the ending of the Civil War found Washington ready and waiting for the improvements which have lifted it from a straggling, ill-kept town, into one of the beautiful and stately capitals of the world. [Illustration: XXV. THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT, GARDEN AND MALL, LOOKING TOWARDS THE CAPITOL; SENATE PARK COMMISSION PLAN.] [Illustration: XXVI. THE PLAZA AND UNION STATION, WASHINGTON, BEGUN IN 1902.] [Illustration: XXVII. Cleveland Group-Plan. Proposed civic center, railway station and gardens, now being executed.] Before the opening of the twentieth century, Washington had begun to expand over the surrounding country; and there unfortunately the L’Enfant plan stopped short. Moreover, within the city there had been perversions of the plan; and there had also been additions to the park area awaiting development. Congress dealt in part with the difficulties by extending the L’Enfant plan of streets and avenues over the entire District of Columbia; and in 1901 the task of preparing a report on the development of the park system of the Federal territory and the placing of public buildings was committed to an expert commission. As Haussmann aimed in large part to carry out the work that had been planned by the architects of Louis XIV., so the Senate Park Commission sought to re-establish and reanimate the plans of L’Enfant, which had the sanction of Washington and Jefferson. In spite of much opposition on the part of those who regard only the present, and take no thought for future advancement, the new plans have been carried to such a point that their general lines are well established, and already works to cost nearly $50,000,000 are in progress, each one of which strengthens the hold of the general scheme.[12] [Illustration: XXVIII. CLEVELAND GROUP PLAN. View looking towards the Lake from the proposed civic center.]