Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-26

WHAT Has BEEN DONE BIZ THE CONFESSIONAL DE-
DISTANCE OF THE cIrr-PoINrs YET TO BE SET
TLEp-THE LIMITS FIXED BIZ CONGRESS.
The geological park commission have not yet
selected the land for the park They have not,
in fact, yet gone over the whole ground within
the limits prescribed by the act Of Congress
Secretary Noble has been 80 occupied with the
dnties OF his office that he has had little time
at his disposal to give to the considera-
ton OF the question of the location Of the
park. With his colleagues on the COM
mission, Prof. Langley, Of the Smithsonian,
and District Commissioner Webb, he has WIS.,
tied and inspected the Rock creek valley in
the region Of Woodley park. The act names
Massachusetts, avenue as the southern and the
military road running west from Brightwood
as the northern limit Of the area within which
the park is to be located. 1t is to include,
wherever located, a section of Rock creek.
NO DECISION YET REACHED.
Prof. Langley, when asked by a STAR re-
porter to-day respecting the steps taken by the
commission, said that the commission had not
yet come to any conclusion as to the matter Of
location. They had not he thought. even in
their own minds as individuals come to any de-
thought to select location as near the city
limits as possible, for in his view this was to be
the poor mans park. The location should be
such that the park could be easily reached
by horse cars or afoot. However, in
that section Of the area described by
Congress, which lies nearest the city, the nom
inal prices at which property was held were so
high that the selection Of site there was
almost entirely out of the question. The COM
mission. he said. had not yet been over all the
ground and could not indicate what their &C
ton might be.
LEGAL QUESTION.
There is question upon which the commits
sion has sought the advice of the proper Off
cials respecting the expenditure of the $500, 600
appropriated for the park. This sum is appro-
prlated for the establishment of a geological
park, and the commission is directed to pur-
chase not less than 100 acres of land. The
question is whether any balance Of the
100000 left after purchasing the land can
be expended upon buildings. enclosures
or other necessary appurtenances of a
geological park Prof. Langley said to-day
that the commission is awaiting advice on this
subject. Meanwhile a preliminary survey is
being made and plat is being prepared under
the direction of the geological survey, showing
the bounds of the different properties EN-
braced within the area named by Congress. In
making this survey the data already obtained
by the coast survey, which was charged with
making Typographical survey Of the District,
is utilized.
Prof. Langley said that the commission de-
sired to have no delay in the matter, and by
the LIST Of July, when the money would be
available, would, he thought, have so consid-
cred the matter as to be ready to proceed at
once to the discharge of the duty imposed upon
them.
THE LOCATION FIRST PROPOSED.
When the matter was under consideration by
Congress, in order to have something definite
to present to committees, model Of the pro-
posed park was made and map was prepared
and published in The STAR. The area then
suggested for the park extended from line
little south Of the Adams mill
road to the Klingle road. This area
which was about five-eighths of mile long by
half a mile wide, and contained 121 acres, undi-
vided portions of several properties bordering
on Rock creek. 1t was considered desirable,
as the creek, which there makes two loops or
bends, gave the maximum amount of creek for
park of that size. 1t is thought by those in
terested in the park that it must neces-
sarily be located above the Woodley lane
bridge, on account of the greater value of
land below the bridge. There is an area of 1000
acres or more out of which to choose the 100
or more acres to be included in the park At
least three sites can be formed in this area, it
is said, which are desirable on account of
their topography and natural situation. As
Prof. Langley indicated in his talk to a STAR
reporter, the commission will be in
iuenced in its choice, other things
being equal, by desire to locate
the park where it will be easily accessible to
people who do not keep carriages. 1t is ex-
pected that the geological collection already
assembled here under the direction of the
for the national 900" but that, of course, has
not been officially determined