Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-09-10
A PUBLIC PhRk .

PUBLIC PARK.
Editor Star: During the past sessions OF Don.
gress, while the subject Of Public Park was 90
frequently alluded to, it seems really strange
that due importance should not have been at
tached to the beautiful parkwe have, almost
ready atour hands-the Public Nall" 1t Gov
srs a space that extends from the so uare east OF
the Capitol, directly west 70 18th street, vary.
ing in width from 200 to 500 yards Were it pro.
posed to purchase this large tract of ground.
In the very midst Of our city, we might Justly
pause at the enormous expense 1t would in.
cur, but when we reflect that it is already the
property OF the United States. and especially
reserved tor the use Of the public, and the COM
paratively trifiing appropriation 1t would re-
qulre to throw the whole OF these re ser vatlons
Qnciudng Presidents grounds and LAFAYETTE
Square) into one continuous public park, it
seems really surprising that they should be left
in their present undressing condition To
advocate the advantages Of such park to our
city would be an unnecessary task to any
reasonable being, yet while suggestions are
made tor the purchase of property adjscent to
our city, and difficult Of access, our people
seem blind to the advantages of these public
reservations for park purposes, which are in
our very midst at present the majority of
these are but big public squares, SURF sunded
by high paiiDg fences, and generally as unin.
teresting as so many acres Of stubble.
We will search in vain for tract Of ground
(that we are likely to obiain) that has so many
advantages as the public spaces indicated. for
public park. This tract of ground is acces-
sible by at most ten min utes walk from almost
any part OF our city 1t runs parallel to Penn.
sylvania avenue through its entire length, and
being Immediately adjacent thereto, it would
not only supply 8 delightful retreat, but could
be made to furnish a magnificent highway for
those passing to and fro in our city who have
business in the departments, and who wish to
escape the alternating mud and dust OF Penn
sylvania avenue.
While on this subject will allude to one that
Immediately bears upon it, and which has been
heretofore discussed. 1 refer to the plan for re-.
claiming the low grounds adjoining the NJ on.
ument Square and near the little island at the
mouth of the canal. BY filing up these low
grounds some fifteen acres OF land could be
made for the Government, and the appearance
Of the river front at that part of the city great
ly improved. Viewing this last projected i'm
provement in connection with the conversion
OF the public mall int park, Its importance
will be perceived if we imagine the improve.
ment made, bridge thrown across the canal
at Sixteenth street, and direct comm unication
thus afforded between the avenue, Presidents
House and Departments, and the objects OF
public interest IN the southern part of our
through dusty thoroughfares, but through q
beautiful and interesting public park.
1t is not thought that these Improvements
are at all in conflict with the plan of the la
mented Downing but rather tina, they are In
support of his plan; but his ideas seem to have
been consigned to the tomb of the Capulets,"
and the mall remains an unsightly barren
waste, only intersected by the ordinary streets
and by path here and there for pedestrians.
1t is only my purpose to suggest the general
idea OF speedily converting the mall and adia-
centgreunds into a Public Park and leave the
details OF carrying it into execution to such en-
gineers as may be charged with 1t. Were the
suggestions not premature 1 might say that
the present IN signify fences could be wed,
the northern and southern border of the
grounds enclosed by a neat low iron railing,
ornamental entrances made where the street
intersect the mall, and the most FREQ uen ted
thoroughfares we'll pa we'd and heavy draughts
confined to those thus paveo. Again 1t would
vary the monotcny OF straight streets and
square corners to have some of the roads in
tersectng the mall and connecting the two
portions of eur city as above made in curved
lines, or IN shape Of the figure s. which would
leave pretty ellipticsl plots between the road.
ways.
The Washington city canal might then cease
10 De an unslghtly object. We could have
daily influx Of pure fresh water held between
lis walls and covering the offensive objects
that sometimes assail the eyes and noses Of
those In its vicinity. Were the suggested i'm
provement, in the mall carried cut, the tenn.
porary places OF business on the borders of
the canal would and should be removed to
where they properly belong-the river front.
Some may think that this might decrease the
revenues OF our corporation, but if all the
canal trade were removed to the river front
the increase OF the valuation Of property on
the river front would cause the assessments of
taxes thereon to counterbaance the loss OF
revenues from the canal.
Washington is in the anomalous position of
city with good river front, on which but
10 an xryhS Ia tk,
its trade Is carried on on its largest thorough
fare, from three. fourths OF a mile to a rnils
from the river. The canal, now, is neither or.
namental nor profitable. Intersecting, as lit
would, the public park spoken of, 1t could be
made highly ornamental. Its banks could be
widened at any point, its depth lessened, aud
portion could be enclosed by a small iron rail-
ing, and the whole Of it used for sewerage in
tue same manner as at present A small
dredger kept therein would be suffi cient to re.
move the sediment and deposit from Sc wers
that would from time to time ind their way
therein.
Practically one cannot see the advantage of
the canal Tor business purposes, and the best
reason to be given for that opinion is the fact
that wood, coal, lime, sand cement lumber
and such articles as are generally sold on its
borders can be purchased at the same rates
In any other portion of our city and deiiv-
cradle at any other portion. The force of
these suggestions will be felt by any one who
Will pass from Pennsylvania avenue, pause
serve the class OF trade and buildings that the
canal has created on lis borders, and then
pass on to the mall.
These are only few general ideas roughly
thrown together. The subject is one, however,
that Will be found to grow IN the hands Of any
one who will devote little reflection to II, aud
whether we are to have a 'sPark" Just outside
the city limits or not, We have the materal for
a park here in our midst, within a stones
throw OF Pennsylvania avenue, which a com.
paratively trining expenditure would convert
into most beautiful retreat. 1t would in
voive no great expense at present; perhaps the
planting of trees is the only thing really neces.
sary now to prepare these public reservations
1or what they should be according to the de-
sign here presented.
An article In the Intelligencer lately pointed
ont how overdrIves could be made across the
streets running through the Public Grounds
for the accommodation Of the carriage ways
through the Grounds. W. d. WISE
Freedmen's Bureau-The Astounding
DisclosureS' of Color ads Jewett.
"Data" writes to the Sun: