Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-14
THE BIOLOGICAL PARK.


-
TIE Advantages OF the Rock Creek
Valley-Provisions Of the Law.
As stated in THE srAa, Secretary Noble, Of
the Interior department, District Commissioner
Webb, and Prof Langley, secretary Of the
Smithsonian Institution, composing the COM
mission charged with selecting and purchasing
the land for the proposed geological park, have
already inspected much Of the ground in the
Rock Creek valley, together with Maj. Powell,
director Of the geological survey. The natural
advantages Of the Rock Greek valley are such
that IL II held by those interested In the pro-
ject that the $500" viii be the finest in the
world in point of location. There are forty
seven geological parks or gardens in the world.
Some Of those in Europe, and notably the
great London Zoo, are rich In their collections,
representing the whole earth. The projectors Of
the Washington zoo propose to assemble there
the finest collection in the world, representing
the fauna Of North and South America. OF
be collected there, but the superior advantages
of the European institutions for making such col
lections render it doubtful whether the WASH
ington goo will rival them in their general
will be made to make the American collections
complete and representative. One great ad-
vantage possessed by the location Of the park
in the Rock Creek valley is the presence there
of a running stream Of pure water. In other
gardens water is either collected in pools that
become stagnant or a running supply is pro-
vided for at much expense. Wherever in the
valley the park Is located, the creek will be di-
vided into sections. In some places ii may be
widened artifcially. In these sections homes
will be provided for aquatic animals Of all
kinds, beavers, offers, muskrats, seals, and
other Creatures
THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
The appropriation for the establishment of
the park is contained in the District appropria-
ton bill The text of the provision is as fol-
lows: "For the establishment of a geological
park In the District Of Columbia, 5000, 200, to
be expended under and in accordance with the
provisions following, that is to say: That in
order to establish geological park in the Dis
trict of Columbia, for the advancement of
science and the instruction and recreation Of
the people, commission shall be constituted
composed OF three persons, namely: The Sec
Rotary OF the Interior, the president Of the
board OF Commissioners Of the District Of
Columbia, and the Secretary of the Smithson-
ian institution, which shall be known and des-
ignated as the commission for the establish
ment of q geological park. That the said COM
mission is hereby authorized and directed to
make an inspection Of the country along
Rock creek, between Massachusetts avenue ex-
by the road leading west from Brightwood,
and to select from that district Of coun-
try such q tract Of land, Of not less than
one hundred acres, which shall include Q sec
tion Of the creek, as said commission shall
deem to be suitable and appropriate for q
geological park. That the said commission
shall cause to be made a careful map of said
geological park, showing the location, quantity,
and character of each parcel of private property
70 be taken for such purpose, with the names
OF the respective owners inscribed thereon, and
the said map shall be fled and recorded in the
public records Of the District of Columbia; and
from and after that date the several tracts and
parcels of land embraced in such geological
park shall be held as condemned for public
uses, subject to the payment Of just compen-
sation, TO be determined by the said commits
sion and approved by the President of the
United States, provided that such compensa-
ton be accepted by the owner or owners of
the several parcels of land. That if the said
commission shall be unable to purchase any
portion of the land 80 selected and condemned
within thirty days after such condemnation,
by agreement with the respective owners, att the
price approved by the President of the United
States, 1t shall, at the expiration Of such period
OF thirty days. make application to the Su-
preme Court of the District Of Columbia, by
petition, at a general or special term, for an
assessment Of the value Of such land, and said
petition shall contain particular description
of the property selected and condemned, with
the name Of the owner or owners thereof, and
his, her, or their residences, as far as the same
may be ascertained, together with copy Of
the recorded map Of the park; and the said
court is hereby authorized and required, upon
such application, without delay, to notify the
owners and occupants of the land SO selected
and condemned by appointing three commits
sioners TO appraise the value or values thereof,
and toreturn the appraisement to the court; and
when the values Of such land are thus ascer-
tanned, and the President shall deem the same
reasonable, said values shall be paid to the
owner or owners, and the United States shall
be deemed to have a valid title to said lands.
That the said commission is hereby authorized
to call upon the superintendent Of the coast
and geodetic survey, or the director Of the geo.
logical survey to make surveys as may be ne
cessary to carry into effect the provisions of
this section; and the said officers are hereby au-
thorized and required to make such surveys
under the direction Of said commission"