Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-07

admirable report the Senator went on to show
the necessity for a purchasing commission.
authorized TO negotiate in behalf Of the gov
eminent for the necessary land-the commits
SION to be composed OF Major-Gen. NJ. c. Meigs
and Brevet-Msjor-Gen II. g. Wright-and to
submit their official action to the next Congress
for approval The Senator concluded his argu-
ment as follows: Mr. President, / had in
tended when presenting this subject to the
consideration of the Senate. to have remarked
somewh freely upon the influence such sur
roundings nre calculated to exert upon those
who come hither from all parts of this great
nation to bend their minds to the dismal
science of law-making and Of government.
Those who. for any length of time, have under
gone the wear and tear of such life as this.
who have all their energies run to brain, and
all their souls fused into politics, need not be
| told that anything which holds out hope of
either mental or passional relief is seized upon
with ayidity. How necessary, then. that all
the ennobling influences of nature--the scenic
sPlendor OF shifting views, the life and anima-
ton of gay concourse, the uprisen majesty of
the forest. the Intoxicating gladness of spring
flowers, the laugh of the heavens through
playing branches,
THE SIMMER OF THE WATERS,
the song of birds, graceful forms, Inspirations
should be so abundantly grouped around this
nations capital. There is no expenditure
that can be made which shall add to the
grandeur or adornment of the public buildings
that fill so largely the eve of admiration of the
world, or of the vast libraries that are accumu-
lating so rapidly the treasures of all languages
within your reach, or of the Conservatives and
gardens and cabinets that minister to your
tastes, that will not freely be sanctioned by the
people; for such in itself is the establishment
OF nations university, whittier all may come
to wonder and to learn, and in which all may
feel rightful patriotic pride. Only let it be
worthy. Let your doing be on scale COM
mensurate with the pride to which you minister
and the people you are sent to represent. And
1t Is in the same spirit that would have you.
Senators, 1naugurate public park that shall
have no rival anywhere for beauty or extent or
ornamentation, as it will have none for the
Industrious character gathered from whole
continent IN the after time to wisely rule our
republic from this center of its power
Mr. President the experience of foreign
nations has been worth much on this subject of
the extent OF their places of public resort, and
do not think it would be wise in us altogether
to disregard it. There it has been found that
size was an invaluable feature, and even in the
present continued effort is being made to en-
large those now in existence.
EUROPEAN PARKS.
'The latest data / have been able to lay nv
hands upon gives the dimensions of the more
celebrated European parks as follows: Hyde
Park. $50 acres; Regents Park. 372 acres; Wind
sor Little Park. 800 acres; Windsor Great Park,
$500 acres; Richmond Park $3.50 acres; Phe-
nix Park, at Dublin, 900 acres: Garden of
versailles, 5000 acres; Bots de Bologne, 2,l58
acres; Englische Garten, at Munich, 500 acres,
and the Prater at Vienna. I.5OO acres. The
Central Park in New York city contains $40
acres, and authority has just been granted for
the laying out park at Chicago of 1000 acres
1t will thus be made to appear that the amount
of territory embraced in the present survey.
z, 100 acres. does not exceed many of the more
famous of those l have cited. And yet what
would be thought of the proposition to reduce
the area OF either Windsor Park or Phoenix Park
or the Garden at Versailles? 1t would simply
be set down. sir, as barbarism. Let us, then,
profit by the accumulated experience of so
many metropolitan cities end so many great
nations. and secure, while We may. here at the
city of Washington ample scope for a national
park worthy OF our people and our country"
The bill did not, however, become law: it
failing in the House of Representatives-it was
crowded out.
TUE COMMISSIONERS PETITIoSED.
In the latter part of 1888 W. ". Corcoran, W.
Strong. and Josiah Dent addressed letter to
the Commissioners of the District urging them
to appeal to Congress in behalf of the park.
In this communication they said: THE under
signed are profoundly impressed by the desir-
ability and policy Of securing these grounds
for public park without needless delay
Washington is now and il is ever to be CITY
OF residences. 1t is already inviting to the best
classes OF citizens in all parts of the country,
who are fiocking hither in considerable num-
bers to make this their permanent home.
Everything that adds to the city's attractions
that renders life here more agreeable seems to
Us to be worthy of attention and to be secured.
Il practicable; that a large park, including
Rock creek and its adjacent hills and woods
would be great additional attraction. afford
ing, as 1t would charming drives and walks with
constantly varying and beautiful scenery no
one can doubt. The experience Of other cities
has shown this. What has not Central park
done for New York Paramount park for PhiIa-
delphia. and Druid Hill for Baltimore? They
have greatly increased the value OF property in
those cities and stimulated the influx of wealth
and population. We believe that the procure
ment Of the proposed Rock Creek park would
have like beneficial influence upon the future
of our city, greater even in degree. when it be
considered that this is to be a city of homes.
1T would doubtless add to the value of prop
erty In all parts of the city and immensely to
the value of the naval property adjacent to or
near the exterior lines of the park We do
not. however, propose to describe at length
the benefits that would result from the &C.
QUESTION and establishment of the park They
must be apparent to your honorable body,
sufficiently so as to demonstrate the wisdom of
making an early effort to secure them
1T is believed that the title to the lands
needed can now be obtained at a reasonable
cost, much less than would be required some
years hence. and, in the aggregate, imposing
no considerable burden upon the citys re-
sources. A large part of the grounds needed.
though admirable for public park is worth
less for agricultural or building uses and most
of il is undesirable for residences in its pres
ent condition; but the establishment of the
park would add greatly to the value of the
lands surrounding it, would make them very
desirable for rural residences, and, in fact
would prove a bonus to the owners of such
surroundings. 1t may be presumed, therefore
they would sell to the city such portions of
their lands as may be included in the park for
very moderate price, or even donate them
as has been done in some cases elsewhere. 1t
is also a consideration of much weight that
whatever money is needed for the acquisition
of this title can now readily be obtained at a
very low rate OF Interest," rate not exceeding
3 per cent-and, if we are not mistaken in our
convictions, the increased value of the prop
erty in the city caused by the establishment
Of the park and the consequent increase of
revenue will more than counterbalance the
interest on the cost"
ONCE MORE TO THE FRONT.
Nothing more was heard of a public park
until the incoming of the Forty-ninth Con-
gress, and then the Senate passed an act au-
thorizing the District Commissioners to con-
denim land on Rock creek for the purposes of
park to be called Rock Creek park. The bill
passed the Senate and went to the House. and
from the committee on the District Of Column
bia Mr.. Rowell made favorable report in
which he said: The rapidly increasing popu-
lation of the District Of Columbia. as we'll as