Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-30
TO LOCATE THE PARK.
Tho President Appoints the Three Citi.
zen Commissioner.
PROMPT ACTION AND WISE oHoIcE-rBx DUTIES
OF THE COMMISSIONERS A. PRrscRIBKp sY LAW
ALL THH PROCEEDINGS NECESSARY 10 SECURE
THE PARK TO BE MANAGED BY THEN.

THE PARK TO BE MANAGED BY THEN.
The President yesterday afternoon nomi.
mated the three citizens who, with the chief of
engineers Of the army and the Engineer Com
missioner Of the District are to constitute the
Rock Creek Park commission. The three
civilians nominated are Gen. Henry V. Boyn-
ton, who is we'll known a. chief of the WASH
ington bureau of the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette; Samuel P. Langley, the secretary Of
the Smithsonian Institution, and Il Ross
Perry, q leading member Of the District bar.
The promptness Of the Presidents action and
the wisdom of his selections have given much
satisfaction te the citizens who for years have
worked to secure the establishments Of
the park and who now look forward
to an early realization of their hopes
Gen. Boynton, who has resided in Washington
ever since the war and knows the wants and
the aspirations OF the community few men
know them, has been a steady and powerful
friend Of the park project ever since its incep-
ton, and has as journalist given much careful
consideration to the matter. Prof. Langley
when seeking location for the Geological gar
den explored the park region thoroughly and
knows all Of its capabilities as a rural park
Mr.. Perry has been a warm and intelligent ad-
vocate Of the measure, is familiar with the
region, knows fully what is needed and brings
to the council table CT the commission an init
mate knowledge Of the laws they may have to
consult
DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.
This commission is to manage ali the pro-
ceedings under the park law. The section OF
the law creating the commission is as follows:
THAT the chief Of engineers of the United
States army. the Engineer Commissioner of the
District OF Columbia and three citizens to be
appointed by the President, by and with the
dvtA and Nnf - a l.
are hereby, created commission to select the
land for said park. of tho quantity and within
the limits aforesaid, and to have the same sur
veyed by the assistant to the said Engineer
Commissioner of the District of Columbia in
charge OF public highways, which said assistant
shall also act as executive officer to the said
commission"
The commission is directed to have a map of
the park made showing the location, quantity
and character OF each parcel of private prop
erty to be taken for the purpose, with the
names Of the owners which map shall be re-
corded in the land records. Such parcels shall
upon the filing of the map be held as con-
demned for public uses, bject to the payment
OF just compensation to be determined by the
commission and approved by the President
The bill provides for proceeding of condem-
nation through the courts in cases where the
commission and the owners are unable to agree
as to price. The commission is to assess the
benefits accruing to property adjacent to the
park and perform all other Offices required by
the law to secure the park to the people. When
this is done the park is to be placed under the
joint control of the District Commissioners and
the chief OF engineers of the army, who are
charged to undertake soon as practicable
the laying out of roads and the making OF
regulations looking to the preservation of the
natural beauties of the park
WHAT GEN. BoYNToN SAYS ABOUT THE PARK.
Gen. H. V. Boynton said to STAR reporter
today that he had no idea that he was thought
of as one of the Rock Creek Park commission
ers until his name was sent in. If confirmed
he said, he would endeavor to perform the
duties oonscientiously. In view of the probable
growth Of the city within the next twenty.
five or fifty years, he regarded the provision
for this park as ono of the most important
things for the District that Congress has done.
while In a sense Washington is q park in
ITSELF" he said, I'VE have no great park CORE
spending to Druid Hill Park, Prospect Park
Central Park or Paramount which add SO
much to the beauty aud health of the cities in
which they are located. Washington needs
just such park and will need it more as the
city grows. It is in every sense a national
affair"