Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-12
ROCK CREEK PARK.
Citizens Before the subcommittee Of the
House District Committee.

House District Committee.
The committee designated by the meeting of
| citizens TO present to Congress their views in
favor of the proposition to acquire property
along Rock creek for park, had hearing be-
fore the District subcommittee of the
House committee on appropriations to-day
urging that provisions for this park be
included in the District bill, the senate amend
ment for the geological park being extended
so as to embrace the larger project also. The
gentlemen waiting on the committee were: C.
M. Matthews, c. c. Glover, B. H. Warner, Geo.
E. Lemon, J. NJ. Johnston, Horatio King, A. s.
Taber, E. D. Tracy, Crosby s. Noyes, s. W.
Woodward, R. Ross Perry, Rev. W A. Leonard.
MR.. J. NJ. JoHNsToNs REMARKS.
Mr.. j. NJ. Johnston acted as spokesman.
''The persons who favor the passage of the
pending bills to create a national and zoologi-
, cal park" he said, ''are either native born
Washington grow from the simplicity and in
convenlences OF town to the beauties and
luxuries of capital city. They see that the
present conditions are daily attracting men of
leisure and fortune from all sections of the
country and that, merely by legislative enact
ment it is the capital of the country, but by
common consent it is becoming the center of
wealth and intelligence and of everything that
Is characteristic of all capitals
Though provision has been made for the de-
velopment of the city in some directions to
conform with its evident future, there is no
suburban park in which the people may secure
refreshment and relaxation during our mild
winters or long and heated summers Such a
park is much desired both by our numberless
visitors, by residents, and by government Off
Gals and others who are required to remain
here during the heated term The Soldiers
home Is private property. used by the public
only by the courtesy and the sufferance of the
superintendent, and after all, only the roads
can be used and not the meadows or forests
The present request for the passage of these
bills Is based on these grounds in part, but
also on the fact that the Rock Greek cemetery
is 80 beautiful in itself that it deserves preser-
walton for its own sake and because it Is per-
haps the most unique and wonderful suburban
park in our country.
THE PERSONS WHO URGE THE REQUEST
have no other object than to press upon
the only body which has the power to Sc
cure this property the urgent nececessity of
buying it at once. They have no direct or in
direct pecuniary interest in the purchase. By
this bill 1t is proposed to secure tract of land
not exceeding $500 acres, along the line Of
Rock creek and in the District of Columbia. to
be perpetually used as public park. The
indicated has for long time been under con-
sIderation by Congress. On July Is, 1866, a
resolution was passed by the Senate instructing
Its committee to inquire into a suitable site for
public park. At the request of that commit
tee, Maj. N. Michler, U. s. engineers, sub
mitted report in which he strongly
favored the purchase of the property re-
ferred to in the pending bill. The Senate COM
mIttee thereupon reported bill for the acoui-
sition of this land, but it failed to become
law. From time to time other efforts in this
direction were made, which resulted in bills S.
1854, Forty-ninth Congress, and H. r. 1928,
Flftieth Congress, now pending and having the
same object In view. These have been supple
mented by the more detailed bill now before
Congress and known as II. r. 1876.
1t seems unfortunate that the earlier endeay-
ors to secure these lands at their then trifing
value did not result in their purchase.
ON THE SUBJECT OF THE COST
Senator B. Gratz Brown said to the Senate on
February 10 of that year:
'As to the necessity and the desirability of
initiating such proposition and obtaining the
necessary location now, while ground can be
had on reasonable terms, do not think there
Is much room for question. The ground in the
vicinity OF this must soon become immensely
valuable, now that the uncertainty with which
sectional discord and disunion 80 long
threatened the stability of the capital has
passed away. At the present time
Rock creek and its adjacent heights has few
residences upon it, and those of comparatively
trifiing value, and the whole area surveyed can
be had, as is estimated by General Michler in
the report he has submitted, at an average
price OF perhaps less than $500 an acre. This
would make total cost of less than half mil
lion dollars, a mere trife of expenditure for
"a thing of beauty" which will prove "a joy
forever"
OF course, in 1859 the land was cheaper than
at present.
But, even now, the prices are relatively low,
and for these reasons: The land is, in large
fha hon Of boa H. H., =.
for several generations, SO that they can sell it
at Its intrinsic value. Very little, if any, of
tins property has passed through the hands of
SPECTATORS. intermediate speculative profits
have, therefore, not thus far been added, but
very soon will be. Nor are there. as yet. MANY
improvements to be paid for: but even the
coming spring must add in this way to the
prlce that the government must ultimately
pay for this property. Congress is asked to
buy $500 acres at cost of 81, 100000. Com
pared with the acreage of parks in other cities
and the prices paid, both the quantity of land
and Its cost are extremely reasonable.
OTHER REASONS.
Besides the elements of cost and our actual
need of parks there are other reasons why i'm
mediate action should be taken by Congress.
When any part of this property is sold for SUBJ
division, roads are cut at distances of one or
two hundred feet and the land is at once de-
nuded OF its magnificent forests. Money cannot
restore TINS damage. mat region is destroyed
forever for park purposes.
In this climate our parks must consist of
wooded lands. Grassy lawns cannot be used
by the people, our hot suns alone DESTROY
the roots Of such vegetation. Even artificial
irrigation cannot make our lawns tit for con-
slant use. The pending bill expressly provides
for the preservation of these useful and beau
tiful forests. There is, also,
AN ELEMENT OF DANGER
involved in allowing Rock creek to remain in
its present condition. 1t drains a large section
Of country and then flows directly through a
portion OF the city. Unless both banks of the
stream are controlled an expensive and elabo-
rate sewerage system will be necessary for the
health OF the cities of Washington and George
town This cost could wisely be incurred in
buying the land now, avoiding thiG danger and
at the same time securing a pleasure ground
for all and preserving great work of nature
Beyond all these arguments of convenience
we ought to preserve this beautiful country be-
fore it is irrecoverably lost by the obstruction
OF the timber. The next generation NAV be
willing to buy. but the opportunity will then
be lost. On this subject Senator b. Grady
Brown has happily expressed himself as fol-
lows:
sENANoR BROWNS ARGUMENTS.
"I suppose all members of the Senate are
familiar enough with the environs of the city
to know the beautiful and romantic valleys of
Rock creek. The character of the
ground around and adjacent to that
stream is exactly suited to the purposes
desire II has runninc atar. IL hoe rY,road