Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-29

CREEK BETWEEN wooDLEY AND KLINGLE
RoAps-rEE BOUNDARIES AS NOW PROPOSED
coNFERRISG WITH OWNERS.
The location of the proposed geological park
has been settled by the commission charged
by act OF Congress with the establishment of
the park.
The site selected is practically the same as
that originally recommended to Congress, living
along Rock Creek, just above woodley park
The lines of the proposed park have not been
definitely fixed. but the general location is
practically settled
The commission is composed of Secretary
Langley, of the Smithsonian institution: Sec
rotary Noble, of the Interior department, and
Mr.. aDouglsss, the president of the board Of
District Commissioners.
The act of Congress to establish the park au-
thorized the commission to purchase for the
purpose not less than 100 acres of land along
Rock creek, between Massachusetts, avenue ex-
tended and the military road running west
from Brightwood.
EXAMINING THE GROUND.
The Commissioners viewed the whole region
included within these limits with the utmost
care. They walked over it all the way from
Woodley Lane road to the Military road.
They did not examine the ground below the
Woodley road with so much care be-
cause they were satisfied upon consulting
experts that the prices of land there
made it practically impossible to locate
the park below that road. Besides the topo-
graphy and general character of the region
below Woodley park was less suitable to the
purposes for which ground was wanted than
that above.
They obtained information regarding the
land within the limits of choice from all
sources available, and called upon the
property owners to name the lowest
prices for their respective holdings.
To this invitation most of the owners responded
1t was found, a STAR reporter was informed
to-day, that the prices asked above klirgle
road were relatively much higher than the
prices asked for property between the klingle
and the Woodley roads,
The reporter was told, too, that the owners
of the property included within the site Sc
lected evinccd a much more liberal spirit than
those who owned property above.
The extreme sultableness of the site and the
desire of the Commissioners to locate the park
as near the city possible, SO that it might be
not only natural geological garden, but also
poor mans park coupled with the possibility
of acquiring the land at more reasonable prices
than elsewhere influenced the choice of the
Commissioners.
MAKING OFFERS TO OWNERS.
The Commissioners have obtained the opin-
ion of dsinterested real estate experts as to the
value of the land in the whole region explored
but more particularly of that which has been
selected. They have definitely decided upon
the price that. III their judgment. they will be
warranted III paying for each piece of ground,
and they are now proceeding to make offers to
owners of the property included within the
lines they have laid down.
Mr.. Hornaday, the secretary of the commits
sion who, by direction of the Commissioners
has conferred informally with some of
property owners already, told a
STAR reporter that by several he
has been met in the most liberal spirit.
Some owners have already accepted the prices
offered by the commission subject to the con-
ditions OF the act of congress establishing the
park.
The first owner approached was Mr.. II. d.
Walbrldge, with whom an agreement satisfac-
tory both to the Commissioners and to himself
was soon made. 1t is the intention of the Com
mission to take about 10 acres of the WaIbridge
property.
THE BOUNDS OF THE PARK.
The boundary lines of the proposed park have
not been finally and absolutely fixed, but they
have been settl ed upon in general way.
The site selected includes be-
tween $50 and 160 acres and comprises
one of the most picturesque sections of the
Rock Creek valley. The bounds as proposed
are about as follows:
tIe corner OF the COL
ored cemetery the line will probably run
along the north side of the cemetery.
taking in narrow strip. After crossing
Rock creek, it will take in a portion of
the southeast corner of Woodley park and
will cross the Evans property SO as to take be-
tween 50 and 80 acres of the lower portion of
that property.
The line will probably be extended to the
Klingle road at point about 700 feet west of
the Klingle bridge. Thence it will follow the
Klingle road across the creek, two
thirds of the way from where
1t crosses the creek to Plerce's Mill road 1t
will run along the south side of the creek
through the Walbridge property taking a
strip about four hundred feet wide.
striking the quarry road on a direct line with
the old quarry, and thence diagonally from the
quarry across to the starting point at the cor
her of the cemetery.
wooDLEY PARK ENTRANCE
The Messrs. Waggaman, in behalf of the
owners of Woodley park, have offered to the
commission as gift parcel of nearly six acres
of land beginning at Woodley bridge and ex-
tending from that point to the end of the ridge
which rises between Carlisle avenue and the
creek
The land thus offered will afford an entrance
to the park from Woodley road if such is de-
sired
THE OWNERS.
The $50 or 160 acres within the limits de-
scribed is owned principally by Dr.
Holt, Pacificus Ord, III. N Wal
bridge. and the Evans heirs There are
several parcels in the vicinity of the old aban-