The climate of Washington, which is semitropical, permits the growth of trees found both in the North and the South. Thus there are oak, walnut, maple, and cedar trees amidst magnolias, Japanese cherry trees, and the mountain laurel, to mention only a few. Congress has authorized the establishment of a national arboretum in the National Capital, which will comprise at least 500 acres and will be a most interesting place for the planting of many varieties of trees and the study of them. A plan to widen East Capitol Street and build a stadium on the axis of the street in Anacostia Park is being made by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
THE FORT DRIVE
The citizens’ movement to connect by a boulevard a considerable part of the Civil War defenses of Washington was incorporated in the plan of 1901. These old defenses, occupying strategic positions, are capable of being converted into small parks of high excellence and availability, and a connecting boulevard will have an added historic interest. Of these so-called forts a number are already in possession of the Government. Among those that have been purchased is Fort Stevens, near the Army Medical Center, where during General Early’s raid, on July 12, 1864, President Lincoln was under fire until ordered to the rear by the officer in command. The Fort Drive is being developed by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. There will be 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 (United States owned), Fort De Russye, Fort Bayard, Battery Kemble, Battery Vermont (United States owned), and Battery Parrott. There is another Civil War fortification in the Arlington National Cemetery, called Fort McPherson, which is being preserved for its historic character. From it a commanding view of the cemetery and of the river is obtained.
PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE WATER FRONT
WASHINGTON CHANNEL AND THE WATER FRONT
The water front of Washington is to be similar to the magnificent water fronts of large cities of Europe. The plan provides for a quay, with space for commercial piers, warehouses, steamboat offices, commercial houses, boathouses, and recreational piers. There will be a beautiful boulevard drive along “Water Street” which will connect with Anacostia Park, also adequate street-railway accommodations. Washington has 18 miles of water front, and this will be a most interesting part of it.
It is proposed to replace all existing structures on the water front at “Water Street,” with the exception of the Municipal Fish Wharf, with modern buildings. Head houses and transit sheds are to be of brick and tile, with slate roofs and of a modified colonial architecture. A total of six wharves is projected for immediate construction and a portion of the frontage available is to be reserved for future additions. Yacht basins and small-boat anchorage are included in the plan. The plan has been prepared by the United States Engineer Office, with the idea that Washington is not primarily an industrial city, nor will it ever be, so that railroad connections with the piers and slips were omitted. Such industrial developments as might require ship-to-rail transfers can be accommodated in other locations. Buzzards Point is to be developed for maritime commercial uses.
Under the improvement program “Water Street” is to be made a 160-foot boulevard, with separate lanes for traffic, street cars, and trucks, and marginal and central landscaping. The old 4-line street-car lanes on a portion of the street have been removed. To permit of direct connection with East Potomac Park and the Highway Bridge, a bridge is to be built just below the railroad crossing at the head of the Washington Channel. Water Street is now Maine Avenue.
