Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-18
NATIONAL ROCK CREEK PARK.
The Hearing Before the House District
Committee To-Day.

The committee appointed by the citizens
meeting on the 18th Of January to promote
the establishment of park along Rock creek,
had hearing before the House District COM
mittee this morning. All the members of the
executive committee of the citizens committee,
Messrs. @. 8. Noyes, C. @. Glover, F. A. Rich
ardson, A. I. Britton, George E. Lemon, and
b. II. Warner, were present, and with them
were Messrs. Ross Perry, James NJ. Johnston,
E. d. Tracy, Capt. Symons, Joseph Paul. W. A.
Phillips, jr., J. j. Edison, P. M. Dubant, J. J.
Darlington, and other prominent citizens. A
full quorum Of the District committee were
present, Chairman Hemphill presiding.
THE PURPOSE OF THE HEARING.
Mr.. B. H. Warner first explained the purpose
OF the hearing. He stated that the delegation
represented a majority of the property-owners
in the District of Columbia, all Of whom earn
estly favored the proposition to convert a part
OF ROCK Creek valley into park, which would
add to the health and beauty of the capital
city. Their desire was he said, to have the
property taken for this purpose before the
value was too much increased. Delay added to
the expense involved in the work. The prop
osition, he said, had been under considera-
ton for fifteen years. Those of the people in
the District who at one time opposed it were
now all not only willing but anxious that the
work should be done, and were willing to pay
their share OF the expense involved. This
the city and all political parties and all shades
OF opinion inside Washington and out. All
interests in the District united in petitioning
for this public work. The committee, of which
he was secretary, was appointed at a meeting
OF representative citizens, who could properly
speak for the District. He said that they be-
leved the property for this park could be had
under the rules Of condemnation at low
price. If action on the matter were delayed
too long Rock creek would become a sewer
and all the natural beauties of the region
destroyed.
THIS FAVORABLE TIME TO BEGIN THE WORK.
Mr.. Warner then introduced Mr.. James NJ.
johnson, who further explained the provisions
OF the bill and the conditions that made this
most favorable time to begin this work. The
object, he said, in presenting the bill at this
time is that by good luck it is now possible to
acquire the land under more favorable condi-
tlons than can ever be hoped for in the future.
Much OF the property was, he said, owned by
the Blagdon estate and the Shoemakers, and
could be purchased from them at a very rea-
sonable price. They were public spirited people
and had declined to sell the property to anyone
who would deface the beauty of the place.
They were willing to sell at q low price for the
purposes Of the park. In these two estates he
thought there was a tract of about 1,500 or
1900 acres. Speculation had not yet reached
this region, he said. The property had never
been sold, 1t was in its crude state, its value
not being increased by improvements of any
sort, or by having got into the hands of specu-
lators.
NO PERSONAL INTERESTS.
The persons who are advocating this park,
he said, had no personal interest-there was no
boom or speculation behind it. The growth of
this city in wealth and beauty had been beyond
| ba IS he l..
short life he had seen development that was
astounding. He used to fish and skate where
some of the finest residences now are. At
the present growth the city would soon
surpass in magniicence all the capitals of the
world. If there was delay, he said, the proper
ty would increase in value SO rapidly in this
section as to make the cost of such work very
great Now it could be done cheaply. He
thought this site for a park had natural ad-
vantages over all the great parks of other cities.
The natural features and attractions would be
preserved. Provision had been made in draw
ing up the bill to guard against the destruction
Of any Of these features. The object, he said,
1snot to permit it to be transformed from a
beautiful work Of nature to questionable work
of art. The trees will be preserved as they
have been planted by nature.
THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL
was to provide for condemnation without any
provision for purchase, as it had been demon
strated that the latter provision only embar-
raised such a transaction. as was the case with
the library site. In all but this feature the bill
followed the condemnation clause of the ma
tional library BILL which had the approval of
Congress- and had been tested in the courts.
GENERAL DISCUSSION.
The District committee listened to the state
ments with great interest and there was gen.
eral discussion of various details of the propo-
sition. No action was taken on the bill at to-
day meeting, but it is believed that it will
the calendar before the next District day.
The bill which the citizens committee urged
to-day is the one introduced in the House by
Mr.. Hemphill on the 14th instant and now
pending before the District committee. 1t
has already been unfinished in LIE STAR