Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-04
A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.
The Park Project Was Many Years Be.
fore Congress.

o. HE first Rock Creek Park bill was intro
AS duced twenty-three years ago in the
p RThirty-ninth Congress. Since then there
have been a number Of measures formu-
lated. They have all been similar to the first
in having the same object in view-the acquisi-
ton of the land bordering Rock creek for park
purposes-though they have differed from that
and from each other in the methods prescribed
for acquiring the ground the limit Of cost, as
we'll as the number Of acres to be purchased,
and in minor details concerning the commits
sioners to have charge Of the park.
The Senate on the 18th of July, 1865, on mo-
ton Of Mr.. Hendricks adopted a resolution in
structing the committee on public buildings
and grounds to inquire for suitable site for
public park and also a suitable site for presi-
dental mansion, combining convenience Of
access and heal:hfulness, good water and
capability Of adornment and empowering the
committee to employ an army engineer to make
the necessary investigations. The committee
selected for the purpose Maj N. Michler Of the
corps Of engineers. Maj Michler submitted
to the Senate January 16, 1867. an elaborate re-
port, in which he depicted the glories of the
Rock creek region, its accessibility and adapt
ability to park purposes, together with maps
showing the results of the surveys. The guam
tity Of land proposed to be taken by Mai.
Michler was estimated at about 2.540 acres,
but he also marked second series of lines for
grounds Of more moderate dimensions, includ-
ing ABOUT ], 800 acres.
THE FIRST BILL.
Upon this report bill was formulated by
the committee on public buildings and grounds
providing for the purchase for park purposes
of a tract Of ground within the lines projected
by Maj Michler and which included q zoo acres.
Gems. Meigs and Wright and Maj. Michler were
constituted commission to negotiate with the
owners Of the land. No appropriation was
port the result of Its negotiations to the next
Congress.
In that day the park had an eloquent advo-
cate in the Senate in the person Of Senator b.
Gratz Brown, then chairman of the committee
on public buildings and grounds. In his
speech in the Senate in support Of the bill Mr.
Brown summed up the advantages the region
possessed as park.
~ suppose. said he "all members Of the
Senate are familiar enough with the environs
valleys OF Rock creek. The character Of the
ground around and adjacent to that stream is
exactly suited to the purposes we DESIRE It has
running water; it has rugged hills; it has
picturesque scenery; it has abundance of varied
forest timber; it has q native underground
blushing with beauty; it has the tangled vine
and the clustering Wild flower and the quiet
moses gray with age, and, indeed,
THOUSAND IMPRINTs OF NATIVE ApoRNMENr
that no hand Of art could ever equal in its most
initiative mood Moreover, with 90 much of
attractiveness in its present unoultured state,
it has likewise every capacity for adornmeut
and development and can be made with less
expense than almost any spot of equal area I
have ever seen within the reach of great CITY.
one of the most beautiful resorts in the world.
The amount Of ground which was surveyed
embraced 2, 700 acres. It will not be necessary.
however, to take in all of that ground in order
to secure what is desired for the purposes of q
Park in the shape Of drives, alcoves, recesses
and places capable of adornment Fortunately
the amount to be embraced il almost entirely
optional, a. the situation il such that large
omissions may be made without abating much
the extent Of the drives or the beautiful d.
versity Of views"
FAR-sIaHrRD SENATOR.
Further on in his speech Mr.. Brown said:
There Is no expenditure that can be made
which shall add to the grandeur or adornment
Of the public buildings that fill 30 largely the
eve OF admiration Of the world, or Of the vast
libraries that are accumulating % rapidly the
treasures Of all languages within our reach, or
OF the conservatories and gardens and cabinets
that minister to your tastes, that will not freely
be sanctioned by tho people, for such in itself
10 the establishment Of q nations university,
and in which all may feel rightful patriotic
pride. Only let it DO worthy. Let your doing
be on scale commensurate with the pride TO
which you minister and the people you are
sent to represent. And 1t 10 in the same spirit
that would have you, Senators, inaugurate Q
public park that shall have no rival anywhere
for beauty or extent or ornamentation, - it