mass. The court is of Tennessee marble. The floors of the galleries and corridors throughout the main floor, on which the works of art will be exhibited, are entirely of marble. There are 18 rooms surrounding the court on the exhibition floor. On the lower
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5 GENERAL DTOUALE
4 ANTE SpOM
3 CUMIOILj COOM fl STORAGE BOOM *1 7 MENS TOILET
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floor, in addition to the necessary The floor plan of the Freer Gallery, administrative quarters, is a lecture
hall and rooms set apart for the study of the objects of Chinese and Japanese art under the most favorable conditions. The lecture hall has an entrance of its own at the rear of the building, thus obviating the necessity of bringing the audience through the exhibition rooms.
The collections consist largely of small objects; therefore the exhibition space on the walls is kept low. Each exhibition room has its
84 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
individual skylight, tempered by louvers above the diffusing glass, so as to suit the requirements of the objects shown. The fact that for* light to fall at the proper angle the distance from the skylight to the object displayed must not be too great has been reckoned with. The question of temperature also has been taken into very serious consideration, since the collections contain many oriental objects which would be injured by too dry an atmosphere. Arrangements, therefore. have been made whereby moisture may be introduced whenever the air becomes too dry. There is a constant circulation of air provided above the diffusing glass in every gallery. This is expected to keep down the temperature in hot weather and has been calculated with particular care in view of the climate prevailing in Washington.
The principal entrance to the Freer Gallery will be through a loggia and vestibule opening upon a large square hall, in which there will be coat rooms to the right and left. Turning to the right along the corridor which divides this hall from the open-air court, the visitor will find four rooms devoted to paintings by American artists. One will be given entirely to the works of Thomas W. Dewing, another to those of Dwight W. Tryon, and a third to pictures by Abbott H. Thayer. The fourth room in the group will be given to a miscellaneous collection of American art, including paintings by John H. Twachtman, John S. Sargent, Willard L. Metcalf, J. Francis Murphy, Winslow Homer, Gari Melchers, and Charles A. Platt. The galleries on the further side of the building will be occupied wholly by the works of Whistler. They terminate in a space in which the famous Peacock Room has been erected precisely as it existed in the house of Mr. Leyland, in London, for which Jekyll, the architect, originally constructed it, and where Whistler gave it the decoration which made it renowned. All the other galleries on the exhibition floor are devoted to the works of oriental art which form a distinctive feature of the Freer gift. These oriental rooms will, of course, be kept comfortably filled, but there will always remain a great number of objects in the storage rooms. These will be drawn upon at regular intervals to make changes in the exhibition rooms from month to month.
The following will give some idea of the character of the collections :
By James Abbott McNeill Whistler:
60 oil paintings, 35 pastels, 45 water colors, 100 drawings and sketches, 700 etchings, and lithographs.
By Dewing, Thayer, Tryon, and others:
85 oil paintings, 6 water colors, 45 pastels.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
85
By Augustus Saint-Gaudens:
Two studies cast in bronze, originally projected for the entrance to the Boston Public Library.
Oriental art, from the Far and Near East:
Something over 1,000 Chinese paintings; 135 Japanese screens; 400 Japanese paintings; 35 Chinese tapestries; 700 Chinese, Japanese, and Korean bronzes; 100 additional metal objects; 160 Chinese stone sculptures; 350 Chinese jades; 400 pieces Chinese pottery; 750 pieces Japanese pottery; 225 pieces Korean pottery; 375 pieces Near Eastern and Egyptian pottery; also a collection of several hundred pieces of Egyptian glass.
Mr. Freer required in the codicil to his will that the National Commission of Fine Arts shall be consulted as to all future purchases for the collection. The Commission have also been consulted with reference to details of grades and planting around the Freer Gallery.
National Gdlle/ry of Art Commission.—On June 8, 1921, the National Gallery of Art Commission was organized. The 15 members were appointed by the Smithsonian Institution, among wdiom five persons have served on the Commission of Fine Arts. Mr. Daniel Chester French was elected chairman of the Commission; Mr. Charles Moore, chairman of the executive committee; Mr. Charles A. Platt, chairman of the committee on admission of works of art; Mr. Herbert Adams, chairman of the committee on modern sculpture; Mr. Edwin Howland Blashfield, chairman of the committee on mural paintings. The purpose of the Commission will be to promote the development of the gallery, to assist in securing acquisitions, and to advise in the matter of administration. This places the National Gallery of Art on a working basis. The commission serves without compensation.
The great need is a suitable building. The present collections, valued at over a million dollars, are temporarily housed in improvised quarters in the Natural History Building. Suitable housing in a building designed for the purpose is essential to continued growth. Every other great nation has its National Gallery of Art. A gallery of art, worthy of our Nation, here at the Nation’s Capital, would prove not only of educational and recreational value to the people of the country but also a possession in which all the people might justly feel ownership and pride. The rapidity -with which valuable acquisitions have come to the gallery in the past few years indicates the interest taken in it by public-spirited citizens.
G69410—21----7

86 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
Archives building.—The sundry civil appropriation bill for the fiscal year 1922 was reported to the Senate with an amendment as follows:
Washington, District of Columbia, archives building: To enable the Secretary of the Treasury to carry out the provisions of section 21 of the public buildings act approved March 4, 1913, directing him to purchase the site for an archives building approved by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, and the Secretary of the Interior. $486,000; for working drawings in accordance with the plans prepared by the Supervising Architect and approved as by law provided, $10,000; in all, $496,000.
In the Senate it was argued that instead of buying the land suggested on B Street between Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets NW., the archives building be built at B and Fifteenth Streets, near the Monument Grounds, a site which had been purchased for the Department of Commerce building. Objection was made to closing Ohio Avenue, although existing legislation closes that avenue.
The archives building suggested for Twelfth and B Streets contemplated a building of substantial but not monumental design, in harmony with the plan proposed by the Public Building Commission of 1917. This site would permit a building of sufficient size, occupying cheap land, and calling for an office-type building. An archives building on Fifteenth and B Streets would require a building with a monumental exterior.
The amendment was dropped in conference. An archives building is urgently needed at this time to protect the records of the Government, now scattered in unsafe places in various parts of the city. These records should be housed in one archives building for the sake of economy, protection from fire, and accessibility. The need is admitted on all hands, but no action results.
National Academy of Sciences.—In March, 1920, Dr. James B. Angell, chairman of the National Research Council, and Mr. Bertram G. Goodhue, architect, presented tentative plans for the first portion of a building to be constructed on the block bounded by B, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, and C Streets NW., for the use of the National Academy of Sciences. The Commission recommended certain changes in the designs in order to make them conform to the architectural style adopted for buildings of monumental character from the beginning of the Government. On resubmission, the plans were approved.
Space requirements for the Treasury Department.—A representative of the Treasury Department appeared before the Commission in June, 1920, in behalf of a committee appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury to inquire into space requirements of various bureaus of the department, and submitted a plan, accompanying a report of the
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
87
committee on space requirements, outlining certain projects proposed bv the Treasury Department to secure the increased space required by that department.
It was the opinion of the Commission that the projects for all the departments should be considered at the same time, and that it was not advisable for any one department to work independently of the others. The Commission is of the opinion that the general building plan reported to Congress by the Public Buildings Commission in Senate Document No. 155, Sixty-fifth Congress, second session, should be adhered to excepting in those cases where a restudy shall make changes advisable.
In regard to the specific project proposed by the Treasury Department, the Commission reached the following conclusions:
(a)	The safe room for distinctive papers.—This project is purely a departmental matter. The proposed building lies within the lines of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and does not relate to the’plan of Washington.
(b)	Proposed site of the central heating, lighting, and power building.—The Commission is opposed to the use of the space at the west end of Water Street for building purposes. They believe the building should be located elsewhere, and that Water Street should be connected with East Potomac Park by a bridge east of the railway tracks.
(c)	Possible location for bureau power house.—This location was considered desirable provided the chimneys can be disposed of so as not to be offensive features.
(d)	Extension to Liberty Loan Building.—The Commission is of the opinion that the present building should not be extended until satisfactory arrangements are made for the carrying through of Fifteenth Street. The proposed extension makes too narrow a throat in the connection between Potomac Park and East Potomac Park.
(e)	Extension to the Arlington Building.-—The Commission is of the opinion that no extension should be made to the Arlington Building until satisfactory arrangements for the frontage on El Street between Vermont Avenue and Connecticut Avenue shall have been made. The Arlington Building is an eyesore and pains should be taken to mitigate instead of increasing those disagreeable features.
(/) Extension of the Treasury annex along Madison Place to H Street.—This is in all respects desirable and should be carried out in accordance with the plans already made.
(d)	New department building forming an annex to the Treasury.—The site proposed for this building has already been fixed by legislation of Congress for the Department of Justice, and the Commission knows of no reason why existing legislation should not be carried out.
The Treasury Department was advised accordingly.
Army ~Wa,r College, planting plan.—The Commission conferred with the staff of the War College concerning a planting plan prepared several years ago, but, because of the war, left practically untouched. The plan contemplates an improvement for the entire grounds. It is desirable to fill the area covered by the old James Creek Canal along the northerly side of the grounds. It is expected
88 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
that work in the development of the plan will be begun this year. The approach from the Capitol south to the War College should be improved.
The Capitol Grounds, Montpelier, Vt.—Under date of June 9,1919, the Commission received the following letter from Hon. Frank L. Greene, House of Representatives:
I am asked by the governor of Vermont if it is possible to get the advice, and, to some extent, the services of some high-grade landscape gardener, who may be in the Federal service here, or attached to the operations of your Fine Arts Commission in some way. The idea is that it is proposed to beautify the statehouse grounds at Montpelier, Vt., and the authorities are very anxious to make no move in that direction without first consulting the best authorities along the line of works of that kind.
The statehouse at Montpelier, Vt., has been pronounced by architects one of the half-dozen best examples of its style of architecture in the country. It is not a great, elaborate, or pretentious building, but its lines are very impressive and its natural setting is very effective. It would be a great pity to permit anything to be done in its premises that might mar their beauty.
Now the point is, if the Federal Government has some one who would be willing to give counsel in a matter of this kind, it might be altogether to the State’s advantage to- obtain his services. Of course, there is always the opportunity to go into the market in New York, Boston, or elsewhere, but the first thought of the governor was that the Government here, having had great experience in matters of this kind, might have some official or functionary who would be just the man to advise about just this kind of thing.
If you will kindly give me some suggestion about the matter at your convenience, I shall appreciate the favor very much.
Representative Greene was advised that the Commission would be pleased to cooperate in this matter, and in accordance with arange-ments made a committee representing members of the Commission of Fine Arts met with the governor, Hon. Percival W. Clement, at Montpelier, in September, 1919. The Commission made an inspection on the grounds, and recommended the following:
1.	The tamarack trees on either side of the walk leading from State Street to the capitol should be replaced with elms to bring the two lines of elms in front of the capitol down to meet the street trees.
2.	A panel of grass might be inserted in the center of the walk leading to the capitol.
3.	The effect of the fence on the capitol grounds is excellent and it should not be disturbed without mature consideration.
4.	The office building at the north of the capitol is unfortunate in that it is built of rock-face stone, whereas the capitol has a dressed surface. Judicious planting and the use of vines will help to take away the present unpleasant effect. When possible it would be desirable to add to the capitol grounds the land directly in front, so as to get an unobstructed view of the river and the hills beyond. This can be done in the indefinite future, but if the desirability becomes fixed in the minds of the people, doubtless they will bring it about in their own time.
5.	The storeroom behind the supreme court building should be moved to another location. It now obstructs the circulation to the hill.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
89
6	The treatment of the grounds on the hill behind the capitol should be simple. The walk should afford an easy climb, and it is important that it should have frequent resting places. Equally important is the treatment of the slopes, with enough trees to make a pleasing background for the finely proportioned capitol and to afford recreation for the people. The observa-torv on the top of the hill should not be carried higher; the design is unfortunate but by the use of vines the disagreeable appearance can be mitigated. A landscape architect big enough to make a simple design should be selected and the work placed in his charge. The Commission will be pleased to consult with such landscape architect and in every way give such assistance as may be possible.
National Park Service.—The National Park Service brought to the attention of the Commission the design of a new administration building at Hot Springs, Ark., and for a new free public bathhouse. The Commission approved the design of the administration building, and also the design of the free public bathhouse, with minor changes.
Hospital building, Soldiers'' Home.—The advice of the Commission having been asked in the matter of gilding the dome of the tower on the hospital building of the Soldiers’ Home, the Commission decided that the lower dome should not be gilded. Such oilding would destroy the architectural character of the tower.
Smithsonian Grounds, lodge and comfort station.—The sundry civil act for the fiscal year 1921 appropriated $7,000 for a combined lodge and comfort station in the Smithsonian grounds. The Commission reported that this building may be located on either side of the new National Museum, to face Twelfth Street, or Ninth Street, as extended into the Smithsonian grounds.
Stanton Park lodge.—The sundry civil act for the fiscal year 1921 appropriated $7,000 for a new combined lodge and comfort station in Stanton Park. The Commission passed upon the design and location.
Gas holder, Analostan Island.—Under date of March 8, 1920, the Commission received the following letter from Engineer Commissioner Kutz, of the District of Columbia:
The Washington Gas Light Co. is the owner of Analostan Island, in the Potomac River. The company has recently made application for authority to erect a gas holder on the island, 200 feet in diameter and 212 feet in height. There is considerable doubt as to whether the commissioners have power under the law to refuse a permit for this structure; but with the assent of the gas company action is being withheld until the commissioners have an opportunity to confer with the Fine Arts Commission.
The question at issue is largely whether a single holder of the size indicated will be more objectionable from a general civic standpoint than a larger number of holders of lesser height. An expression of opinion at an early date will be appreciated.
The Commission conferred with the District Commissioners and representatives of the gas company concerning the matter and re
90 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
ported adversely to erecting the gas holder on the island, as it would bring a manufacturing plant into the park area between the Georgetown Bridge and the Highway Bridge. The Commission recommended to the gas company that they build this gas holder, together with such other structures as they may have in view, outside of the District of Columbia, in Virginia or in Maryland.
Wholesale terminal. District of Columbia.—The Commission was asked for advice with regard to the establishment in the District of Columbia of a wholesale terminal for merchants who deal in fruits and general market supplies, so as to simplify the process of bringing products from the producer to the consumer. Of several sites considered, the National Fruit Growers Association considered a site opposite the Bureau of Engraving and Printing preferable, in view of convenient railroad and steamboat facilities. The Commission considered the site suitable, provided Congress shall so authorize.
Zoning in the District of Columbia.—On September 1, 1920, the zoning law enacted by Congress became effective, dividing the District of Columbia into residential (including parks and public property) , first commercial, second commercial, and industrial zones. The Commission was consulted from time to time during the preparation of the charts. The Commission believe that the zone system will be a protection to the residents and will promote the proper development of Washington. They regard the law and the action of the zoning commission as one of the most important steps in the development of the city of Washington.
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The Meade Memorial.
VI.
MONUMENTS AND STATUES.
THE coming 12 months will see the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial and the Grant Statue, the beginning of the erection of the Meade, Ericsson, and Asbury Statues, and possibly some decision as to the location and design of the Boosevelt Memorial. The gift of a copy of the Dubois statue of Jeanne d’Arc (called by artists the finest equestrian statue of modern times) by the women of French origin living in New York is an interesting complement to the gift by Americans of the Anna V. Hyatt statue of Jeanne d’Arc, which has recently been unveiled in France. The Italians of New York have marked the six hundredth anniversary of the death of Dante by the gift to Washington of a statue of that poet, whose fame seems eternal.
The Grant Memorial.—By act approved February 23, 1901 (31 Stat., p. 803), Congress provided for a memorial of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the following terms:
Be it enacted, etc., That the president of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, the chairman of the Joint Committee on the Library, and the Secretary of War be, and they are hereby, created a commission to select a site and secure plans and designs for a statue or memorial of General Ulysses S. Grant, late President of the United States and General of the Armies thereof, said statue not to cost in excess of the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
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Sec. 2. That said commission is authorized to select any unoccupied square or reservation belonging to the Government, or part thereof, in the District of Columbia, except the grounds of the Capitol and Library of Congress, on which to erect the said statue.
Sec. 3. That the said commission is authorized and required to advertise for plans, specifications, and models for the base, pedestal, and statue provided for in section one, and may pay to competing artists for the same and for expenses incident to making such selection, a sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars, which sum is hereby appropriated, one of which plans, specifications, or models shall, if deemed sufficiently meritorious by the Commission, be selected, or the Commission may select any part of the plans, specifications, or models that it may elect and that it can use.
Sec. 4. That as soon as practicable after the selection authorized by section three is made, said Commission shall report their action to the Congress of the United States.
By act approved June 28, 1902 (32 Stat., p. 460), Congress authorized the Grant Memorial Commission to enter into contracts for the completion of said memorial for a sum not exceeding $240,-000. In the sundry civil act approved June 20, 1906, it was provided “ That the memorial may be located in the unoccupied portion of the Botanic Garden grounds between First and Second Streets, as recommended by the Grant Memorial Commission.” The competition instituted by the Grant Memorial Commission resulted in the selection of the design submitted by Mr. Henry Merwin Shrady, of Elmsford, N. Y., and Mr. Edward Pearce Casey, architect, of New York City, designed the pedestal. The jury was made up of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Daniel Chester French, Daniel H. Burnham, and Charles F. McKim.
Since its creation in 1910 the Commission has been consulted regularly in the progressive development of the memorial. The bronze castings of the flanking Cavalry and Artillery groups were placed several years ago. In the autumn of 1920 the equestrian statue of General Grant was erected. It is expected that the memorial will be unveiled during 1922 after the removal of the fence.
The height of the horse and rider is 17 feet. The statue stands nearly 22 feet from the main platform, making the monument nearly 40 feet high. The weight of the statue is 10,500 pounds, bronze. The largest equestrian statue in the world exceeds this statue by 1 or 2 inches. Two panels, now being made by the sculptor, will complete the monument. The inscription will be the single word “ Grant.”
The Meade Memorial.—A joint resolution of Congress, approved January 21, 1915, provided—
That the Secretary of War, the chairman of the Committee on the Library of the Senate, the chairman of the Committee on the Library of the House of Representatives, and the governor of the State of Pennsylvania are hereby created a commission to select a site on property belonging to the United States in the city of Washington, at or near the intersection of Third
MONUMENTS AND STATUES.
93
Street and Pennsylvania Avenue northwest, and erect thereon a suitable memorial or statue to the memory of Major General George Gordon Meade, late commander of the Army of the Potomac, the said memorial or statue and pedestal to be furnished and erected by the State of Pennsylvania, without expense to the United States.
That the design and location of said memorial or statue and pedestal and the plan for the treatment of the grounds connected with such site shall be approved by the Commission of Fine Arts.
The Commission has been called upon to give an unusual amount of consideration to the design and various matters arising in connection with the Meade Memorial. Special study was also given to the question of the necessity of a future widening of Third Street and the removal to that street of the street railway tracks on First Street as shown on the plan prepared by the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds. (Eight submissions.)
During the period covered in this report the Commission have approved the one-third scale model, and the half-size model made by the sculptor, Mr. Charles Grafly, of Philadelphia. The Commission have also approved plans for the pedestal and surrounding features of the memorial prepared by the architects, Messrs. Simon & Simon. The interpretation by the sculptor of the memorial is as follows:
The problem provoked by the chosen site for the Meade Memorial dictated a form which should be equal in interest and fullness of workmanship from every vantage point. Working upon this basis, the artist conceived a circle of figures which should embody the qualities which are essential to the character of a great general. These six qualities, Military Courage, Energy, Fame, Loyalty, Chivalry, and Progress, while recognizing their origin in the spirit of war, look toward General Meade as the composite of their several virtues. The figure of General Meade is thus rendered the center of the artistic design and the focal point in the imaginative conception. He stands, his work accomplished, ready to step forth from the cloak of battle into the future era of progress. Chivalry (at his left) and Loyalty (at his right) hold back the cloak, while Loyalty also raises aloft over Meade’s head a standard of wreath and garlands, in commemoration of a great achievement. Fame and Progress occupy the central positions (right and left) on either side of the group. Fame, with the urge ever upward and on, strains upward for a clearer vision of her object. Her well-rounded figure, man born, typifies the mortal striving for that which is just beyond, and carries with it a sense of unrest and of perpetual movement. The figure of Progress, on the other hand, is dynamic in the strength of its own potentialities. It is a figure which more nearly approximates the ideal and which will gather from its own being the wings of action. To its left Military Courage clings with bulldog tenacity to the dominant figure of the rear group, War, from which it takes its being. To the left of War the figure of Energy, yielding to the urge of Fame, loosens his grasp upon the arm of War, aquiver for the greater achievement yet to come. War itself, occupying the central position in the rear group, a massive, architectural figure, unchanging and unchanged since war first ravaged the world, holds in his grim clutch two memorial tablets. His wings, in long, sweeping curves, stretch toward the standard which Loyalty holds above the head of Meade. The side groups are thus outlined against the
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ominous shadow of the wings of War. From the grim determination of Mill, tary Courage through the figure of Energy to the figures of Chivalry and Loyalty the urge is onward and forward toward Progress and Fame, which alone of the group have the po-wer to move with General Meade into the accomplishment of the future. Although his dark wings may carry him through other ages and other lands, War will ever remain the same, unchanging. But the great general will move forward, leaving behind him the static, symbolized in the figures of War and of Military Courage. The command is “ Forward ! ”
The Ericsson Memorial.—An act approved August 31, 1916, provided—-
That the sum of $35,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized for the erection, in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, of
The Ericsson Memorial.
a suitable memorial to John Ericsson, the inventor and constructor of the Monitor, said sum to be expended for the purposes herein named by a commission consisting of the chairman of the Committee on the Library of the Senate, the chairman of the Committee on the Library of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary of the Navy.
It was provided that the design and location of the memorial and the plan for the treatment of the grounds connected with its site shall be approved by the Commission of Fine Arts.
Subsequent legislation in the sundry civil act approved June 12, 1917, appropriated $35,000 for the Ericsson Memorial and stipulated that “ in addition to this amount the commission is authorized to ac
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cept and to expend such sums as may be donated for the memorial. The amount has been increased to $60,000 by the donation of $25,000 by interested Americans of Scandinavian descent.
A site decided upon for the purpose of study is in Potomac Park, on the south axis of the Lincoln Memorial. The monument in design will be in harmony with the Lincoln Memorial.
Mr. James E. Fraser’s description of the monument is as follows:
Naturally, the monument was necessarily related to the Lincoln Memorial, in the sense of design. The monument proper was composed from the assumption that an inventor’s greatness comes through a compelling combination of mental attributes. In the case of Ericsson, Vision, Adventure, and Labor were used as symbols of his mentality. The figure of Vision is that of an inspired woman. Adventure is the Viking. Labor is represented by an iron molder. All the ornament connected with the monument is Scandinavian. The group is placed on a pavement composed from the mariner’s compass, to be made of colored granite. The figure of Ericsson is in the foreground and is smaller than the symbolistic figures. The symbolistic figures have been placed against the Norse Tree of Life, “ Ygdrasil.” The lettering forms a decorative border around the top of the pedestal. The pedestal is unique in construction, being formed of solid blocks of granite. The whole monument to be done in a warm tone of finegrained granite, except possibly the figure of Ericsson, which may be cast in bronze. It is necessary to make rather a large monument, for the reason that the circle to be filled was 150 feet across. The full height of the monument will be approximately 20 feet.
The Ericsson Memorial is to be located about 900 feet south of the Lincoln Memorial at a point where the driveway along the Potomac River turns into the Lincoln Memorial Circle. The foundation of the monument is about to be erected.
Roosevelt Memorial.—In June, 1919, the attention of the Commission was invited to the decision of the Roosevelt Memorial Commission to erect a memorial to the memory of Theodore Roosevelt in Washington, and their advice was asked as to site and design. Hon. Elihu Root is chairman of the subcommittee having in charge the memorial in Washington. Conferences were held with Mr. Root; Col. Thompson, president of the Roosevelt Memorial Association; the late George W. Perkins; Hon. Will Hays; Hon. William Loeb; and Mr. Walter Page, during which the problem in all its phases was discussed. A design contemplating locating the memorial in Rock Creek Park was disapproved by the Commission. This design was merely tentative. The Commission are unanimous in the opinion that the memorial should be placed in proper relation to the city of Washington, and with that end in view have suggested a location on Sixteenth Street, near Alaska Avenue and the Walter Reed FIos-pital, on the axis of the White House. Another site suggested is on Sixteenth at Van Buren Street.
Dupont Memorial Fountain.—The memorial fountain to Admiral Dupont, presented to the United States Government by members of
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his family, was unveiled May 17, 1921. At the dedication exercises, the Secretary of War, Mr. Weeks, took the occasion to make these pertinent remarks about the development of Washington:
This beautiful gift is but another evidence of patriotism on the part of the Dupont family. The memorial pays honor due Admiral Dupont for his service, and the fountain, the work of Daniel Chester French, sculptor, and Henry Bacon, architect, is of artistic value fitting for the great city in which it is placed.
In any policy of development of the District of Columbia patriotic citizens should prevent any change in the present physical character of the Capital. The
View of suggested site for Roosevelt Memorial, Sixteenth Street Heights.
proposal to bring manufacturing interests here would be in opposition to the general welfare of the community. Such an industrial expression and interest is inappropriate to Washington, and I hope that if seriously proposed Congress and the residents will oppose such development.
The Commission have approved plans which when executed will provide a suitable landscape setting to the fountain. At present fountain and circle are out of harmony one with the other.
Francis Asbury Memorial.—In June, 1921, the Commission gave consideration to a design for the architectural treatment of the Francis Asbury Memorial, to be located at Sixteenth and Mount Pleasant Streets. The Commission after considering the monument in relation to the space which it is to occupy advised that there be no ar
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chitectural treatment around the monument. The Commission recommended a base of granite, flush with the turf, simple and dignified, and a higher pedestal. The statue will be in bronze, 11 feet C> inches high. Augustus Lukeman is the sculptor; Evarts Tracy the architect.
Jeanne d’Arc Memorial.—In May, 1916, the Commission received a communication from Mme. Carlo Polifeme, President Fondatrice, “he Lyceum,” Societe des Femmes de France a New York, to this effect:
Le Lyceum Societe des Femmes de France a New York, in a spirit of Patriotism, nurtured by exile, inspired with a deep sense of the friendship that binds our two sister Republics, animated by a sympathy born of closer and closer relations, “ Le Lyceum ” intends to perpetuate these sentiments by erecting, in their new home, a monument to Jeanne d’Arc, emblem of Patriotism, emblem of Love and Peace. The statue of our French heroine will be built to the glory of womanhood, dedicated by the women of France in New York to the women of America, and offered to the city of Washington.
Resolutions were introduced in Congress by the late Senator Gal-linger and by Representative Hulbert authorizing the erection on public grounds in the city of Washington a memorial to Jeanne d’Arc, but during the period of the war little could be done to advance the project.
In May, 1920, Mme. Polifeme advised the Commission that the statue of Jeanne d’Arc is nearing completion. It is a copy of the
equestrian statue of Jeanne d’Arc by Paul Dubois, the original of which survived the destruction at Rheims. Accordingly, a resolution (S. J. Res. 206, 66th Cong., 2d sess.) was introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Brandegee, and a similar resolution by Representative Pell, in the House of Representativs, authorizing the erection on public grounds in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, of a memorial to Jeanne d’Arc. The resolution was reintroduced by Senator Brandegee and Representative Mills in the Sixty-seventh Congress, and reads as follows:
Resolved, etc., That the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to grant the Societe des Femmes de France ;1 New York permission to erect on public grounds of the United States in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, other than those of the Capitol, the
Jeanne d’Arc Statue.
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Library of Congress, and the White House, a copy of the statue of Jeanne d’Arc by Paul Dubois: Provided, That the site chosen and the design of the pedestal shall be approved by the National Commission of Fine Arts, and that the United States shall be put to no expense in or by the erection of the said memorial.
The statue is one of the masterpieces of modern art. The work of casting has been clone under the direction of the Ministere des Beaux Arts, in Paris. The pedestal is being designed by McKim, Mead & White, architects of New York City. The Commission has approved a site for the statue in Meridian Hill Park, on the terrace.
Francis Scott Key Memorial.—In March, 1920, the Commission of Fine Arts was requested by the City Plan Committee of Baltimore to consider a proposed new location for the Francis Scott Key Memorial in Fort McHenry Park, which location would place the statue about 900 feet from the entrance of the park instead of 400, as originally intended, or about midway between the entrance and the sea wall. The City Plan Committee reported that the park area had been taken over by the Government for hospital purposes during the war and was still being used by the Government. The Commission approved the proposed new site, provided the authorities shall be in a position to give assurance that the entire work for developing the park area, particularly as to grading and planting, shall be carried out. The City Plan Committee reported in July, 1920, that because of the fact that the area is still being used in part for Government purposes, they could not give assurance that the area would be developed in the immediate future. The Commission of Fine Arts therefore approved erecting the statue with such a setting as will make it feasible later to develop the park according to the plans which have been submitted. The Commission decided that the top of the curbing of the circle surrounding the Key Memorial shall be at the grade of 27 inches above datum. This will mean raising the grade 1 foot on a gradual slope. (Five submissions.)
Darlington Memorial Fountain.—The advice of the Commission was requested in the selection of a design for a memorial fountain to be erected in Judiciary Square in honor of the late Mr. J. J. Darlington, long an attorney of the District of Columbia. The Commission approved a design by Mr. C. P. Jennewein, sculptor, of New York City. (Three submissions.)
Memorial tablet, Japanese cherry trees.—Under date of June 17, 1920, the Commission received the following letter from Mr. Paul Kiyoshi Hisacla, designer, of Washington:
This summer I am planning to visit Japan, and while there I would like to make a tablet of bronze cast, as artistic and characteristic as Japanese can. The question of stone, whether to use native stone or bring one away from Japan, is now to be considered.
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It was my intention to give this to the park of Washington as a humble token of my appreciation of pleasant life in America, where I lived some ten odd years, ■md I do not know how many more springs I may enjoy seeing these trees in bloom on the banks of the Potomac. And I feel justified to get your consent before going ahead with my plan. While in Japan I will take the matter up with Hr Ozaki, mayor of Tokyo at the time the presentation of the trees took place, and if he so advises me I shall be only too glad to have the city of Tokyo be the donator of said tablet.
The Commission recommended to Mr. Hisada that he secure a designer in Tokyo to prepare a design that will be a work of Japanese art; that it could be of stone with an inscription, but the stone should come from Japan.
The Commission has suggested placing the memorial in the midst of Japanese cherry trees, which are to be planted along the banks of a proposed boating channel in East Potomac Park, to connect the Washington Channel with the Potomac Bi ver. The trees for the boating channel will be secured through a replanting of the cherry trees now too closely planted along the Speedway. Some trees have been taken recently to the Walter Reed Hospital grounds. The Japanese cherry trees grow to a height of from 60 to 80 feet.
Zero milestone.—During the year the Commission has passed upon designs for the Zero Milestone authorized by act of Congress, approved June 5, 1920, to be erected on the meridian of the District of Columbia. The design recommended consists of a simple granite block 4 feet high with a bronze compass design on top. The monument shows on the street side the designation Zero Milestone, with the insignia of the Motor Transport Corps. The inscriptions on the other three sides show that it constitutes a point from which distances may be measured on highways of the United States radiating from Washington, and that it was the starting point of the transcontinental motor transport convoys over the Lincoln and the Bank-head Highways in 1919 and 1920. Horace W. Peaslee, architect.
Nuns of the Battle Field monument.—The Commission inspected a revised model for the monument to the Nuns of the Battle Field at the studio of Mr. Jerome Connor, in Washington, and advised the sculptor in regard to his work.
Statue of NVill/iam Pitt.—The Department of State advised the Commission that a marble statue by Francis Derwent Wood of William Pitt, first earl of Chatham, had been given to the United States by the Duchess of Marlborough and other native Americans living in the United Kingdom, “ as a memorial of 100 years of peace (1815-1915) between the two kindred nations and as an expression by the donors of the love of the land of their birth and the land of their adoption.” The statue was then (1918) on exhibition in the British Royal Academy of Arts. Advice being requested of the
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Commission of Fine Arts as to a suitable location in this country, the Commission recommended placing the statue in the National Gallery of Art, where it now is.
MINOR SUBMISSIONS.
Reflectors, city post office.—On February 3, 1920, the chief clerk of the Post Office Department transmitted specifications and drawings for three reflectors for the writing tables in the corridor of the new city post-office building. The matter was submitted to Mr. Peirce Anderson, the architect of the building, and his recommendations were transmitted to the department.
Police memorial.—Models for a memorial to the policemen of Washington were submitted to the Commission by Mr. Jerome Connor, sculptor. The memorial is to be placed in the District Building. The Commission recommended a bronze tablet with a suitable inscription.
Flag anol floral emblem for the District of Columbia.—Under elate of March 30, 1920, Representative Gould, chairman of the House Committee on the Library, referred to the Commission bill (H. R. 13311), “Providing for the adoption of a flag and floral emblem for the government of the District of Columbia,” introduced by Congressman Smith of Idaho. The Commission decided that the matter is one requiring the study of an artist, in addition to the consideration to be given by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia and the Commission of Fine Arts, and that should Congress enact the proposed legislation an appropriation of not less than $1,000 should be made for studies.
Exhibition by the Commission of Fine Arts.—The Commission was requested by the American Institute of Architects in convention at Washington, May 5-7, 1920, to exhibit plans of Washington at the Corcoran Gallery of Art as a part of the first National Architectural exposition. The Commission exhibited a selected group of plans and renderings, 50 in number. Many of the renderings were made to illustrate the McMillan plan and were seen for the first time by a new generation.
The Commission suggested to the American Institute of Architects the appointment of a committee to cooperate with the Commission of Fine Arts in developing the National Capital according to the plans laid down by Washington and Jefferson through the L’Enfant plan of 1792 and as developed by the Senate Park Commission plan of 1901. President Henry FI. Kendall, of the Institute, appointed the following committee, all of the Washington Chapter: Mr. Edward W. Donn, jr., Mr. Louis A. Simon, Mr. Percy Adams.
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Congress of the National Housing and Town Planning Coun-The Commission received an invitation from Henry R. Aldrich, Esq., secretary of the National Housing and Town Planning Council, London, to be represented at the Congress to be held there June 3-11, 1920. No member of the Commission was able to attend the congress.
International interchange of modern art.—Under date of March 17,1920, the Commission received a letter from Hon. Alvey A. Adee, Second Assistant Secretary, Department of State, inclosing a despatch from the American Ambassador at London, together with a copy of a communication addressed to him by Francis Howard, honorary secretary of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters, and Engravers at London, with reference to the renewed activities of that society, since the declaration of peace, to bring about a more extensive interchange with foreign countries of the best modern art, and stating that the patronage and cooperation of America is desired in the effort to make this undertaking a success. The Commission expressed itself in sympathy with the movement initiated by the International Society.
66941 °—21---8
The Alabama Centennial coin.
VII.
COINS AND CURRENCY.
THE struggles of President Roosevelt and Augustus Saint-Gau-dens to bring about higher artistic standards in the design of United States coins forms an interesting episode in the history of the Roosevelt administration. The progress of the movement they started has been slow and uncertain. One of the functions given to the Roosevelt Council of Fine Arts created by Executive order and promptly abolished by Congress was improvement in the design both of coins and also of the paper currency.
The designs of the gold coins made by Mr. Saint-Gaudens involved mechanical difficulties in the overcoming of which the designs suffered.
To this Commission was entrusted the supervision of the designs for the subsidiary silver coinage, a task which involved a study of the mechanical side of the problem as presented at the United States Mint. The same matters came up in connection with the production of the Victory Medal and centennial coins of the various States of the Union. Notwithstanding the great amount of time spent at the Mint by sculpture members of this Commission it can not be said that these problems have been solved. The Commission have had the sympathy and support of the Director of the Mint, Hon. Raymond T. Baker, and of his office. The officials of the Mint are hampered by conditions not readily overcome. Owing to meager salaries paid, designers of ability can not be secured for continuous work. Therefore it has been found both necessary and advantageous to secure the services of medalists of distinction and young artists of ability and to see that they made such a study of mechanical processes as would insure the effective reproduction of their work. The progress in this respect has been marked. Meantime President Harding by Executive order has included coins among the subjects over which the Commission have advisory jurisdiction.
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The question of designs for currency notes has been the subject of discussion with the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Hon. J. H. Moyle, who was deeply interested in the matter. The Director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Hon. James L. Wilmeth, and the chief engraver, Mr. G. F. C. Smillie, have entered heartily into the plan of a simplification of the issues and methods of securing designs which shall have artistic quality and at the same time be a protection against forgery. The subject has not got beyond the first stages of discussion.
Maine commemorative coin.—By an act of Congress, authority was given for the coinage of one hundred thousand 50-cent coins, in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the admission of the State of Maine into the Union. The Secretary of the Treasury referred to this Commission the matter of securing a suitable design. The Commission, after conference with the Maine Memorial Commit-
The Maine commemorative coin.
tee, Hon. John A. Peters, chairman, had a design and model prepared by Anthony de Francisci. The design was accepted by the Director of the Mint, with the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. The obverse represents the coat of arms of the State of Maine, and on the reverse is a wreath of pine boughs inclosing the words “ Maine Centennial, 1820-1920,” together with the legend usually on the half dollar. The coin has not been minted.
Missouri centennial coin.—The Missouri Centennial Committee requested the advice of the Commission with regard to the Missouri centennial 50-cent piece authorized by act of Congress on March 4, 1921. This coin, designed by Robert I. Aitken, sculptor, of New York City, has on the obverse the head of Daniel Boone, with coonskin cap; the reverse shows a pioneer and an Indian, looking westward; 24 stars, and the words Missouri Centennial, Sedalia. The model was approved by this Commission and by the Secretary of the Treasury.
Alabama centennial coin.—By an act approved May 10, 1920, Congress gave authority for the coinage of one hundred thousand
COINS AND CURRENCY.
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50-cent pieces to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the dmission of the State of Alabama into the Union. The Alabama Centennial Commission having requested the advice of this Commission with regard to a suitable design, Mrs. James E. Fraser was designated to prepare the design and model, which has been approved by the Commission of Fine Arts and the Secretary of the Treasury. The design represents on the obverse portraits of Govs. Bibb and Kilbv. with 22 stars, and on the reverse a rendering of the State seal of Alabama. The eagle in this design is especially satisfactory.
Plymouth memorial coin.—On August 23, 1920, the Commission received from the Director of the Mint photographs for the proposed Plymouth memorial coin with a statement that an immediate decision was desired from the Commission. The model was made in plaster by Cyrus E. Dallin, sculptor, of Boston. There being no time to confer with the sculptor the model was returned without action.
The Missouri Centennial coin.
United States currency.—Under date of February 8, 1921, the Commission received the following letter from Hon. J. II. Moyle, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, in which he set forth recommendations concerning the United States currency:
I have delayed replying to your letter of January 14, 1921, until certain decisions had been reached by the Secretary on matters then before him with respect to proposed revision of paper currency designs.
More than two years ago the situation with respect to raised notes became such that modification of the designs in use was indicated. The Secretary designated a committee to consider the subject of design, particularly with relation to the circumvention of counterfeiting and note raising. Because of the condition of work at the bureau, which has not materially decreased since the active war period, the committee deemed it ill-advised to recommend designs de novo, but considered the practical situation. Models for currency designs recently were presented by the committee to the Secretary. Meanwhile, the situation at the bureau improving and the committee having delayed its report, the Secretary directed that three matters connected with new designs receive consideration. He instructed the committee to consider the advisability of reducing the size of the notes, which, of course, has every argument in its favor,
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so far as I know; lie further indicated the desirability of considering the artistic features of designs in cooperation with the Commission of Fine Arts; and, further, he instructed the committee to consider the question of uniform bank notes, which has been, more or less, before the department for many years. Pursuant to these supplemental instructions given by the Secretary, the committee has not yet reached conclusions. Doubtless the matter will go over until the next administration. The work of the committee should not be interrupted by the change in administration, and doubtless in due course the matter of new designs again will be before the Secretary.
I understand the committee is authorized to consult with your Commission, and I am assured they will do so.
The Commission regard the problem of safeguarding the United States currency of vital importance, and believe that the officials of the Government concerned should give the matter immediate attention. In connection with the question of adopting new designs for United States notes, the attention of the Commission was also called recently to provide for an adequate, skilled, and permanent force of engravers. The United States currency note is the only one known internationally, and its convenience as a means of exchange in this country is one of which the people would regret to be deprived.
The question of designs for the paper currency is having the attention of the Commission, in cooperation with the Treasury officials. The matter is complicated in extreme. The United States notes are used long and travel far before redemption, so that counterfeiting has to be guarded against with unusual care. Notes are now designed much as patchwork quilts used to be, and at times the result would be excellent were it not for the invariably bad design of the letters.
Meridian Hill Park. Lower garden, showing the cascades.
VIII.
PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, BRIDGES.
PROGRESS on the development of Meridian Hill Park has been slow, owing to decreased appropriations. The grass panel of the upper garden, with the flanking planting and the protecting wall, have been completed; but the terrace, the gardens on the slope, and the lower garden have received no attention and these spaces have remained in an unsightly condition.
The Commission have recommended various changes in the smaller parks, with the view of increasing the grass area, minimizing curved paths in parks that are used as thoroughfares, and removing shrubbery that has grown so large as to prevent the circulation of air. These changes will be made as appropriations become available.
The need of more and better playgrounds for children is a subject of vital interest. The youth and the men have their tennis courts, ball fields, golf links, polo grounds, bridle paths, bathing beach, and boating facilities; but the children are not adequately provided with playgrounds. A movement is now in progress to secure play areas in various portions of the District.
Another subject of the highest importance is the development of adequate east and west thoroughfares in the northern portion of the 107
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District. This matter has been neglected so long that the lack can not be wholly supplied. The extension of the Klingle Valley Park-way to the District limits and the development of the Fort Drive are matters of first consideration. The Commission calls attention to the waste of money and the detriment to the appearance of the city involved in the disregard of the topography in developing the outlying portions of the city. Forcing the rectilinear plan on broken lands—the tearing down of hills and filling up of valleys—results in monotonous, jerry-built houses, profitable only to the real estate speculator and highly detrimental to the appearance of the citv. The Highway Plan needs revision along the lines of developing streets with easy grades, the preservation of the old roads, and the saving of expense.
Meridian Hill Park.—The designs for Meridian Hill Park have been completed and approved, and a large-scale model has been prepared of the southern portion of the park. Meridian Hill Park, located between Fifteenth and Sixteenth and W and Euclid Streets NW., comprises about 12 acres. According to the plans and model there will be an upper and a lower garden. The upper garden will extend from Euclid Street about 900 feet south on a practically level stretch or “ mall ” to the terrace, which forms the cross axis of the park. A band stand, concert groves, and promenades are features of the upper garden.
From the terrace a commanding view of the city will be obtained. Immediately to the south will be a cascade, descending to a pool in the lower garden. East of the pool will be a statue of President Buchanan, to be erected by the authority of Congress as the gift of Harriet Lane Johnston to the United States. In the lower garden there will be a great exhedra, forming the main viewpoint from which to see the cascades.
The plans for the park and the model were prepared in the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, by Horace W. Peaslee, architect, with the planting composition by Vitale, Brinckerhoff & Geiffert, of New York City.
Lafayette Park.—The Commission approved a plan for Lafayette Park involving a rearrangement of part of the planting and the sidewalks so as to facilitate pedestrian traffic. The Commission recommended that the grass panel on the axis of the White House and Sixteenth Street be narrowed to 50 feet, the width of the White House portico and Sixteenth Street between curbs. This will permit adjacent sidewalks to coincide with those of Sixteenth Street.
The plan suggests a 15-foot sidewalk leading from each of the four corners of the park toward the Jackson monument to facilitate pedestrian traffic entering the park at the major street intersections. For cross traffic of pedestrians from Pennsylvania Avenue to Sixteenth
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street there should be a 15-foot sidewalk on each side of the proposed o-r‘iss panel. As a further means of facilitating pedestrian traffic there should be sidewalks 12 feet wide leading from the entrance of the park at the terminus of Sixteenth Street to the southeast and to the southwest. A detailed planting plan is to be submitted to the Commission, based on the approved plan for the rearrangement of the walks in the park.
These changes recognize the fact that Lafayette Park, nearly surrounded as it is by Government buildings, has ceased to be a retreat and has become a thoroughfare.
East Potomac Park.—For the development of East Potomac Park thus far about $200,000 has been appropriated. The park, comprising 312 acres, will contain two golf courses, one of which is in use; a picnic o-rove: tennis courts; baseball diamonds; bathing facilities; cricket
East Potomac Park (relief map).
fields; bridle paths; and the like. The drive surrounding the park, known as the Speedway, is bordered with flowering Japanese cherry trees. There will be a floating channel, to connect the Potomac River with the Washington Channel, passing through a Japanese cherry grove. The cherry trees when in blossom in April are so beautiful as to bring visitors to Washington from many portions of the country. The grove as planned will enhance the attraction. A rose garden of large dimensions and high quality is in process of development. The chief charm of Washington is the trees, and to the trees are to be added flowers so handled as to produce large effects.
Band stand for Potomac Park.—A tentative plan for a band stand in Potomac Park was presented by Mr. Frank B. Noyes. The proposal was that the band stand should be erected as a war memorial to the District men. The design was that of the circular temple in the Borghese Gardens in Rome and in the grounds of the Petite Trianon at Versailles. This form has been used for the band stand
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in Boston Common. In the hands of a master of proportion such a structure would be an attractive feature of Potomac Park. The American adaptation of the classic design shows how easily grace and lightness may be lost.
Judiciary Square.—A detailed planting plan adapted to the remodeled District courthouse was approved. The Commission recommended a hedge around the park, which should be treated as a unit. The hedge will give a sense of isolation appropriate to the courts and at the same time will diminish the noise of the streets.
McPherson Square.—The Commission approved a plan for McPherson Square, the design being a return to the former plan according to which the trees were planted and to which they are adapted. The walks are to be of roughened cement to avoid slipping and the areas immediately around the monument and the drinking fountain are to be of terrazzo pavement. The walks bounding the turf will be 10 feet in width, while the diagonal walks are to be 14 feet in width to accommodate the pedestrian traffic.
Pock Creek Park, recreation grounds near Brightwood Reservoir.—Plans were submitted for recreation grounds near Brightwood Reservoir. It is proposed to abandon the temporary entrance drive at the intersection of Sixteenth and Kennedy Streets and to carry out the extension of Utah Avenue, with its bridge and double streetcar line. This extension of Utah Avenue, with the street-car facilities, is essential to the future development.
The Commission approved a landscape plan, with the following features:
A field house with a large porch on three sides, overlooking Rock Creek Park. There will be a stage on the east side for band concerts, community singing, or even theatrical productions—the stage being provided with so-called “ Steam curtains ” during a change of scene.
A music court or open-air auditorium directly east of the field house, flanked by grass tennis courts, to be utilized for greater seating or standing space as necessity may require.
A tea house of rustic architecture planned for the area west of the play field, and so situated on a commanding point of land as to secure a view of Rock Creek valley.
A field for playing to the south of the field house will afford additional grounds for baseball, football, and cricket.
Accessibility is provided for by park roads, paths, and trolley lines.
Pierce Mill, Bock Creek Park.—The Commission gave consideration to a preliminary landscape plan for the Pierce Mill grounds, showing suggested changes for the improvement of the area. The essential changes pertain to walks, bridle paths, roadways, parking space for automobiles, picnic places, rearrangements within the building, and a possible restoration of the water wheel. The Commission advised that there be few changes, and that in so far as
PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, BRIDGES.
Ill
the large traffic will permit the old features be retained—a rolling lawn, trees, shrubbery, numerous vistas of water, rocks, and foliage. The orounds should be given an informal treatment.
Highway plan of the District of Columbia.—On December 12, 1919, the Commission received the following letter from the Office of the Chief of Engineers concerning the restudy of the highway plan of the District of Columbia:
Referring to letter of the Chief of Engineers, May 4, 1917, in response to yours of April 26, 1917, concerning the need for a restudy of the highway plan of the District of Columbia with a view to getting good road connections for a complete circuit of the District through parks and parkways, I have the honor to inform you that action on the matter has been deferred on account of war activities, but it was recently taken up by the department with the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, and as a result they have recommended to the District Committees of the Senate and House legislation to authorize a survey and the preparation of a plan for a continuous parkway to connect the sites of the principal forts in the chain of Civil War defenses, east, north, and west of the city. As the bill contemplates the cooperation of the Fine Arts Commission and of the Federal Highway Commission, of which the Chief of Engineers is a member, it appears to me well calculated for the purpose contemplated in your letter referred to above.
I take pleasure in sending herewith, for your information and for the files of the Fine Arts Commission, a copy of the bill proposed by the commissioners and copies of correspondence relating to the matter.
The Commission hope that this plan will materialize. The following is a copy of the bill as reintroduced in the Sixty-seventh Congress on April 25, 1921, by Mr. Focht (by request of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia) :
Be it enacted, etc., That, for the purpose of preserving the sites of the old Civil War forts which formed a part of the defenses of Washington and to make them accessible to the public, the Commissioners of the District of Columbia are hereby authorized and directed to make a survey and plan and to submit same to Congress at the earliest practicable date, with recommendation as to what lands should be acquired to provide a continuous parkway of suitable width connecting the sites of the following old forts: Fort Greble, Fort Carroll, Battery Ricketts, Fort Stanton, Fort Wagner, Fort Baker, Fort Davis (United States owned), Fort Dupont (United States owned), Fort Shaplin, A Battery, Fort Mahan, Fort Bunker Hill. Fort Totten, Fort Slocum, Fort Stevens. Fort DeRussey, Fort Bayard, Battery Kemble, Battery Vermont (United States owned), and Battery Parrott, together- with an estimate of the cost of such acquirement, including the cost of such of said old forts as are not now owned by the United States. In the preparation of the survey and plan herein directed the commissioners shall confer with the Federal Highway Commission in order that upon completion of said plan the necessary steps may be taken to incorporate it into the highway system of the District of Columbia, under the authority granted by the act of March 4, 1915 (U. S. Stat. L., vol. 37, ch. 150, p. 949), and shall also obtain the advice of the National Commission of Fine Arts.
For the employment of such expert assistance and other services as may be necessary, and for other necessary expenses in connection with the work of the commissioners, the sum of $5,000 is hereby authorized.
The Georgetown bridge.
PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS, BRIDGES.
113
Southworth Cottage.—A letter from Sarah M. Huddleson, M. D., suggested that Southworth cottage be preserved as a literary landmark of Washington. The Commission could not take the initiative in the matter. If a bill were to be introduced in Congress and referred to the Commission, action would follow. The writer had also suggested maintaining Analostan Island as a part of the park plan. The Commission replied that this island is a part of the park plan for the future development of Washington and that the threatened use of the island for commercial purposes is regarded as a serious matter.
Minor reservations.—The larger public parks, including Rock Creek Park, and the many small triangular and circular reservations (now numbering 436) at the intersections of streets and avenues in the city of Washington, are under the jurisdiction of the Chief of Engineers of the United States Army, who acts through the officer in charge of Public Buildings and Grounds. In the progressive development of these park areas (extending from those that have reached a point of maintenance solely to those on which no improvements had been made) the officer in charge submits designs prepared by his landscape department to the Commission of Fine Arts for their criticism and advice. The major reservations have for the most part been designated with names by Congress or the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, and these are reported under separate headings and under respective designations. The majority of the reservations, however, are merely numbered. In the space of time covered in this report the Commission passed on the designs for Reservations Nos. 34, 70, 276A. 309C, 312, and 312A.
Public playgrounds.—In August, 1920, members of the Commission made a tour of inspection of the public playgrounds in the District of Columbia. Mitchell Park, Twenty-third and S Streets NW., was in a bad condition. Grading was necessary to protect the roots of trees, and the grounds should be made sightly. The wall being built on the Twenty-third Street side was entirely too low to give proper protection to the bank on that side of the park. The grounds having been given to the District, adequate appropriations should be made to put them in good condition.
For a proposed playground at Piney Branch off Sixteenth Street to the west, the Commission recommended that a landscape design be made.
The Commission regret that the playgrounds at Fourteenth and Park Road must be abandoned. The land is privately owned. It is one of the most used playgrounds in the city.
First Street and New York Avenue NW. is an ideal spot for a playground; it is fairly well equipped. It is necessary, however,
114 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
that the banks be graded or that a wall be built to protect the grounds and prevent the earth from covering the sidewalk.
At Garfield Park the pool is much used. Pools should be con-structed in all parts of the District.
The playground at Virginia Avenue and Eleventh Street at the present time is only half occupied. There is a considerable tract to the east which should be developed. This playground is over the K Street tunnel. The superintendent recommends a revised plan for this playground, and the Commission indorsed the recommendation.
An inspection was made of the neglected areas or squares in southeast Washington, particularly at South Capitol and M and Second and M Streets. It is greatly evident that these areas are suited for playgrounds and that the locality should be furnished with such means of recreation.
The superintendent reported that work was beginning on a play, ground at Second and N Streets SE.
An inspection was made of the area covered by the old Janies Creek Canal. The Commission recommended that all this land along the James Creek Canal be developed for playgrounds and flower gardens. It should be made a part of the great park scheme which is to surround Washington, and so developed, it would be a connecting link between East Potomac Park and the Anacostia Water Park.
Georgetown Bridge.—The Georgetown Bridge, to take the place of the old Aqueduct Bridge across the Potomac at Georgetown, is nearing completion. The bridge has been built in accordance with plans approved by the Commission of Fine Arts and the Secretary of War. The estimated cost of the bridge is $2,420,000, more than double the amount the bridge would have cost at the time the bridge was authorized.
The bridge, including approaches, will be 2,200 feet long and 75 feet wide. In the center of the bridge will be a double street car track, on each side of which will be a 16-foot roadway and an 8-foot sidewalk. The eight piers of the bridge have been completed; also three of the concrete arch spans and the spandrels are being set in place. The question of a suitable lamp-post for the bridge having been referred to the Commission by the Chief of Engineers, a metal lamp-post, based on the Potomac Park design, was recommended.-
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Rostrum, Georgia Avenue National Cemetery.
IX.
THE ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
THE bodies of the soldiers of the Great War which have been returned from Europe occupy an area in the Arlington Military Cemetery greater than that occupied by the private soldiers of the Spanish War or even the Civil War. It is the custom to think of Arlington as a completed cemetery, but such is far from being the case. The situation is one which has received a large amount of serious consideration, during which the Commission has had the cooperation and support of Maj. Gen. Harry L. Rogers, Quartermaster General, United States Army, to whom the following recommendations were submitted:
The Commission of Fine Arts lias been in consultation witli you, and through your good offices, with the members of your corps who have charge of Arlington National Cemetery. These consultations have extended over a period of three or four years, during which time all the elements that enter into the problem have been discussed. As a result of these studies certain conclusions vitally affecting the development and care of Arlington have been reached. These conclusions are shared by the members of your corps as well as by the members of the Commission of Fine Arts. No division of sentiment has developed. Briefly stated, the conclusions are:
First. Arlington is a national shrine, sacred to the memory of the thousands of soldiers dead, named and unnamed, who lie buried under the shade of its trees. This sacred character should be protected and fostered. Monuments or 115

ii»

General plan for World War section, Arlington National Cemetery.
THE ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
117
treatment of a self-assertive or grotesque character should be rigidly excluded. Quiet, simplicity, reverence should prevail.
Second. Arlington is also an historical place. Its builder, George Washington Parke Custis, was the adopted son of George Washington. His father gave his life for his country during the Revolution; and he himself was reared at Mount Vernon, where he lived until he completed Arlington House in 1804. At his death Arlington passed into the possession of his daughter, the wife of Robert E Lee. and was occupied by Gen. and Mrs. Lee until it came into possession of the Government. Its historical importance should be considered in methods of treatment.
Third. Arlington prospectively is a portion of the great central composition of Washington, extending from the Capitol through the Mall to the Monument and on to the Lincoln Memorial, whence the Memorial Bridge already authorized by Congress will cross the Potomac to the newly created park area adjoining the Arlington estate. This linking of Arlington to the park system of Washington imposes on the plan for the development of Arlington certain restrictions in the location of grave areas, so as to preserve a sufficient number of parklike drives through the cemetery.
Fourth. Arlington has certain dominating features to be considered in the plan of development.
(a) The mansion house which will stand as the termination of the axis of the Memorial Bridge leading from the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington. The wooded slopes in front of the mansion are among tire most beautiful landscapes in Washington, and they should be kept free from disturbances of any kind. The new plans for the restoration of the mansion house and grounds aim to restore its original character as a distinctive house of its historic period. These plans have been made in the Zone Supply Office and should be carried out in the spirit in which they have been devised.
(&) The amphitheater, recently completed to serve the double purpose of an auditorium on Decoration Day and to provide a place for the burials of distinguished soldiers, bring about certain new conditions at Arlington which need study. Above all, the planting should be so arranged as to bring the area dominated by the amphitheater into relations with Arlington. It should not continue an extraneous portion of an otherwise unified whole, but should be made an integral part of the composition.
(c) Fort McPherson, the remains of a Civil War fortification, should be treated in such manner as to preserve its historic character and at the same time relate it to the cemetery. It is now a neglected space of no significance, historic or otherwise. It may be properly treated as a grove, commanding a fine view of the cemetery and of the river.
(d) The western portion of Arlington is a neglected area now cut off from the main cemetery and rarely visited excepting by people searching for an individual grave. This early used area, reached through the Ord and Weitzel Gate, is beautiful for situation and contains the graves of some of the most distinctive regiments of the Civil War. It also should be brought into vital relation with the main portion of the cemetery by the improvement and development of the roadways.
Fifth. In the section devoted to burials of soldiers, the treatment represented by the uniform small headstones erected in regular formation and completely shaded by trees is the one that should prevail throughout the entire cemetery. It is these very tree-shaded areas that give Arlington its fine and characteristic quality. To day these shaded areas predominate, but with the 66941°—21-----------9

THE ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
119
burials of World War soldiers in open fields Arlington is fast losing its present distinction. No efforts should be spared to continue the planting over the
•esent bare and shadeless areas. It will be necessary to plant trees to perpetuate the distinction of this National Cemetery.
1 The Spanish War section also should be planted with trees that will produce shade to cover the entire area. In the World War section a planting scheme should be adopted in advance of the scheme for graves, or at least the two plans should be simultaneous.
This means the immediate selection and planting of thousands of trees in the now vacant space of Arlington. To-day these treeless portions, so out of harmony with the general appearance of the cemetery, give one the idea that the graves of our latest heroes are being placed rather in a potter’s field than in an honored location.
Elaborate flower beds of gaudy flowers are a disturbance in Arlington. Until trees have been planted and roads and buildings repaired the money spent on the maintenance of flower beds should be minimized.
Sixth. The rules made several years ago to regulate the character of monuments marking the graves of officers have had a quieting effect, but in the newer area set apart for officers there is need of additional planting of trees. The regulations against mausoleums, portraits, and unusual designs should be enforced for the protection of the many against the self-assertion of the few. The officers whose career needs eulogy on a tombstone should not be accorded in Arlington the credit that history denies.
Seventh. It is time now to see about recovering those portions of the Arlington estate which have been given up to the Agricultural Experimental Station. The recognition of the need and possibility of extending Arlington Cemetery will tend to prevent the crowding of graves within the present area, a tendency which is already marked.
Eighth. The road in front of Arlington Cemetery should be improved and developed along the entire frontage. The space should be leveled, the car tracks raised to the surface and relocated, and a boulevard treatment should replace the present neglected and uncared for conditions. The right way to deal with the situation is to have a comprehensive plan made for the entire development of Arlington, and year by year work to that plan as Congress shall make appropriations.
The World War has not only brought a sudden large accession to the present population of Arlington, but it has also given to more than a million men the right to demand and receive a burial site in this National Cemetery. The present appropriation for all the 83 national cemeteries is $250,000 a year. Arlington alone will need more than that entire sum annually.
Arlington roads need renewing. The mansion house needs new floors, woodwork. and paint; and, especially, the present barnlike appearance of the rooms devoted to the public should be changed for the better. Extensive planting of trees, preferably oaks, should begin at once, so that a quarter of a century lienee the entire cemetery may come into the fine condition that the best portions now display. The roads leading to the cemetery should be made safe and adequate. So much the Nation owes to the last resting place of those who have fought its battles and to the relatives and friends who pay tribute to the memory of the heroes.
What is to be known as the World War section is being developed in the southwest part of Arlington. The Commission particularly desires that ample space be allowed for trees and shrubs, driveways,
120 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
and a few places for distinctive monuments commemorating the World War.
A detailed plan covering the recommendations mentioned was approved by the Secretary of War, in accordance with which future developments in Arlington are to conform.
Monument to Lieut. Luigi Bartolucci-Dundas.—A design for a monument to the memory of Lieut. Luigi Bartolucci-Dundas, of the Italian Navy, was submitted to the Commission. The design was approved with recommendation that the entire stone be flush with the turf. The Commission believe that the amended design would mark an advance in the matter of Arlington monuments.
Peary M onument.—The cooperation of the Commission was asked in the matter of securing a suitable memorial to the late Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary, LT. S. N. The design adopted is that of a globe representing the earth, resting upon a pedestal. A gold star, facing the north, locates the North Pole. The memorial will be about 5 feet 6 inches high. The grave of Admiral Peary is on the hillside directly south of the Arlington Amphitheater, where the War Department has granted space for constructing the memorial with a landscape setting. (Six submissions.)
Fort Lincoln Cemetery.—In pursuance of a suggestion contained in the McMillan Park report of 1901, and of principles outlined in previous reports of this Commission, they have followed with interest the development of a new cemetery known as “ Fort Lincoln.” The site of Fort Lincoln is near the battle ground of Bladensburg, a name memorable because of the disaster to the American Army in 1814. It is not far from the often-used duelling ground where Barry and Decatur fought. The cemetery tract includes some 240 acres of potential park land, meadows, forest, and river. The hill crests give magnificent views. This area can be brought into the park system by the Eastern Avenue and Anacostia parkway connections. If the cemetery authorities shall keep their area under restraint as to the character of the monuments and the amount of space occupied by them relative to trees and grass, the area will become an interesting feature of the Fort Drive.
If the cemetery shall dedicate and restrict sufficient area to permit of a complete park treatment capping the end of the main ridge lying part in the District and part in Maryland, and if Eastern Avenue be deflected to the south so as to avoid cutting through the ridge for grade and the cemetery shall dedicate or restrict its entire waterfront and low-lying section (perhaps 30 acres) to allow the extension of the lagoon and parkway treatment of the lower Anacostia to Bladensburg, then the Anacostia Water Park will have a suitable termination. The proposals to this end were approved by the Com
THE ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
121
mission In this instance, as in several others, the cooperation of the State of Maryland is necessary.
Bostrum^ Georgia Avenue National Cemetery.—The Office of the Quartermaster General, War Department, submitted designs for a new rostrum in the Georgia Avenue National Cemetery, to be erected bv authority of Congress and dedicated on May 30, 1921. Suggested chan°'es having been made, the design was approved. (Three submissions. )
ADMINISTRATION.
The following table shows the work of the Commission during the pist year in comparison with that done during the eight preceding years of its existence :
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
I
1918 1919
1920
1921
Number of official meetings of the Commission held during the year.
9
8	8	8
statiiQS fountains, and momi-ments in the District ofColum-
Public buildings anil works in the District of Columbia. ...........
Questions of art referred by congressional committees............
Miscellaneous.....--------.....-
Questions submitted and returned before Commission was without authority to act.................
Carried over from previous year...
Total.......................
Not finally disposed of at close of fiscal year..........-----.......
Submissions returned because Commission was without authority to act...................
10	13
14	14
5	2
14	8
2	2
0 I
45	41
9
14
6
27
1
2
59
2
6	31
35	9
5	47
14	40
1	1
2	0
63 I 128
0
Total considered and disposed of..................।	41
62	120
2	2
2	2
MAINTENANCE.
The sundry civil act approved July 22, 1919, made an appropriation of $10,500 for the expenses of the Commission for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1920, in the following terms:
Commission of Fine Arts: To meet the expenses made necessary by the act approved Maj’ seventeenth, nineteen hundred and ten, entitled “An act establishing a Commission of Fine Arts,” including the purchase of periodicals, maps, and books of reference, to be disbursed, on vouchers approved by the Commission, by the officer in charge of Public Buildings and Grounds, who shall be the secretary and shall act as executive officer of said Commission, $10,500.
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1921, Congress granted $10,000.
The members of the Commission and the secretary receive no compensation for their services, the members being reimbursed only for their traveling expenses. Expenses of subsistence (comprising room at hotel and meals) are limited to $5 per day. This limitation involves at least an equal expense, which the members pay individu-123
124 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
ally. The only permanent and paid employees are an assistant to the secretary, a stenographer and typewriter, and a messenger boy. Heretofore, on account of the yearly increase in work, temporary clerical services have had to be engaged from time to time. The submissions and the importance of the work require one meeting a month, aside from committee meetings and submissions dealt with by individual members.
Congress has not given the Commission permission or funds to rent quarters. Since its creation the Commission has occupied temporary offices through the courtesy of the War Department. The quarters are overcrowded.
The following summaries show the principal expenditures and liabilities incurred by the Commission during the years 1920 and 1921:
Fiscal year 1920:
Members’ traveling expenses____________________________
Payment of employees___________________________________
Printing, photographs, books of reference, plans, and reports
Office supplies, etc-----------------------------------
Telephone and telegraph services, cleaning, etc________
Unexpended balance_____________________________________
10, 500.00
-----$2,520.14
----- 3, 681.66 _— 3,274.78
-----	835.61
-----	182.08
-----	5.73
Fiscal year 1921:
Members’traveling expenses— _______________________ __________ 2,430.11
Payment of employees__________________________________________ 4; 475 qq
Printing, photographs, books of reference, plans, and reports_ 1, 984.78
Office supplies, etc__________________________________________ 824.71
Telephone and telegraph services, cleaning, etc— _____________ 285.10
Unexpended balance_____ _______________________________
Table of estimates and appropriations:
Fiscal year ending June 30—	Estimate submitted.	Amount appropriated.	Amount expended.	Amount turned back into the Treasury.
1911						$10,000.00 8,800.00 5,000.00 5,000. 00 5,000.00 6,000.00 6,000.00 8,000.00 9,000.00 10,500.00 10,000.00 10,000.00	$9,553.62 6,788.63 4,889.30 5,000.00 5,000.00 6,054.44 6,000.00 7,874.92 8,992.50 10,494.27 10,000.00	$446.38 2,011.37 110.70 None. None, i 54.44 None. 25.08 7.50 5.73 None.
1912		$10,000.00 10,000. 00 8,800.00 7,500.00 7,500. 00 8,000.00 14,040.00 12,000.00 10,500. 00 11,250.00 12,600.00			
1913					
1914					
1915					
1916									
1917....					
1918					
1919					
1920					
1921					
1922					
				
1 Deficit.
ADMINISTRATION.
125
JURISDICTION.
Under the provisions of the organic act approved May 17, 1910, Congress directs that—
It shall be the duty of the Commission to advise upon the location of statues, fountains, and monuments in the public squares, streets, and parks in the District of Columbia, and upon the selection of models for statues, fountains, and monuments erected under the authority of the United States and upon the selection of the artists for the execution of the same. It shall be the duty of the officer charged by law to determine such questions in each case to call for such •idvice. The foregoing provisions of this act shall not apply to the Capitol Building of the United States and the building of the Library of Congress. The Commission shall also advise generally upon questions of art when required to do so by the President or by any committee of either House of Congress.
Bv Executive order dated October 25,1910, President Taft directed that—
Plans for no public building to be erected in the District of Columbia for the General Government shall be hereafter finally approved by the officer duly authorized until after such officer shall have submitted the plans to the Commission of Fine Arts, created under the act of Congress of May 17, 1910, for its comment and advice.
On February 2,1912, President Taft directed the Commission to advise the officer in charge of public buildings and grounds in regard to the improvement of any of the grounds in the city of Washington under his charge, whenever such advice is asked for by that officer. That officer now uniformly consults the Commission regarding details of the development of all the parks and reservations under his control.
On November 28, 1913, President Wilson issued the following Executive order:
It is hereby ordered that whenever new structures are to be erected in the District of Columbia under the direction of the Federal Government which affect in any important way the appearance of the city, or whenever questions involving matters of art and with which the Federal Government is concerned are to be determined, final action shall not be taken until such plans and questions have been submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts, designated under the act of Congress of May 17, 1910. for comment and advice.
On July 28, 1921, President Harding issued the following Executive order:
It is hereby ordered that essential matters relating to the design of medals, insignia, and coins produced by the executive departments, also the designs of statues, fountains, and monuments, ami all important plans for parks and all public buildings, constructed by executive departments or the District of Columbia, which in any essential way affect the appearance of the city of Washington, or the District of Columbia, shall be submitted to the Commission of Fine Arts for advice as to the merits of such designs before the executive officer having charge of the same shall approve thereof.
126 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
The duties of the Commission, therefore, now embrace not only advising upon the location of statues, fountains, and monuments in the public squares, streets, and parks in the District of Columbia, upon the selection of models for statues, fountains, and monuments erected under the authority of the United States, and the method of selection of the artists for their execution, upon the plans and designs for public structures and parks in the District of Columbia, but, in fact, all questions involving matters of art with which the Federal Government is concerned.
Respectfully submitted.
Charles Moore, Chairman.
Appendix.
THE COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
(Established by act of Congress approved May 17. 1910.)
MEMBERSHIP.
Daniel H. Burnham, architect, chairman ; appointed June 15, 1910; died June 1,1912.
Frederick Law Olmsted, landscape architect; appointed June 15, 1910; reappointed June 15, 1914. Term of service expired September 11, 191S.
Thomas Hastings, architect; appointed June 15, 1910; reappointed June 15, 1914. Term of service expired September 21, 1917.
Daniel Chester French, sculptor; appointed June 15, 1910; appointed chairman July 5, 1912; resigned June 15, 1915.
Francis D. Millet, painter; appointed June 15, 1910; died April 15, 1912.
Cass Gilbert, architect; appointed June 15, 1910; reappointed June 15, 1914; resigned September 20, 1916.
Charles Moore; appointed June 15, 1910; reappointed June 15, 1914; elected chairman July 29, 1915 ; reappointed for third term September 11, 1918 ; reelected chairman October 4, 1918.
Edwin H. Blashfleld, painter; appointed May 31, 1912, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Francis D. Millet. Term of service expired September 1,1916.
Peirce Anderson, architect; appointed July 5, 1912, to fill vacancy caused by the death of Daniel H. Burnham. Term of service expired September 1, 1916.
Herbert Adams, sculptor; appointed June 15, 1915, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Daniel Chester French.
J. Alden Weir, painter; appointed September 1, 1916, to fill vacancy caused by termination of term of service of Mr. Blashfleld. Mr. Weir died December 8,1919.
Charles A. Platt, architect; appointed September 1, 1916, to fill vacancy caused by termination of term of service of Mr. Anderson.
William Mitchell Kendall, architect; appointed September 20, 1916, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of Mr. Gilbert.
John Russell Pope, architect; appointed September 21, 1917, to fill vacancy caused by termination of term of service of Mr. Hastings.
James L. Greenleaf, landscape architect; appointed September 11, 1918, to fill vacancy caused by termination of term of service of Frederick Law Olmsted.
William Sergeant Kendall, painter; appointed April 10, 1920, to fill vacancy caused by the death of J. Alden Weir.
James E. Fraser, sculptor; appointed May 7, 1920, to fill vacancy caused by termination of service of Mr. Adams.
Louis Ayres, architect; appointed February 19, 1921, to fill vacancy caused by termination of service of Mr. William Mitchell Kendall.
Henry Bacon, architect; appointed February 21, 1921, to fill vacancy caused by termination of service of Mr. Charles A. Platt.
H. Siddons Mowbray, painter; appointed February 24, 1921, to fill vacancy caused by resignation of William Sergeant Kendall.
127
128 REPORT OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
SECRET ABIES AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
The officer in charge of public buildings and grounds, ex officio.
Col. Spencer Cosby, U. S. Army, 1910-1913; served until detailed as military attache at the American Embassy to France.
Col. William W. Harts, U. S. Army, 1913-1917; served until relieved and assigned for military duty in France.
Maj. C. S. Ridley, Corps of Engineers, 1917-1921.
Lieut. Col. C. O. Sherrill, Corps of Engineers, 1921—.
ACT OF CONGRESS ESTABLISHING THE COMMISSION OF FINE ARTS.
An act establishing a Commission of Fine Arts.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Conffress assembled, That a permanent Commission of Fine Arts is hereby created to be composed of seven well-qualified judges of the fine arts, who shall be appointed by the President, and shall serve for a period of four years each, and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The President shall have authority to fill all vacancies. It shall be the duty of such Commission to advise upon the location of statues, fountains, and monuments in the public squares, streets, and parks in the District of Columbia, and upon the selection of models for statues, fountains, and monuments erected under the authority of the United States and upon the selection of artists for the execution of the same. It shall be the duty of the officers charged by law to determine such questions in each case to call for such advice. The foregoing provisions of this act shall not apply to the Capitol Building of the United States and the building of the Library of Congress. The Commission shall also advise generally upon questions of art when required to do so by the President, or by any committee of either House of Congress. Said Commission shall have a secretary and such other assistance as the Commission may authorize, and the members of the Commission shall each be paid actual expenses in going to and returning from Washington to attend the meetings of said Commission and while attending the same.
Sec. 2. That to meet the expenses made necessary by this act an expenditure of not exceeding $10,090 a year is hereby authorized.
Approved, May 17, 1910.
INDEX.
Adams, Herbert, sculptor, former member of the Commission of Fine
Arts------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1, 85
Adams, Percy, architect----------------------------------------------------------- 100
Agriculture, Department of--------------------------------------------------------- 17
Agricultural Department War Memorial_______________________________________________ 78
Aitken, Robert I., sculptor------------------------------------------------------- 104
Alabama centennial coin---------------------------------1----------------------- 104
American cemeteries in Europe------------------------------------------------------ 39
Commission of Fine Arts requested by Quartermaster General to advise regarding, 39; Secretary of War requests members of Connnis-of Fine Arts to prepare plans for, 39; Col. H. F. Rethers, in charge of Graves Registration Service in Europe, 39, 66; Maj. George Gibbs, jr., landscape architect, 39, 66; Lieut. Col. C. C. Pierce, 39, 66; Excellent temporary arrangements, 41; policy of concentration, 43 ; location and treatment, 43; control of American cemeteries, 43; British cemeteries, 44; Imperial War Graves Commission, 44; Cross of Sacrifice, 45 ; Stone of Remembrance, 45 ; adequate space for graves, 49 ; headstones, 49 ; trees, 49 ; the title to the land, 50; areas of cemeteries proper, 50; buildings, fences, and gateways, 51; importance of planting, 53; relations of cemeteries to adjoining towns, 53; military parks, 53; control of monuments, 56; Suresnes, 56; Belleau Wood, 57; Marshal Foch, commander in chief of the Allied Armies, 57; Cantigny and Belleau Wood, 57; Gen. John J. Pershing, commander in chief A. E. F., 58, 61; Bony or Flanders Field, 59 ; the Meuse-Argonne, 59 ; additional cemeteries, 63; Thiaucourt, proposed cemetery at, 63; Seringes et Nesles, proposed cemetery at, 63; Belgium, proposed cemetery in, 63; American cemeteries in England, 63; Brookwood Cemetery, 63; Cliveden, seat of Lady Astor at, 63; buildings and necessary struc-
tures for, 66; Col. Geo. H. Penrose, 66.
American Republics, Bureau	of------------------------------------------------ 25
American Women's Legion--------------------------------------------------------- 70
Anacostia Water Park, creation of________________________________________________ 6
Anacostia Water Park, the------------------------------------------------------- 31
Analostan Island-------------------------------------------------------------23, 89
Anderson, Peirce, architect Washington city post office______________________ 100
Angell, Dr. James R., chairman of the National Research Council______________	86
Archives building--------------------------------------------------------------- 86
Arlington, approaches to________________________________________________________ 23
Arlington farms_______________■----------------------------------------------23,'119
Arlington National Cemetery, the_______________________________________________ 115
Army Congressional Medal of Honor, The__________________________________________ 72
Army War College________________________________________________________________ 16
Army War College, planting plan_________________________________________________ 87
Ayres, Louis, member of the Commission of Fine Arts__________________________ 1
130
INDEX.
B.
Page, Bacon, Henry, member of the Commission of Fine Arts_____________ ]
Baker, Hon. Raymond T., Director of the Mint__________________________
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad___________________________________________
Band Stand for Potomac Park___________________________________________ 1
Bartolucci-Dundas, monument to Lieut. Luigi___________________________
Bennings Bridge_______________________________________________________ 3,
Blashfleld, Edwin Howland, former member of the Commission of Fine
Arts--------------------------------------------------------------- S5
Bolling Field________________________________________________________   32	fl
Botanic Garden, obstacle to restoration of Mall________________________ g
Botanic Garden________________________________________________________
Brandegee, Senator Frank B., chairman, Joint Committee on the Library_ 34 97
Burkhardt, Maj. C. F_____________________________________________ ’gg
Burnham, Daniel H________________________________________________ g
member of Senate Park Commission of 1901; first chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts; architect of the Union Station.
C.
Caemmerer, H. P., assistant to the Secretary, the Commission of Fine
Arts___________________________________________________________   ]
Camp Humphreys___________________________________________________   gg
Capitol, the________________________________________________________ g
Capitol grounds, enlargement of_____________________________________ p
Capitol Grounds, the, Montpelier, Vermont___________________________ $
Capitol group, the_________________________________________________ 13
Casey, Edward Pearce, architect____________________________________ 92
Cass, Alfred Cookman_______________________________________________ 77
Cassatt, Alexander J., president of Pennsylvania Railroad________ 6,11
Chamber of Commerce of the United States, the______________________ 28
City Plan Committee, Baltimore_____________________________________ 98
Clement, Hon. Percival W., Governor	of	Vermont_____________________ 88
Coins and currency________________________________________________ 103
Commerce, Department of____________________________________________ 27
Commission of Fine Arts____________________________________________  1
Membership, 1; charged with plan of 1901, 37; advise as to American cemeteries in Europe, 39; consulted as to memorials of the Great War, 67 ; approved designs of public buildings, 81; advise as to monuments and statues, 91; approved designs for memorial coins, 103; advise as to parks, playgrounds, and bridges, 107; recommend improvements for Arlington National Cemetery, 115; growth of the work of 123; estimates and appropriations, 124; jurisdiction, 125; former members of, 127; secretaries and executive officers, 128; act estab
lishing, 128.
Conduit Road_____________________________________________________________ 36
Congress gardens_________________________________________________________ 15
Congress of the National Housing and Town Planning Council______________ 101
Connor, Jerome, sculptor____________________________________________ 77,99,100
Cooper, Hon. Henry Allen_________________________________________________ 34
Corcoran Gallery of Art_________________________________________________ 100
Cross Axis, the_________________________________________________________ 24
INDEX.
131
D.
Page.
Dallin, Cyrus E„ sculptor------------------------------------------------- 105
Darlington Memorial Fountain---------------------------------------------   98
District of Columbia, development of the_________________________________ 9
District of Columbia Memorial______________________________________________ 77
Donn, Edward W., jr., architect------------------------------------------ 799
Dupont Memorial Fountain--------------------------------------------------- 95
E.
East Potomac Park--------------------------------------------------------26,109
Ericsson Memorial, the----------------------------------------------------- 94
Executive group, the------------------------------------------------------- 27
Exhibition by the Commission of Fine Arts_________________________________ 109
F.
First Division A. E. F., War Memorial____________________________________25, 69
Flag and floral emblem for the District of Columbia______________________ 100
Flanagan, John----------------------------_------------------------------ 68
Forest Service Memorial Tablet--------------------------------------------- 77
Fort Drive---------------------------------------------------------------36, 111
Fort Lincoln Cemetery----------------------------------------------------- 120
Fort McHenry Park---------------------------------------------------------- 98
Fort Myer, approaches to--------------------------------------------------- 23
Fountains, the need of----------------------------------------------------- 29
Fourth Division A. E. F., Memorial_________________________________________ 70
Francis Asbury Memorial---------------------------------------------------- 96
Francis Scott Key Memorial------------------------------------------------- 98
Francisci, Anthony de. sculptor------------------------------------- 74,76,104
Fraser, James E., member of the Commission of Fine Arts_______________1,72,95
Fraser, Mrs. James E______________________________________:______________ 105
Freer, Charles L----------------------------------------------------------- 83
Freer Gallery of Art,	the------------------------------------------------17,83
French, Daniel Chester, former member of the Commission of Fine
Arts_________________________________________________________________ 85,92.96
G.
Gas holder, Analostan	Island______________________________________________ 89
George Washington Memorial, site of---------------------------------------- 16
Georgetown Bridge--------------------------------------------------------- 114
Gibson, Charles Dana, chairman, Committee on Pictorial Publicity_________	72
Gold Star, the_____________________________________________________________ 70
Gompers, Mr. Samuel, president of the American Federation of Labor_______	79
Goodhue, Bertram G., architect___________________________________________25, 86
Gould, Hon. Norman J., chairman, House Committee on the Library__________	100
Crafty, Charles, sculptor of Meade Memorial______________________________ 93
Grant Memorial, the______________________________________________________14, 91
Great Falls__________ ___________________________________________________ 36
Greene, Hon. Frank L., House of Representatives__________________________ 88
Greenleaf, James L., member of the Commission of Fine Arts_______________ 1, 39
H.
Harding, President_______________________________________________________ 103
Harts, Col. W. W_________________________________________________________ 32
132
INDEX.
Hay, Secretary .John, as to location of the Lincoln Memorial_________ p
Hays, Hon. Will________________________________________________________ gr-
Hersey, Brig. Gen. Mark L______________________________________________
Highway plan of the District of Columbia_______________________________ m
Hisada, Mr. Paul Kiyoshi_______________________________________________ gj
Holmead, Mr. A., assistant secretary, Interstate Commerce Commission, 7;; Hospital building, Soldiers’ Home________________________________________ $
House Office building__________________________1_______________________ y
I.
Interior Department, location of_______________1_______________>_______ 5
International interchange of modern arts_______________________________ iqj
Interstate Commerce Memorial Tablet____________________________________ 7g
J.
James Creek Canal___________________________________________________14,114
Japanese cherry trees memorial tablet___________________________________g§
Jeanne d’Arc Memorial__________________________________________________ 97
Jefferson, President__________________________________________________ 6.7
Jennewein, C. P., sculptor_____________________________________________ 98
Judiciary Square------------------------------------------------------ 110
Justice, Department of___'_____________________________________________ 27
K.
Kendall, Mr. Henry H., president, American Institute of Architects__	100
Kendall, Sergeant, former member of the Commission of Fine Arts_____	1
Kendall, William Mitchell, former member of the Commission of Fine
Arts------------------------------------------------------------1,39
Klingle Valley Parkway______________________________________________ 36
Kutz, Engineer Commissioner Charles W_______________________________ 89
L.
Labor, Memorial to__________________________________________________ 79
Lafayette Park_____________________________________________1________27,108
L’Enfant plan of 1792________________________________________________ 7
Library Committee, House of Representatives_________________________ 33
Library of Congress, the____________________________________________ 13
Lincoln Memorial, the________________________________:______________19,95
Lincoln Memorial, location and setting of the----------------------- 6
Loeb, Hon. William__________________________________________________ 95
Lukeman, Augustus, sculptor_________________________________________ 97
M.
Maine commemorative coin__________________________________________ 104
Mall Axis, restoring the__________________________________________ IS
Mall, the_________________________________________________________ 14
as a park connection___________________________________________ 9
development of the____________________________________________ 16
Manship, Paul, sculptor___________________________________________ 72
McKim, Charles F., member of Senate Park Commission_______________ 6,92
McKim, Mead, and White____________________________________________ 98
McMillan plan, exhibited by Commission of Fine Arts_______________ 100
McMillan plan, progress in the_____________________________________ 5
McMillan, Senator James____________________________________________ 5
INDEX.
133
Page.
McPherson Square--------------------------------------------------------- no
Meade Memorial, the------------------------------------------------------14, 92
Memorial Bridge, the-------------------------------------------------------  22
Memorials of the Great War-------------------------------------------------- g7
Meridian Hill Park-------------------------------------------------------98j 108
Militia insignia-----------------------------------------------------------  74
Mills, Hon. Ogden L., House of Representatives___________________________ 97
Ministere des Beaux Arts----------------------------------------------------- 98
Minor reservations---------------------------------------- ... ______ __	113
Missouri centennial coin--------------------------------------------------- 104
Monuments and statues-------------------------------------------------------- 91
Moore, Charles, chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts... ______________1,39,85
Moses, Lionel, sculptor-------------------------------------------------- 78
Mount Hamilton, site of proposed National Botanic Garden._	________ 32
Mount Vernon Road, the--------------------------------------------------- 35
Mowbray, H. Siddons, member of the Commission of Fine Arts_______________ 1
Moyle, Hon. J. H., Assistant Secretary of the Treasury___________________104,105
N.
National Academy of Sciences---------------------------------------------25, 86
National Botanic Garden, the_____________________________________________ 32
National Gallery of Art--------------------------------------------------16, 81
National Gallery of Art Commission___________________________________________ 85
National Museum-------------------------------------------------------------- 17
National Park Service, the--------------------------------------------------- 89
Navy and Munitions buildings------------------------------------------------- 5
Negro Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial________________________________________ 80
Nuns of the Battlefield Monument_________________________________________ 99
O.
Olmsted, Frederick Law, landscape architect______________________________ 6
member of Senate Park Commission of 1901; member of the Commis-
sion of Fine Arts; aid§ in creating Rock Creek Parkway and Ana-costia Park.
P.
Page, Mr. Walter____________________________________________________________ 95
Palisades of the Potomac, the_______________________________________________ 36
Parks, playgrounds, bridges________________________________________________ 107
Peary Monument____________________________________________________________  120
Peaslee, Horace W., architect____________________________________________99,108
Pennsylvania Avenue--------------- -------------------------------------- 9, 29
Perkins. Mr. George W_______________________________________________________ 95
Peters, Hon. John A., chairman, Maine Memorial Committee_________________ 104
Phillips Memorial Gallery of Art-------------------------------------------  81
Pierce Mill, Rock Creek Park_____________________________________________ 110
Platt, Charles A., former member of the Commission of Fine Arts__________1.83.85
Plymouth Memorial Coin_____________________________.»-------------------- 105
Police Memorial_________________________________________________________    100
Polifeme, Mme. Carlo______________________________________________________   97
Pope, John Russell, vice chairman, the Commission of Fine Arts___________	1
Potomac Park________________________________________________________________ 26
Public Buildings Commission________________________________________________—	30
66941	21-----10
134
INDEX.
Page.
Public Buildings Commission	report_______________________________30,87
Public Buildings and Grounds__________________________________________ 81
Public Buildings and Grounds, office of______________________________ 113
Public playgrounds___________________________________________________ 773
It.
Red Cross, the American______________________________________________ 25
Red Star Animal Relief War Memorial Tablet___________________________ 73
Regimental colors, Ninth Infantry____________________________________ 76
Ridley. Maj. C. S., former secretary and executive officer, Commission
of Fine Arts____________________________________________,__________ 1
Riverside Drive______________________________________________________ 21
Rock Creek and Anacostia Parks, connections between__________________ 33
Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway_______________________________________ 30
Rock Creek Park recreation grounds near Brightwood Reservoir_________ 110
Rock Creek Parkway, creation of______________________________________ G
Rogers', Maj. Gen. Harry L., Quartermaster General, U. S. Army_______69,115
Roman V-cut letter___________________________________________________ 77
Roosevelt Memorial, the___________________________________1__________ 95
Roosevelt, President Theodore_____________________________________6, 95,103
Root. Senator Elihu__________________________________________________19,95
Rostrum, Georgia Avenue National Cemetery____________ _______________ 121
R. O. T. C. insignia_________________________________________________ TG
S.
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, sculptor_________________________________6,92,103
Second Division A. E. F. Memorial____________________________________ 70
Senate Office Building______________ ________________________________ 13
Senate Park Commission of 1901_______________________________________ 11
Sherrill. Lieut. Col. C. O,, secretary and executive officer, the Commission of Fine Arts____________________________________________________________ 1
Shrady. Henry Merwin, sculptor_______________________________________ 92
Simon and Simon, architects of the Meade Memorial-- _________________ 93
Simon, Louis A., architect________________________ __________________ 100
Smithsonian Grounds, lodge, and comfort station______________________ 89
Smithsonian Institution______________________________________________ 16
Smillie, Mr. G. F. C., chief engraver, Bureau of Engraving and Printing-- 104
Soldiers’ Memorial Cross______________________________________________ TO
Southworth Cottage___________________________________________________ 113
Stanton Park Lodge______________________________________________________ 89
State, Department of____________________________________________________ 27
Summerall, Maj. Gen. C. P., president, Association of First Division, A. E. F________________________________________________________________ 69
Supreme Court of the United States, space for building of--------------- 14
T.
Taft, President______________________________________________________ 6.18
Thompson, Col. Wm. Boyce, president of the Roosevelt Memorial Association ______________________________________________________________    95
Thornton, William, design	for	Capitol________________________________ 14
Tracy, Evarts, architect______________________________________________ 97
Treasury Annex_______________________________________________________  28
Treasury Department, space	requirements for the_______________________ 86
INDEX.
135
u.
Page.
Union Station Plaza---------------------------------------------------------- 13
Union Station, the----------------------------------------------------------- 11
United States Chamber of Commerce____________________________________________ 28
United States currency------------------------------------------------------ 105
V.
Verdun Medal, the------------------------------------------------------------ 68
Vicksburg Memorial Arch------;--------------------------------------------	71
Victory Medal, the----------------------------------------------------------- 69
Vitale, Brinkerhoff, and Geiffert___________________________________________ 108
W.
Walter Reed Hospital_______________________________________________________95,99
Walter, Thomas U., extension of Capitol by___________________________________ 14
War Risk Insurance Building___________________________________________________ 5
Warrant officers’ insignia^-------------------------------------------—	76
Washington Board of Trade____________________________________________________ 30
Washington Channel----------------------------------------------------------- 26
Washington city post office, reflectors in__________________________________ 100
Washington Common, the_________________’__________________________________ 26
Washington Monument_______________________________________________________23, 24
Washington Monument Gardens, the------------------------------------------20, 23
Washington of the future-------------------------------------------------- 37
Washington, President-------------------------------------------------,---	6, 7
Washington, seat of Government____________________________________________ 9
Weeks, Hon. John W., Secretary of War_____________________________________ 96
Weir, J. Alden, resolution on death of____________________________________ 1
Wetmore, Senator George Peabody------------------------------■.-----------	13
White House, restoration of	the__________________________________________ 6
White House, the-------------------------------------------------------------- 9
White Lot, the--------------------------------------------------------------- 24
Wholesale terminal, District	of Columbia------------------------------------- 90
William Pitt, statue of______________________________________________________ 99
Wilmeth, Hon. James L., Director of Bureau of Engraving and Printing- 104
Wilson, President, letter of, to Mr. Herbert Adams, 2; letter of, to Dean
Wm, Sergeant Kendall, 3; letter of, to Mr. Charles A. Platt, 2____________
World’s Fair at Chicago in 1893------------------------------------------- 6
World War Memorial, proposed site for the National------------------------ 27
World War section in Arlington-------------------------------------------- 119
Wyllie, Col. Robert E-----------------------------------------------------68, 73
Z.
Zero milestone____________________________________________________________ 99
Zoning in the District of Columbia---------------------------------------- 90
o