Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-17

DSOA848
1T would be wise policy" the report says,
"for the District 10 purchase here and there
throughout the District squares Of ground for
park purposes when subdivisions are made.
This would dot the District with beauty spots
and furnish healthy recreation spaces for the
children of the future great city. No doubt
persons making An extensive subdivision would
willingly sell at very low price a square Of
ground FOR the purpose, knowing the benefit il
would be TO their surrounding property. The
value and beauty Of such squares are too ap-
parent and too well known to need argument,
aud 1t would seem wise to provide for them as
our forefathers did-when the land is first d.
vided. An annual appropriation Of Gil, 900 or
$4,000 could be expended for this purpose
with great advantage TO the District, and an
appropriation OF the larger amount is recon-
TO PROTECT TIE FLOODED AREA.
After considering the question Of the best
method Of retaining or protecting the area of
the city subject to overflow in times Of heavy
foods such a. visited the city in June last,
Capt: symons decides that the best method is
70 raise all the flooded area to such an eleva-
ton that tho waters cannot reach it The re-
port says: Il have had an estimate made Of the
cost OF the work, which give herewith. The
hrst estimate is for the work necessary in the
public streets, avenues, alleys, and reservations
In the main area, including Pennsylvania ave-
nue. within its limits. In making this estimate
u is planned to raise every part of the streets.
DO, to an elevation of at least u feet above
mean high tide, one foot above the highest
known level OF the waters. To attain this ele-
vation az minimum some parts will have to
be raised slightly more to get effective longi-
tudinal surface drainage. The estimate
includes taking up and resetting all
curb; taking up and relaying with
new and old bricks all existing brick sidewalks
and OF replacing all improved sidewalks with
those of equal character; taking up and relay
ing all granite block pavements; taxing up and
replacing with asphalt pavement all cobble-
stone pavements in streets and laying asphalt
pavements wherever they or coal tar pave
ments now exist; laying asphalt block pave
ments In alleys aud the necessary work OF ILL
ing 70 bring the areas up to the proper grade.
Ihis last Is the main item of the estimate. in
voiving, as it does, the supplying OF nearly a
million aud a half cubic yards OF earth. This
would, in all probability. have to be brought
from across the river IN Virginia by rail"
The estimates. including incidental work such
as Changing gas lamps, sewer traps, &C., rails
ing sewer and water construction to ne y grade,
removing and replanting trees, &C., amount to
SI,ei97 90. In making such a change OF
grade the report says the railroad companies,
gas company, electric light company, &C.,
would OF course be expected to make the nee
essary changes in their appliances. The filling
OF private property need not follow immedi-
ateiy upon the filling of the streets, but could
come along gradually as the property was i'm
proved
For raising the James creek canal district
the estimates amount to S3TI, 492. IS. It is not
at all essential, Capt. Symons remarks, that
tins work should go on in a connected why. like
the work In tine Pennsylvania avenGe district.
One hundred thousand dollars would make the
many changes in all improved streets and the
remaining work could follow gradually.
THE ROCK CREEK PARK PROJECT.
Capt Symons devotes much space in his re-
port to a strong appeal in behalf OF the project
to preserve the Rock creek region, "a region
of marvellous natural beauty, of rugged rocks,
running water and stately trees, of lovely, deep
and shady valleys. steep forest-covered slopes
and rolling sunny uplands," as a national park.
He review the attempts that have been made
for more than twenty years to establish q pub
JIG park in this region, ending with the bill
recently introduced by MIR. Hemphill. at the
solicitation Of a committee appointed at mass
meeting Of citizens, providing for the copdem-
nation OF the lands required. Upon this bill Q
favorable report was made, but no further &C.
ton was taken owing to want Of time for its
proper consideration. The present condition
OF the District, he urges, and its evident future
admonish us that provision should at once be
made for such q park the population of a
large and prosperous capital city demands,
The preservation of both banks of the creek
will avoid the danger that threatens if the
creek becomes an open sewer by the exten-
sion OF the city along Its borders
After mentioning the large sums devoted by
other cities to the purchase and preservation
of parks, the report says no city Of equal inn
portance on the globe 10 as badly provided az
the city of Washington with large parks in its
vicinity for purposes Of recreation. 1t is
urged that it will cost much less to acquire the
property now, and it is better suited for the
purposes than it will be a few years hence. In
1892, the report says, we may havea legion Of
visitors from every civilized country of the
world, and national pride should incite US to
show them q national park at least equal to
their swn. The park which should be pur-
chased would probably cost about %. SOC. 900.
This would take in the land along the banks of
the creek clear to the District line, embracing
about 900 acres. The report. urges that ex-
pcnditure and suggests as means Of meeting
1t that Congress authorize the issue of DC.
per cent bonds running fifty years, with q
proviso for redeeming oue-fiftieth ofthem every
year. He thinks the increase in value Of ad-
joining taxable property would produce q
revenue equal to II not in excess of the annual
outlay to pay for the park
FINANCIAL PROJECT.
"To my mind" Captain Symons says in
closing his report, ''the time is now at hand
when the District of Columbia can with the
highest wisdom incur large indebtedness 10
carry out in the immediate future several pro-
jects Of paramount importance to the welfare
Of the District, which projects have been al
luded to in this report. They are in brief the
extension Of the city streets and avenues and
the recti6cation Of improper subdivisions in
the property laid out before the passage Of the
act Of Congress of August "a, 1885, the condem-
nation OF land for Rock Creek park, the i'm
provement Of Rock creek within the city lin
Its, and the raising of the flooded area to bring
it above the reach Of foods. To carry out all
these projects IN satisfactory manner and to
provide street improvements, sewerage, &c, ac-
tually needed in the different sections of the
city and which cannot be provided for under
ordinary routine conditions would require some
thing like eight millions of dollars, and / be-
lieve that the borrowing of this money and its
expenditure at the present time for the above
outlined objects would be the highest wisdom"