The Editor wishes to extend a personal invitation to all readers of House and Garden to send to the Correspond¬ 
ence Department, inquiries on any matter pertaining to house finishing and furnishing. Careful consideration is given 
each inquiry, the letter and answer being published in due time as matters of interest to other readers. Where an 
early reply is desired if a stamp and self-addressed envelope are enclosed, the answer will be sent. No charge 
whatever is made for any advice given. 
I T is with pleasure that we publish the following 
notice which has been sent to the editorial 
office of House and Garden. The beauty 
of our Capitol City is a matter of national pride and 
the dignity of her shaded streets, parks and statuary 
has during some of the past inaugurations been 
almost obliterated for the time, and in the case of 
trees and shrubs perhaps permanently injured. 
The opportunity offered for competitive plans for 
an arrangement of stands for spectators should bring 
responses not only from those who will be interested 
in gaining the honor of submitting an accepted design 
together with the prize, but should appeal to the 
patriotism ol all who are capable of entering the 
competition. 
The National Society of the Fine Arts, The Wash¬ 
ington Architectural Club, The Washington Chapter, 
American Institute of Architects invite competitive 
plans for the arrangement of stands for spectators 
on the route of the inaugural procession. 
The ceremonies attending the inauguration of a 
new President attract large numbers of visitors to 
Washington. The city should be at its best; but 
unfortunately the route of the inaugural procession, 
where most of the visitors congregate, has been 
marred by the building of large stands, which hide 
the statues and trees, and do great injury to both, 
with the additional danger of destroying both. The 
trees and statues and public buildings, which are a 
feature of Washington, should be visible in their 
proper settings. 
The committee in charge of the inaugural festivities 
is a volunteer committee, and is appointed so near 
the time of the inauguration that it is not possible 
for it to thoroughly consider the problems. 
It has been thought that a preliminary competition 
for the stands would tend to a solution of some of 
these problems, and this competition is undertaken 
for that purpose, without offering any guarantee to 
the competitors that their designs will be accepted. 
The designs which are awarded prizes will become 
the property of this committee, and will be published 
for the benefit of all interested in the subject, and will 
be offered to the inaugural committee at the next 
Presidential inauguration, for such use as the com¬ 
mittee may see fit to make of them, without promise 
of compensation beyond the amount of the prize. 
All other designs will be returned to the authors 
after the decision by the jury. 
The jury of award will be composed of one repre¬ 
sentative from each of the associations inviting plans, 
and two persons who have had some practical 
experience with former inaugural processions. 
The jury will have the usual rights and will per¬ 
form the usual duties of a jury, including the right to 
reject any or all designs submitted. 
The following gentlemen have consented to act as a 
jury: J. R. Marshall, f7//(7/rmrt/z,T. J. D. Fuller, Frank 
D. Millet, Frederick D. Owen and John 13 . Lamer. 
It is desired to devise a scheme which shall be 
decorative, shall leave the trees, statues, and public 
buildings free, and shall seat the maximum number 
of spectators. 
It is desired, if possible, to bring out suggestions 
for tbe permanent treatment of the Avenue, and it is 
hoped that a portion of the work may be worthy to be 
made permanent, as a memorial of the occasion. 
At the same time it must be borne in mind that the 
stands are temporary and must of necessity be inex¬ 
pensive. 
It is suggested that the flag of the country be not 
used except where it can fly freely from a mast. 
There would be no objection to suggestions for 
diminishing the marching width ot Pennsylvania 
Avenue during the parade hours to not less than 
eighty feet. 
Provision for lavatories, ticket offices, and lunch 
counters may be disregarded by competitors. 
It is usual to keep at least five feet of the sidewalk 
south of Lafayette Square free. 
It is important that the view of the parade from the 
sidewalks and from the buildino;s alone the Avenue 
{Continued on page g. Advertising Section.') 
65 
