Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-18
A FUTURE NECESSITY.

Looking to the city as it now is, and more
particularly 70 the great future which is as
sured for it, a national park which shall not
only meet present requirements but those of
after years as well, is, in my opinion one of its
greatest needs. What is wanted to supplement
and complete the series of small parks is
great one adjoining it, where the resident and
the visitor can find wholesome attractions
Every consideration of economy, expediency
and sanitation demands the speedy settlement
OF this question. 1t will cost much less to acquire
property now and it is better suited for the
purposes than it will be few years hence since
the march Of Improvements in that direction
is moving with rapid strides. The means of
adjoining such park are at hand. The gardens
and green houses for supplying the public
parks with plants and flowers and the tree
nurseries OF the parking commission are in a
condition to meet large demands upon them.
even for great national park and I am in
formed that many public-spirited citizens of
this and other cities stand ready to con-
tribute literally toward identifying it with
statuuary, monuments, fountains grottoes &c
from their private means.
TO BE WORTHY OF THE NATION.
1.-THE capital of a great nation, where the
population is increasing at a rate unprece-
dented from causes unusual in this country.
stands among the cities having the least acre
age of parks in proportion to population
Washington is the capital of 81, 100000 people
and it must grow as the nation grows In 1892
we may have legion OF visitors from every
civilized country of the world and national
pride should incite US to show them national
park at least equal to their own. The national
government should advance whatever may be
necessary to attain that end leaving the reim-
bursement to be gradually distributed among
present and future taxpayers, and the latter
would have the advantage of enjoying their
park while contributing toward it in annual in
stallments. During the past year the city of
| New York borrowed SO. 600. 900 for the pur-
| chase OF public parks and obtained the money
| at 2H per cent interest.
| THE ESTIMATED COST.
1.-The park which should be purchased would
probably cost about S2,5OO OOO This would
take in the land along the banks of the creek
clear to the District line, embracing about
$500 acres. To pay for this park Congress
| should authorize the issuance of District of
Columbia per cent bonds running fifty years.
4 with proviso for redeemIng one-fftieth of them
every year. These bonds could, without doubt,
i be sold at par. The debt SO incurred could be
entirely eliminated. principal and interest, in
the hfty years by the average annual payment
| of SS7, 500. This sum, even if borne entirely
| from the District revenues, would be insignifi-
cant IN comparison to the benefits to be derived
from its expenditure.
| AN ADVANTAGE TO ADJOINING PROPERTY.
1.-The history of.other park enterprises shows
that a. soon as park is an established fact all
property in its vicinity rapidly increases in
value. This is true generally, and will be true
in this case to such an extent that the increased
revenue properly derivable from taxation on
neighboring property will fully equal, il they
do not exceed. the annual outlay for paying for
the park. Regarded as a mere business propo-
sition, irrespective of its enormous value in
/ other respects, the National Rock Creek park
project must commend itself to all thoughtful
citizens. ! very earnestly recommend that
every possible effort be made to secure this
park on the broadcast aII most liberal scale.
Not less than %, SOC, 900 should be appropriated
for the purpose and this could be materially
increased 70 the advantage Of the District"