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.