To Enlarge United States 
Botanic Garden 
A 
BILL 
has 
just 
passed the 
Jnited States 
Senate which 
proposes t o 
add the reser- 
v a t i o n s 
known as 
East and 
West Seaton 
Park to the 
United States 
Botanic Gar- 
den. This 
1 a n d, which 
lies just west 
of the present 
g a r d e n, is 
bounded by 
Third and 
Sixth streets, 
Missouri and 
Alain ave- 
nues, and will 
add some 
eighteen 
acres to the 
Botanic Gar- 
d e n, which 
now consists 
of about eleven acres, thus providing about thirty acres. 
There has been more or less aeitation for some time 
The Critlendon Peace Oak {Quercus Macro- 
car pa). This tree was successfully moved in 
the U. S. Botanic Garden about ten years ago 
to mo)ke room for the creation of the Grant 
Memorial Statue. 
past to improve the United States Botanic Garden, which 
is sorely in need of it, while many advocates have also 
been found favoring the removal of the garden to what 
is known as Rock Creek Park. 
The main objection raised to the removal to Rock 
Creek Park has been on the ground that it will be too 
far from the central population of the city of Washing- 
ton. There is, however, a greater objection to its 
removal, and the Botanic Garden should be enlarged and 
beautified where it is now located, in the very heart of 
the city of Washington, that trees planted by Crittendon, 
Lincoln and many of the great men of the past and the 
many other historical features connected with the present 
garden may be preserved. 
The report submitted on the bill which passed the 
Senate was in part, as follows : 
"If the bill passes, it is proposed to improve the area by 
the planting of extensive flower beds, the erection of 
modern conservatories, containing rare plants of educa- 
tional, artistic and scientific value, and other alterations 
which will convert an area now of absolutely no value 
to anybody into a modern botanic garden, comparable to 
similar gardens in other large cities and foreign capitals. 
"Tn 1902 the park commission for the District of Col- 
umbia made a report to Congress, including in their 
report a comprehensive plan for the beautification of the 
entire Mall, and providing a suitable connection with the 
Capitol grounds. In this plan a broad central parkway 
was contemplated from the Lincoln Memorial through 
the Monument grounds to the Capitol, flanked on either 
side by public buildings. The new buildings of the De- 
partment of Agriculture and the new National Museum 
were located in accordance with the park commission 
plan, and it is to be hoped the entire plan may eventually 
materialize. 
The Bartholdi Statue in U. S. Botanic Garden. The Capital Is Seen in the Background. The Stone Base Seen in the Rear of the 
Fountain Is the Foundation of the Grant Monument for Many Years Under Course of Construction. 
356 
