Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-02-20
THE PUBLIC PARK AND THE NEW PRESI-
DENTAL MANSION. ....

In the SeHaic, Yesterday, Mr- BroWn called
up the dill for the establishment of public
park in the District of Columbia. 1t appoints
q commissioner 10 negotiate for the purchase
of suitable tracts Of land. who shall report to
the next Congress. 1t was debated and passed
over tat To-day. .a.
In this connection II may be OF interest to
refer 10 the report of Engineer Major N Mich.
Ter TO the Senate Committee on Public Build
ings and Grounds relative to a suitable site
for a public park and Presidential M anston
Msjor Micbler was detailed by the War De-
partment (by request of the committee for
such seryice) 10 make the necessary prel;m.
mary surveys and maps of certain tracts or
lend adjoining or near this city, for the pur-
poses of public park, and also a suitable site
for Presidential Mansion, and which, in the
language of the Senate resolution. ,sshali com
bine convenience of access and healthfulness,
good water and capability of ;.dornment;" and
n addition 10 tins TO ascertain, if PRACTICAL e,
the price of said lands
he reports in regard to the park that the val =.
ley Of the Rock creek and its tributaries, the
Bread and Piney branches and the several
minor riyulets, with the adjoining hills over
looking these beautiful streams. present the
capital OF the nation advantages not to be
lightly oisrsgarded in providing park wor-
thy great people. All the elements which
constitute public resort OF the kind can be
Iound In this wild and romantic tract of coun-
try. With its charming drives and walks Its
hills and dales, Its pleasant valleys and deep
raviLes, its prlmeval forests and cultivated
fields, ITS running waters, Its rocks clothed
with rich ferns and moss es, its repose and tram
guilty, its light and shade, its ever. varying
shrubbery, its beautiful and extensive views,
the locality is already possessed with all the
features necessary for the object In view.
there we ind nature ui- ersified in almost
every hue and form, needing but the taste of
.he sius' anu the skill of the engineer To en-
nance lis beauty ana usefulness; gentle prun
ing and removing what may be distastefuI
improving the roads and paths and the con-
suuction of new ones, and increasing the al .
reacy large growth of trees and shrubs, deci-
duous and evergreen, by adding 10 them those
OF other cllmes and countries.
The valley of Rock creek occupies q central
position TO both Washington and Georgsto wn
as IL lays between the Tennallyrown road on
the west, one of the most prominent thorough.
fares leading out of the one city, and the Iith
sueet road and 9TH street tErnpike on the east
two OF the finest conmu nications running In
n6rtherly direction from the other. From
these main highways many branches cross the
valleys or follow along the banks of the stream.
these transverse roads already form beautiful
drives Rock creek winds along for more than
four miles through the centre of the proposed
grounds, receiving at convenient points the
waters Of the Broad and Piney branches and
several smaller tribI taries. For a short dis
lance II courses through narrow but beautiful
valley, then wildly dashes for q mile over a
succession of falls and rapids, with a descent
OF some eight feet, the banks on both sides
being bold, rocky, and pIcturesQue; then
passes again through narrow valleys or be-
tween nigh. bluf banks. At many points the
CREEK - capable OF being dam m ed, tn US form.
lng series of lakes and ponds for useful and
ornamental purposes. The many deep rayines
setuhg In towards il can furnish romantic
walks aRd quiet retreats for the pedestrian
Jhe larger part OF the ground is thiekly
wooded, asd capable Of great adornment.
here We ind the several varieties of oak,
the beech, the locust, the mulberry, the
hickory, the s,srafras, the persImmon, the
dogwood, the pine, with a great many shrub s
vines, and ereepers, growing, ciinbing, and
trailing throughout the woods. Beautiful
vIstas, artistically arranged can be cut through
them, exhibiting distant points Of landscape
while charming promenades can in vite the
wanderer to seek cooling shades. Nature has
been so rich IN her vegetable creation that the
plan OF transplanting trees OF large growth,
which has been adopted in most Of the modern
parks, VIII be unnecessary. There are some
lew country seats, such as Blagden's, Pearce's
and Walbridges, which have been highly cul.
tivated- Should 1t be found desirable to cree;
the presidential mansion within the enclosure
OF the park, the Aforementioned site possesses
many advantages, both ornamental and val.
liable. Here and there some prominent point
offers commanding views Of the surrounding
country, where observatories can be located,
a nrls rs1rfl IL
ometrical flower gardens planted. Back from
the stream some level plateaus extend, which
can be appropriately employed for geological
and botanical gardens, grounds for play and
parade, and many other useful purposes The
Law Of the land Is such that il admits Of thor
o1gh drainage. and the nature OF the soil offers
all the facilities for building good roads; the
granite and limestone rocks which are found
out-croFping at different points will furnish
the materials for their supsrstructure
The questions arise 10 what shou Id be the
extent OF the proposed W ork. and the rebable
price of the land As ii should be one worthy
the capital Of the nation, and as the ground
can oe secured al reasonable price before
being occupied by costly suburban villas, IL il
recon mended to purchase At once a sufacisnt
nun Der Of acres bordering on Rock Creek, to
anticipate the future growth of the city and its
increased population. With the view of re.
tanning as much OF the picturesque scenery
along the stream, and Of also embracing the
sites Of some few Of the forts on the north eoa.
structed for defense Of the city. which have
become historical, and from the parapets of
W hich extensive views can be had, sue lines
are marked as may be satisfactorily taken as
approximate bounds Of the PARK. In case the
recommendations should be con sidered too
e1travagant, q second series Of lines are drawn
Tor grounds or more moderate dimen sious.- The
hrst tract would contain about 2,siO acres,
more or less, and the second l,SOO more or
less As there IL so much difference of opinion
As TO the price OF the land, the quality and
improvements varying go much, 1t 10 a difacuI,
matter to offer an ything more than an approx
innate appraisement. As the right OF emtnen
domain empowers the Government to take
property, and IS such power II the necessary
incident to sovereignty, the question would
finally have 70 be settled by a commission
appointed by some competent court. The
price ranges from ESQ 10 $1,000 per acre, a
mean Of s2oo should amply cover the entire
According TO the abese figafes the larger