Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-04
WON FOR THE PEOPLE.
How Rock Creek Park Was Gained
for the City.
MEN WHO roughly FOR 1T
a Pleasure Ground of Two Thousand
Acres to be Laid Out Along Rock Creek
The Triumphant Ending of n Long
Struggle-The Park Commission.

~ OCK CREEK PARK IS no longer a
~ dream. For many years it existed only
as vision of rare loneliness in the
2AANSminds Of few men. At the gates of
W4 bythe city nature stood Offering a park
endowed with a wealth of beauty that limitless
appropriations by Congress would not have
called into being. Still those who recognized
this invitation of nature found it weary work
TO impress full sense of the glorious opportu-
nifty upon an unpoetical Congress. From year
TO year, fl ON 1866 until 1855, the project was
brought before Congress, but its friends be-
came discouraged by repeated failures. There
were among Congressman a few who early APP
precisted the great desirability of reserving
and dedicating to the perpetual use Of the
people this stretch of creek and valley. and
such men never failed to speak and vote for
the measures that came before the national
legislature having such an Obiec. in view. But
their numbers were so small that after years of
effort little hope entertained that the pro-
ject would ever be carried out. 1t one of
those bills for the general good which
every citizen recognized a desirable
thing. but which each. having no stronger per-
sonal interest than his neigh5Or. left to depend
entirely upon its general goodness for making
Its way in Congress.
HOW THE PARK WAS WON AT LAST.
But in the winter of 1888 and 1889 the project
was revived. The movement then begun was
like an uprising of citizens. The realization
that their Rock creek region about to be
invaded by real estate syndicates. and that
the creek would IN course Of time become a
sewer and source Of pestilence. came with
such force to number OF influential citizens
that they took up the park movement and gave
TO IL an energy that II never had before. They
went at work systematically and with an inter
est that never tagged. Defeats only inspired
them with new yiSor. Unselfshly they de-
voted their influence and their time and
strength to the campaign and at last won the
park for the people. The committee of citizens
never ceased TO work and was not dissolved
until the park bill became law by the Presi-
dents approval Saturday. With prompt APP
probation OF the importance OF the measure
the President at once took steps to hasten the
accomplishment OF the project by nominating
the commissioners which the law directs shall
manage the proceedings prescribed tor locat-
ing and acquiring the park.
The Rock Creek Park measure has had
varied legislative history. Ever since it was
revived early i'll 1889 it has experienced
vlcissitudes in Congress which would have DIS
couraged any set of men less determined than
those who accepted the task of securing its
passage. But behind the legislative record is
another history not less important and interest
ing. 1t Is the story OF the last and successful
effort to obtain the park. The EVENING STAR,
which had ever urged the establishment of the
pain. eOILueu tue keynote OF the new anu sue
cessful campaign IN an editorial in HE STAR,
December %. 1885. in which energetic CO.
operative action was urged. January IL, 1889
TIE STAR made further appeal in the interest
OF "a project so entirely void of selfish per-
sonal interests that il does not enlist the sup
port of lobbyists iobbers or spectators and
must depend for Its success upon the active CO.
operative efforts OF the general public"
AMEET1NG OF CITIZENS.
That night a meeting of citizens was held. at
which. following the counsel of The STAR. the
action was taken that ultimately led to success
What was done at that meeting Was succinctly
told IN the following account that appeared in
The STAR the next day: "A representative and
enthusiastic meeting of leading citizens of
the Dis trict was held last night at the Allan
TIC building to take concerted action for the
advancement Of the project of a national park
IN Rock Creek valley. c. 5. Moves presided
and T. II. Warner acted as secretary After
resolution had been passed by the meeting
mdorslng the plan of securing this park. pro-
posed by the bill now in the hands OF Chair
man Hemphill OF the House District commit
tee. the work of forming committees one for
each state, TO explain the proposed plan
TO the members OF Congress from that state
TO discover the opinion OF each member in re-
gard to the project and to secure as far as
possible. vigorous and united Endorsement of
the measure, was begun. A large number of
suggestions were made by citizens concerning
the most suitable persons to work on these
state committees, and volunteers were asked
and noted. II was found that the list of states
was pretty thoroughly covered and the COM
pletlon OF these committees. with the sugges-
tons and volunteers Of the meeting as a basis
was left TO the executive committee. composed
OF {. 5. Noyes, b. Ii. Warner, &. G. Glover A.
i. Britton, +. A. Richardson and George
l. Lemon Speeches indorsing the project
were made by DIR. ]. c. yelling, Crosby S.
Noyes ex-Representative Beriah Wilkins,
John II. Crane, Frask Hatton. Hallet Kill
bourn, n. ID. Larner, Prof HOrnaday, W. II.
Clagett John L. Given, h. L. Blackford A p
Pardon and others. Practical suggestions con-
corning the best method of securing the de-
sired legislation indicated that the purposes
OF the meeting were, first, to impress upon
memsers of Congress the desirability of the
park and the necessity of their speedy action
TO secure the land cheaply. and to this task the
influential citizens present at the meeting last
night, and others who were present in spirit
are enthusiastically pledged; next, to secure
the desired legislation, If possible, from this
congress IN the shape of Senate amendment to
one of the appropriation bills; and then if not
successful III the short time left to the present
Congress, to endeavor to pass the measure at
the extra session of the Fifty first Congress The
public advantages of the park to the city, and
the national importance of the project we're
discussed and reference was made to the repre-
sentative and disinterested character of the
sssemblage OF citizens As indicating an absence
OF personal motives and self-interest IN further
ing the project.
''Among the persons present were Judge
Strong, DIR. j. c. yelling, W T. Hornaday,
Judge Hillyer. &. S. Noyes, VIM. H. Clagett,
Col W. +. Switzler, John T. Given, DR.. A. p.
Pardon, c. c. Glover, Jas. II. johnson, Theo-
dore W. Noyes, S. W. Woodward
Berlah Wilkins. Frank Hatton John
d. Crane, George Truesdell. Jos.
Paul Col. J. NJ. Wilson, II. J. Dent. John Joy
Edson, W. c. Dodge, VI. l. Weller, Hallet
khbourn, Noble ID. Larner, ex-Commissioner
Loring. Prof Langley. DIR. Robt Reyburr X.
kcss Perry, Reginald Fendall, Vim. L. Smith,
d Warner, l. ID. Wine, b. F. Gilbert Geo.
Z Lemon, A. B. Brown, y. W. Burchell, ]. l..
Sarooar, &. b. Church, W. J. Stevenson, J. Q.
thompson, Jesse b. Wilson. Thos SomervilIe
+ u. Tracy. Jas. E Fitch, II. +. Morris and
v. 5. Thompson"
WHAT LED TO THE MEETING.
This was the first public record Of the new
park movement 1t had been thought out and
planned, however, In private conference by
philosophical men, who realized that the
time had come for a supreme effort. The pro-
ceedIngs which led TO practical results were
Initiated by Mr.. Charles c. Glover Of Riggs 4