The Poisonous Miasma of the U.S. Capitol as Found Poetry (Fred. Law Olmstead, 1882.)

JF Ptak Science Books  Quick Post

Yes, that is pretty much a direct quote (full quote to follow) by the great landscape architect and engineer of the Capitol grounds, though it is in reference to the miasma going into the Capitol and not that coming out of it.  Olmstead reports that there's some wicked "evil" stuff in the low-lying areas just east of the building, and recommends that for the sake and pity of all that is holy that the problem be addressed, and quickly. His immediate solution is to transplant and grow a wide row of bushes and trees in between the Capitol building and the evil stuff.  The text of the lead of the appeal follows, rendered intact, but lofted into a poetic structure that probably doesn't work--it would work out better though if you can listen to it in your head being recited by Billy Collins:

I respectfully ask your consideration for the fact

that the air of the Capitol is always during the larger part of the year

charged with poisonous miasma.

If the fact is questioned I will submit reasons

for asserting it.

 

 

For the present I assume it and also that no session of Congress can be carried into the spring or held during the summer or fall without a distinct impairment because of this miasmatic poison of the health vigor and ability for their duty of its members while in the usual interval between the sessions of Congress

the efficiency of all who are employed in the business of the Capitol is lessened by it.

The source of the poison is the low ground lying from half a mile to a mile south of the Capitol. Rising from this locality it is floated north ward by the summer winds to the Capitol.

The evil may in time be cut off at its origin by embankments and drainage but adequate operations for the purpose will be costly and are likely to be prolonged. While in progress their immediate effect will be an aggravation of the evil.

 

And so on. The "regular" text version is below. 

• "Chairman Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds: Sir: I respectfully ask your consideration for the fact that the air of the Capitol is always during the larger part of the year charged with poisonous miasma."

• "If the fact is questioned I will submit reasons for asserting it. For the present I assume it and also that no session of Congress can be carried into the spring or held during the summer or fall without a distinct impairment because of this miasmatic poison of the health vigor and ability for their duty of its members while in the usual interval between the sessions of Congress the efficiency of all who are employed in the business of the Capitol is lessened by it. The source of the poison is the low ground lying from half a mile to a mile south of the Capitol. Rising from this locality it is floated north ward by the summer winds to the Capitol. The evil may in time be cut off at its origin by embankments and drainage but adequate operations for the purpose will be costly and are likely to be prolonged. While in progress their immediate effect will be an aggravation of the evil. The movement of the poison may however be arrested by means which will not be costly of planting the strip of land now held by the United States along the base of the Capitol Hill on the south..."

Source: Letter from Fred. Law Olmstead, Landscape Architect of the Capital Grounds, to Hon. E.H. Rollins, Chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings, Washington, D.C., Senate Miscellaneous Document No. 32, 47th Congress, 1st session, January 11, 1882.  9x6", 2pp, simple folding diagramatic map.