I received your reply to my telegram of 26th inst. late the same evening. The occasion of my telegraphing you was this:

There is in Washington a series of cultivated and of vacant grounds extending from those about the Capitol to about the White House; including the “public gardens,” the “old armory square,” the Smithsonian Grounds; the Agricultural bureau grounds; the (proposed) Washington Monument Grounds and a considerable area in process of reclamation from the Potomac flats. They are managed in an absurd and wasteful way under advice and control of nearly a dozen independent Committees of Congress, assisted by nearly as many heads of bureaus and other officials, architects, surveyors and gardeners.

I have twice been to Washington on invitation {of} Mr. Morrill of Vt, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Grounds, who wishes me to become their professional adviser and executive officer. I have strongly urged that before anything more is done in regard to any particular ground an effort should be made to simplify and consolidate the present organizations and bring all these grounds into subordination to a comprehensive scheme and have requested that the question of policy involved in this proposition should be submitted to a representative board of American Landscape Architects; it being one which in my judgement concerns the credit of the profession and the honor and dignity of the country.

I yesterday accepted an engagement to prepare a plan for the grounds immediately about the Capitol but stated that I would prefer not to undertake any other duty until after the proposed board, if ordered, should make its report.

I left Washington last night with the understanding that if there should seem to be a fair chance of carrying the proposition it was to be submitted to Congress.

I named two gentlemen for it besides yourself and Mr Cleveland of Chicago but Mr Morrill thought best to limit it to three.

I undertook after receiving your telegram that the whole expense of the Commission should not exceed $1500.

I shall promptly advise you if anything more comes of it.

In accordance with the intention expressed in my note of 17th inst. I have mailed you a traceing indicating the general features of a plan for your ground.

If it fails to give as direct access as is desireable between any two points or is otherwise wanting in convenience, it is because I have not fully understood your plans & wishes in this respect, and it may be modified under more specific instructions.

After providing needed communications in all parts it is designed to offer considerable advantages for promenading and resting out of doors.

Lastly as much effect of space and distance and general air of luxury and refinemnt as the ground allows is aimed to be secured by a few simple central features.

Standing in what I understand to be the office and looking through the principal doorway you will observe that a vista would be commanded extending from end to end of the property; the foreground would be deeply shaded and inviting at all times of the day; in the middle distance would be a quiet sunny lawn, beyond it a fountain with rich shrubbery on each side, at a greater distance a pavilion would be distinguished and the view would terminate in a thicket of foliage.

Outside the door the first feature is a pergola the floor of which is designed to be on a level with that of the office. It is to be covered by a trellis and vines, and to serve as an outer sitting room overlooking the ground, shaded but airy.

Next, opening from the centre of the pergola is a gravelled area with four lines of trees and fixed seats. The trees would desirably be the weeping [56]

Plan For The Grounds Of United States Hotel, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

[58]

The next principal feature is a plot of turf 145x125 feet, designed with especial reference to croquet parties and children’s dances.

The next compartmnt is a slope of turf to be planted on each side with banks of shrubbery, then comes a level area 5 feet higher than the croquet ground in the midst of which is a fountain.

Next a lawn terminated with a pavilion or summer house, beyond which a plot which is designed to be closely planted, with trees and under wood. A walk through this plantation gives a screened access to the Club House from the Billiard Room.

Fixed seats are designed to be placed around the fountain and croquet ground. Minor features will be observed that need no explanation.

The plan would require but slight changes in the present surface of the ground and could, except the fountain, under proper superintendence be carried out by ordinary laborers and carpenters. The pavilion may be simple and cheap or elaborate and costly at your discretion. For the fountain I think one can be found at the Architectl Iron Works imported from France that will do very well. The pergola may be made entirely of pine joists and plank planed square and morticed together in the simplest way. To make it more elegant and to allow an effect to be produced the first season by annual vines, before the permanent vines could grow sufficiently to cover it, iron work as indicated in the enclosed sketch might {be} substituted with advantage for wooden posts.

Be so good as to return the study to me as soon as convenient with or without your instructions for maturing a plan.