Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-05


Gen Boynton in Cincinnati Gazette
WASHINGTON, JAM 1.-lSpecial IA matter
Of great interest 10 Washington and. because
OF the well merited pride which the country has
in its capital, Of equal interest to the country
at large, is to come before Congress immedi-
ately upon its reassembling.
This Is plan for the purchase by Congress
and the District Of Columbia. each 20 pay half,
OF park worthy Of the capital of the nation.
Looking to the city a. il now is. and more
assured Tor 1t, great park which shall not
only meet present requirements but those OF
after years as well, is one Of the great
needs Of the city. While il abounds
In beautiful grounds within its Limits,
and 10 better supplied with interior
than any American city. it has no extended
grounds, like Central Park in New York or
Paramount in Philadelphia. The drives of tie
Soldiers Home, which are both extensive asd
beautiful, are open to the public only through
courtesy. II is, besides, too long a drive 10
reach them. What is wanted to Supplement-
and complete the series of parks in the cityis
. great one adjoining it
The great real estate syndicates, Of which
the country has heard SO much, have made
such extensive purchases as TO leave but ose
chance to provide the national capital with O
tract such as it should have.
The valley of Rock creek, starting from a
point between Washington and Georgetown, q
half mile above where the noted Massachusetts
avenue extension has invaded the region, asd
running for two or three miles northerly from
the city, Is one of the most picturesque ard
commanding regions about Washington. II hes
been too broken for continuous occupancy BY
the syndicates, and SO. thanks TO its natunl
wildness, speculation has still left a tract Of
from 1000 to 2,500 acres which it is now pro-
posed to condemn and purchase for a great
park.
At present il can be had for moderate sun,
as the assessment is not high. A few wears
hence the chance will probably have passed. o.
the great increase in cost would be likely 70
defeat q project to acquire the tract.
Unlike many of the schemes which have e.
cited the opposition Of the taxpayers hes,
and which were an imposition upon the go
eral treasury, this project is wholesome in III
its parts and considerable of the general inter
est. The trouble with many projected 10
provements about the city has been that thsy
made use of the public funds mainly to a.
vance private ends, or that one section wss
constantly benefited and the rest continually
neglected. In this case the interests Of the
entire city are promoted. The benefit will be
general, because it will be one which accrus
to Washington as a capital, and adds TO it's o.
ready noted features, and suitably rounds dut
and completes its park improvements
The plan proposed for the purchase il tie
same as now obtains in regard to all expenses
OF the capital. The government and the CHI
zens are each to pay half. This feature of shs-
ing expenses is held to be equitable since tie
United States owns a little over half of the
area of the city, and the greater part of the
expenses are such as arise from its being the
capital. and containing the headquarters for
conducting all the public business OF the nation.
The means of adjoining such park are o.
ready provided. The gardens and greenhouses
for supplying the public grounds. and the
tree nursery of the parking commission are
now in a condition to meet all demands, even
for SO large park as is proposed. There are
about $40 acres in Central park, New York.
The one in contemplation here will be nearly
three times as large. But, in view of what
Washington now is, and especially when its
future is considered, these dimensions are only
in keeping with the provisions which should
be made for this swiftly advancing capital.
The measure has been well perfected and
carefully guarded, SO TO make il subserve the
general interests of the resident taxpayers az
well as those Of the general public. 1t is plan
In which every citizen Of the republic who
feels pride in this magnificent capital may
take proper interest. The bill for carrying the
project into effect will be Immediately presented
and urged on Congress by representative men
of both parties, from all sections of the dis
trict 1t deserves the prompt and earnest SUD-
port OF every member Of Congress. H. v. b.