6 ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDEN. 



The bill introduced by Senator Moses embodies part of a resolu- 

 tion or bill which Senator Gallinger had previously introduced, and 

 Senator Williams informs me he thinks the Senate passed it, 

 although he is not sure. At any rate the committee reported it 

 favorably. 



The object of this hearing is to hear what the Fine Arts Commis- 

 sion, and witnesses whom they have asked to be here, have to say 

 upon the general subject of a botanic garden in Washington and 

 for making a record of what the recommendations and plans of the 

 Fine Arts Commission are, and ascertaining what the proposal of the 

 authorities is for the development of the Mall, whether the develop- 

 ment of the Mall and the erection of the statue of Gen. Grant at the 

 east end of it is going to necessitate the removal of the present Bo- 

 tanic Garden, and if so, what is best to do about getting another 

 botanic garden, if anything can be done at the present time. The 

 purpose of the hearing is to hear these gentlemen. There are land- 

 scape architects and others, who are skilled in such questions, from 

 other parts of the country here to-day, so I think it better that we 

 should take their testimony. Whether Congress intends to take final 

 action upon this question at this session or not, it will be of some 

 avail to have collected this information. Mr. Moore, I will ask you, 

 please, to call your witnesses in such order as you choose, for I do 

 not know who they are. 



Senator Williams. I would like to have each witness when he testi- 

 fies give us some idea of what he thinks the scheme recommended by 

 him would cost. 



The Chairman. Certainly. 



Senator Williams. The Treasury is not in very good condition 

 right now. 



The Chairman. I would suggest to Mr. Moore — and it is only a 

 suggestion, as he is more familiar with this whole question than I 

 am — that in the first place he outline what the proposals of the gov- 

 ernmental authorities are -who give any attention to this matter, and 

 how they accord with or differ from the general plan for the develop- 

 ment of the park system of Washington and of the Mall, then after- 

 wards bunch your witnesses, when it comes to talking about a par- 

 ticular kind of botanic garden or a particular place at which they 

 think it should be located. 



STATEMENT OF MR. CHARLES MOORE, CHAIRMAN OE THE 

 COMMISSION OE FINE ARTS. 



Mr. Moore. Mr. Chairman, Senator Williams is correct. Senator 

 Gallinger introduced a bill for the extension of the Botanic Gardens 

 into Fast and West Seaton Parks. That bill passed the Senate and 

 went to the House. Mr. Slayden. the chairman of the House Com- 

 mittee on the Library, referred the bill to the Commission of Fine 

 Arts. The commission made a report to the House Committee on 

 the Library. That is the way in which the Commission of Fine 

 Arts came into this matter. 



The Commission of Fine Arts at that time called attention to the 

 fact that Congress had located the Grant Statue in the Botanical 

 Garden in accordance with the plans of 1901 for the development 

 of the Mall. Subsequently. Congress also authorized the State of 



