scheme has been published Congress has abandoned the random choice of sites, 

 six public and three semi -public buildings having been authorized in accordance 

 with the plans of the Commission. 



THE OUTER PARK SYSTEM 



A most important part of the Report of the Commission deals with the much- 

 needed systematizing of Washington's Parks. In the accompanying map existing 

 parks are shown in light green, other areas open to the use of the public in dark 

 green, and the proposed extensions of the park system in brown. These recom- 

 mendations, involving as they do the reclamation of the malarial Anacostia flats, a 

 park by the riverside reaching to the Great Falls of the Potomac, and a chain of 

 driveways connecting the hilltop forts about the city, would give Washington a 

 total park area of 8,000 acres and a system of parkways sixty-five miles long. 



A very interesting proposal of the Commission is that for an elevated driveway, 

 along certain parts of the river-front, as suggested by the example of foreign cities. 

 Should the funds of the Allied Organizations justify a report upon the improve- 

 ment of the Schuylkill River Front, the subject of such elevated driveways will 

 receive extended consideration. 



It is noted that by a recent executive order the President has constituted an 

 informal commission to advise upon the choice of sites for public buildings within 

 the District of Columbia and upon the designs for the exterior of such buildings, 

 and that he has chosen all the members of the former Senate Commission to act 

 upon the new Executive Commission. 



If such great progress has been made in three years in devising wise plans for 

 the improvement of Washington, in securing for such plans the hearty indorse- 

 ment of the American public and in making a beginning of their execution, why 

 cannot we in Philadelphia do things of equally great importance to ourselves by 

 planning how best to make use of our many splendid opportunities ? 



For further information, apply to Daniel H. Burnham, Chicago, 111.; Frederick L. Olmsted, Jr., 

 Brookline, Mass. ; Augustus St. Gaudens, New York; Charles McKim, New York, Members of Com- 

 mission; or, to Mr. Charles Moore, Chairman American Civic Association's Committee on the Im- 

 provement of Washington, Union Trust Company, Detroit, Mich.; or to Mr. Glenn Brown, Secre- 

 tary American Institute of Architects, The Octagon, Washington, D. C. 



l'envoi 



In 1880 Philadelphia led the cities of America in park area. In a quarter of a 

 century we have fallen far behind. The cities that we have cited, and we do not 

 claim that the list is complete, show that the Philadelphia Allied Organizations are 

 but abreast of the times in urging the acquisition for park purposes of the natu- 

 rally beautiful valleys and wooded areas in the suburbs of the city, and the construc- 

 tion of parkways between them, in order to secure a Comprehensive Park System. 



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