Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-28


addition 10 that they have a number Of other
parks IN the city OF ST. Louis. and do not under
stand. Mr.. Speaker. why the people of this Dis
trlct and the people Of the United States should
not be willing 30 expend much money for
the beneht Of the people residing in this capt.
tai city is ordinarily spent by people who
control Their own expenses. We own one-haf
on the property in the District IL belongs TO
'he United States. and the concurrence %
opinion has been up 90 this time that the gov
eminent OF the United States ought not 10 ows
half the property here unless it is willing 70
pay nan the expenses.
AsaSIrARr VIEW
Continuing, Mr.. Hemphil said: Now, there
Is something elseI would like to say in regard
70 this park. II is well known that Rock creek
nows right through the District from one end
10 the other until il empties into the Potomac
river. Along a considerable portion Of Rock
creek the banks have been built up with DWELL
ing houses; and as a natural consequence the
creek mas become In some parts the natural
sewer Tor everything in the shape Of refuse COM
ing nom those dwellings. Rock creek has thus
become stencil in the nostrils of the people
IN that portion of the city, There has been
pressed most urgently upon the District COM
mlttee proposition 10 arch over Rock creek
IN part and to tunnel another part so as TO get
f fr 9i these nonious odors coming
rom the creek. III We should undertake 20 do
that work, although il would apply 90 only Q
very small part of Rock creek. il would cost
according to the estimate, 600. 900. and in all
probability by the time We had finished il the
cost would be a great deal more Now. as a
pure matter of dollar and cents | submit
whether II Is not better 90 keep the banks OF
tins creek free from dwelling-houses and dedi-
cate the land 10 some public purpose / do no.
hesitate TO say that something must be done
Tor the protection of the people living in the
neighborhood OF Rock creek where buildings
have been constructed on its border Unless
something be done that whole stream will be-
come the deposit of the sewerage and refuse OF
people living upon its banks, and that portion
OF the city will soon have 70 be abandoned or
given over to people who can live In the midst of
those stenches
NOW THE TIME TO BUY.
Besides, Mr.. Speaker, there will never be q
time when this property can be purchased 90
cheaply as 1t can be purchased to-day. The
people who own the land that is expected 10 be
purchased along Rock creek il any be pur-
chased at ALL are the original owners Of the
property; and as a member of the District COM
mittee can say that not single one OF them
nor the representative OF one Of them has come
10 me, or. so far as know. to any member OF
the committee, urging this park project upon
our consideration. Although have heard the
names OF a number of these owners. know but
single one; and although he bought a piece
OF property there four or five wears ago he
SAYS: III you want this land for a public park
L Will sell at a price that any gentleman in
whom l have confidence will put upon it,"
think that is fair proposition. He has not
asked Congress to appropriate one cent; but he
says that, on the contrary he would prefer to
hold the land that he might realize the ad-
vance IN price. 1t is true that a part of the
property along this creek has become yery
valuable. i know a gentleman in this city who,
according TO repute-I have no personal
knowledge of the fact-purchased seven OF
a of ali
this creek which he could now sell for ESQ. 600
or S3OO.O0O. III We are ever going 10 get q
park, now is the time; it is in INV opinion the
only time when the peoples representatives
VIII be willing to vote the sum necessary 70
secure il.
THE DISTRICT SUPPLIES.
In addition to that, Mr. Speaker. IL this mark
is purchased the District under the usage and
the existing law will have to pay one-half OF
the expenses. 1t is proper that the people
owning property along the line OF this park
should pay their just proportion in view of any
increased value which NAV arise from the dedi-
cation of this land to public use The District
is IN better condition TO pay its share Of this
money now than it will probably ever be for
years to come. There is a considerable sur
plus Ia the treasury of the District. amounting
TO several hundred thousand dollars-between
5000, 900 and S7OO.O00
Mr.. Blount-How about the debt?
a
by the District; but il is not payable.
Mr.. Randall-The District is in debt TO the
Federal government to the extent of a million
dollars on account of the expense OF the work
on the aqueduct, and suggest il there is anv
surplus IN the treasury, the District should
devote II TO paying that indebtedness.
Mr.. Hemphill-l want TO remind the GENTLE
man from Pennsylvania that, / understand,
this aqueduct was controlled entirely by officials
of the United States
Mr. lan
the District has ZOO. 900 in it's treasury undis-
posed of. wanted to say that / thought the
best appropriation of that amount would be
for the District to pay something toward the
million OF dollars advanced by the government
on the aqueduct, which has proved an utter
failure.
WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR TIE AcouEDucr
FRAUD RESTS.
Mr.. Hemphill-I think before the District
pays any money on that account there ought 20
be instituted an investigation to see whether
the government of the United States has not
swinded the people of this District out of
great deal of that money. As 1 understand,
there is an investigation now going on at our
expense
A member-The committee has reported
Mr.. Hemphill-Yes. the investigation is fin
ished, believe. and / understand there is a
very black report, so far as the government of
the United States is concerned. III we have
taken money of the people of this District or
at least run them into debt TO the extent Of q
million of dollars, and if. according TO the re-
port made by members of this body, we have
Incorporated the money designed for the
construction of that tunnel
MIR. Randall-That was done against the re-
monstrance Of the committee on appropria-
tions.
THE DISTRICT NOT RESPONSIBLE.
Mr.. Hemphill-That may be true Yet the
District is not responsible, the gentleman
will admit. 1t is by the fault of officials of the
United States government that this misappro-
priation has happened, and il is not right to
visit our sins upon the people of this District
Now, Mr.. Speaker, they talk great deal about
having a monkey show" here. and all that
sort of thing, just the same kind of language
we heard when this question was before the
House on a former occasion. We spend great
deal of money in keeping in order the horti-
cultural garden down here. The gentleman
from Kentucky [Mr. Breckinridgel very
properly says that we ought 70 provide
for the preservation of the animals
on this continent before they become ex-
tinct: but i think il much more important that We
should furnish some outlet some breathingipace,
for the poor people of this city, who cannot get
away in the hot weather, and TO give them fresh
air. sunlight, and chance for health and life
Those who live here and cannot get away, and
those of us who were kept here last summer
during the long discussion upon the tariff, have
seen the poor people sitting out and lying out on
the streets by day and night, under the baking
sun of the day the reflected heat of the streets
at night unable TO get relief from the inteDse