Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-18

on pilgrimage this morning 10 ''view the
landscape Ger" and IL there was any OF the
landscape that was not included in the survey
1t will be hunted up some other day. Ten
o'clock was the hour agreed upon
for meeting, and Gen. Casey's house. 1919
4 street, was the rendezvous Two minutes
before the appointed time Gen. II. V. Boynton
and Mr.. r Ross Perry climbed the steps in trout
of lAls and shook hands with Gen. Casey, who
was on the lookout for his fellow-explorers
Five minutes later and two open carriages
were driven to the sidewalk and there awaited
the pleasure of the commission.
Following them came a .'one-hoss shay" out
Of which Secretary S p. Langley Of the Smiths
oman Institute stepped He was less than q
minute ahead OF Capt. Rossell. who came in
his buggy. The captain loaded himself down
with big roll Of maps and book and entered
the house.
THE REFoRTER WAS THERE.
Preliminaries were soon arranged and at
1910 the commission was going up Vermont
avenue. Incidentally there was STAR reporter
with the party. He was the only member Of
the expedition who had not been invited but
be went along because he was possessed of q
bicycle. the muscle to rropel il and q right OF
way over the public roads.
The route was up l4th street to the Columbia
road and from this latter highway a cut was
made across to the Broad Branch road, which
was followed down TO Pierce's mill
HK HAD NrseIvIxos.
Mr.. Willis was standing near his hot houses
when the carriages went by en- route to Blag-
dcn's mill and Mr.. Willis did not seem TO be
sented the machinery by which he and his hot
houses will be removed to some other region.
To the reporter Mr.. Willis confided the impress
sion that his place was gone sure.
At Blagden's mill the Commission alighted
and spent some little time admirng the natu-
raj beauties OF the region. Immediately oppo-
site the dismantled mill a-ruinous relic
Of the June freshet that destroyed Johns
town-the creek widens out into a
pool Of more than ordinary loneliness. The
rocks on the further side we're colored by age
and dotted here and there with a mosaic of
moses. Fully seventy-five feet above the level
Of the motionless pool the tree tops overhung
and cast such a dense shadow that the sun
shine was shut out, giving to the limpid mirror
reflective powers that were startling in their
clcarncss and fidelity.
AN ATTACK on THE PARTY.
Past where workmen were building stone
piers for a new bridge the explorers tramped
through the woods to the promontory near
that stream which the natives have de-
nominated the Crystal Spring. 1t was
not much of walk and ordinarily
would not be dangerous but on this
occasion fifteen or sixteen dogs. the property
of a couple of transfers who were hauling dirt,
attempted to chew the clothing off the person
OF Gen. Boynton and refused to be subdued by
the power of his eye. Their owners kicked
them into state of Ii-natured and growing
subjugation and the general was saved
THE BEAUTY OF IT.
Nathan Gap Tasav nor Can nnvpfop 10
ever been in that part Of the country before.
on the moss they never ceased to speak of the
extraordinary beauty Of the spot The perfect
meteorological conditions had good deal to
do with the impressions made. The roads were
muddy enough. but that was forgotten: little
shower OF rain would have damaged the love
of scenery beyond temporary repair.
INoUIRISo ABOUT HIGH WATER.
A council of war was held on the promon.ory
and then the return trip was made TO Blag-
den's. Gen. Casey was very anxious to find out
all he could about the average high water mar X
Of the creek and Was informed that there was
less water In that stream now than was usually
the case in summer time-a pleasing fact, for
the body OF water is now respectfully large.
There was no more enthusiastic member OF
the commission than Gen. Casey. who contin-
ually looked for scenic effects, never failed to
tiful. beautiful"
From Blagden's there was a good long drive
over the Broad Branch road and the Daniels
road, both of which we're literally surfaced
with half-dry mud of the stickiest kind.
There is nothing fat or tame about these
highways. They are not just the kind Of roads
a bicycle rider or a horse would select to travel
over, but they are supposed to fill the bill SO
far as the picturesque is concerned.
A halt was made at the point where the
Daniels road merges into a private road on the
Catherine Brown place. BY that time it was II
o'clock and as there was a desire on the
part of the commission to pedestrianize down
Rock creek to Pierce's mill the stay was only
of sufficient length to enable Gen. Casey and
Capt Rossell to interview two of the natives as
to where certain points were.
GEN. oAsEY's ENTHUSIASM
"Isn't that fine" said Gen. Casey to THE
STAR reporter, waving a half-open map in
such a way as to indicate anything
within range of fifty or sixty
miles to the southwest. "There
are here" he continued, 1.-THE possibilities
which can be developed into the most beautiful
park in the world. A man may drive
through the widest scenery-magnificent-
then suddenly emerge and rest his eyes on
bit of landscape that cannot be surpassed.
We have a wealth of the best material and the
result will be something grander than any one
shut up his map with a slam that was con-
vincingly energetic.
Mr.. PERRYs OPINION.
II have known all of this region from boy.
hood up" said Commissioner r. Ross Perry.
Il have been over it again and again. yet there
is always something new in it-someIhing re-
freshing. There is no tract OF land like it in
the neighborhood of any great city am &C
quainted with"
FORT DE RUssEY
was the next point on the program, and there
the carriages were forsaken for a
while. The party climbed up TO the
gigantic earthwork--which will be preserved
as one of the features Of the park-and spent
some time there 1t was then nearly O'Clock
and the reporter left them. As he
assembled the grade toward Bright
wood the commission was easily visi-
BILE. most conspicuous being Gen. Casey,
who was putting the gesticulations into war
time story with a big map, rolled tightly and
held in one hand.
The carriages proceeded to Pierces mill and
the commission will probably meet them some
time this evening; it depends upon the route
they take as to where.
II they 60 down the west side of Rock creek
they will do the two and o half miles by 4
o'clock; If they choose the route on
get home until tomorrow, and friends in the
city will have to send them clothes in which to
make the trip frem Pierces' to their respective
abodes
ABOUT EXTRA SESSION TALK.
Private Secretary Halford on the situa-
ton.
A. N the vunor that thu pre.;a.nt haa A.