ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 55 



The Chairman. I understand that. 



Mr. Johnson. This property fronts on Bladensburg Road, does 

 it not? 



Mr. Moore. It does. 



Mr. Johnson. You could get into it from Bladensburg Road? 



Mr. Moore. Certainly. Of course, the natural approach will be 

 along Maryland Avenue extended. Another thing, Mr. Chairman, 

 there is a law already for the taking of all land needed for the 

 Anacostia improvement. An amendment to that legislation Avould 

 accomplish the results now sought. 



The Chairman. The present law provides for taking lands below 

 the tide lines. 



Mr. Moore. Below the 10-foot contour. 



The Chairman. Is there anybody else who desires to speak either 

 for or against this project? If not we will consider the hearing 

 closed. 



(Thereupon, at 1.15 o'clock p. m. the hearing was adjourned.) 



Bismaeck, N. Dak., May 21, 1920. 

 Mr. Charles Mooee, 



Chairman Fine Arts Commission, Washington, D. C. 



Deae Sie : I have heard something' of the proposed creation of a new botan- 

 ical garden in the vicinity of Washington. In this connection it occurs to 

 me that it would afford an excellent opportunity for a living outdoor museum 

 for the people, by which they might learn much of the native flora of America 

 in distinction from the many introduced species now escaped and naturalized 

 over much of our country. As the case now stands most people have no clear 

 idea of the distinction between the native flora and the introduced forms. 



Another service from such a native botanical garden would be the facility 

 it would afford for study and experiment in domestication and amelioration 

 of the native plants which were utilized in their wild state by the native tribes 

 of America for various uses in their economic life, for food, dyestuff, fibers, 

 perfumes, medicines, and various other uses. 



A third use such a native botanical garden would serve is the demonstration 

 of the several cultivated crops for which the world is indebted to the aborigi- 

 nal American cultivators. Here could be brought together in a living exhibi- 

 tion a nation-wide collection of the varieties cultivated and adapted to the 

 various area of differing conditions of climate and soil, as they were developed 

 by the tribes resident in the several areas. For instance, it would be most in- 

 teresting to the public from many points of view, to have growing near the 

 National Capital plants of the agricultural crops of the very stock cultivated 

 by the Mandans on the upper Missouri River which made possible the success 

 of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804 and 1805. For it was the food 

 supply obtained by that expedition from the Mandan Indians which made it 

 possible for the expedition to remain on the upper Missouri through the 

 winter and thus be that far forward on their journey next spring. 



All these uses would serve as real factors in the process of Americaniza- 

 tion, about which we hear so much in these days. And in my view a real and 

 appreciative knowledge and understanding of physical America, and an ap- 

 preciation of America's native distinctive character must be no slight factor in 

 the establishment of Americanism. 



For all these reasons I am intensely interested in the project and hope that 

 it may be accomplished. I am specially interested in such a project, and as 

 curator of the State Historical Society of North Dakota have planned such 

 an outdoor museum as the planting scheme for development of the State 

 capitol grounds and its execution has been authorized by act of the legislature. 

 Yours, truly, 



Melvin R. Giemobe, 

 Curator of the State Historical Society -of North Dakota. 



