Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-24
THE ROCK CREEK PARK.
What Capt. Symons Tho"ght of the
Advantages of the Proposed Location.

The report of the District Commissioners for
the year ending June 80. 1855. contains a repor,
by Capt Symons on the proposed Book Creek
park, in which lie sets forth the advantages OF
the location of the proposed park The report
says:
The present condition of the District of CO.
lnmbia and its evident future admonish us that
provision should at once be made for such a
park as the population of large and pros
porous capital city demands.
The extraordinary natural beauty of the pro-
posed park has this far been preserved but its
subdivision and the subdivision of portions of
1t would undoubtedly result in great injury in
this direction.
Rock creek drains large section of the
country and flows through the city of Washing
ton. If residences should be placed along its
banks the sewerage would be emptied into that
stream and necessarily endanger the health of
this city. Tho consequence would be either
that this continuous risk must exist or that
this picturesque creek must be covered and
used exclusively a sewer.
That portion of the creek along which dwell
ing houses have already been built is now an
open sewer flowing through the city. from
which disagreeable and noxious odors con-
stanty rise, greatly to the detriment of the
health of the people along its banks and to the
injury OF property in that section, and the time
is near at hand when this portion of the creek
must be covered over or some other mode of
protection adopted, at a cost of many thousand
dollars.
The preservation of both banks of Rock creek
will at once avoid this danger and cost and
preserve the existing beauty of large terri
tory. Looking at this measure merely as a
business matter. it seems to be wise. Such a
preservation of the natural beauties of a sec
ton so near the city will conduce greatly to
the physical as we'll as to the moral improve
ment of the people.
IT ia certainly the most economical md ,orao
ticable means of providing all, old and young,
rich and poor with the greatest of all needs
healthy exercise in the open country.
Twenty years ago there were but two WELL
advanced rural parks in America. Now there
are more than twenty. London Paris. Brus-
sells and Liverpool have in the last twenty
years more than doubled their recreation
grounds. All the cities of the British Islands
thirty years since, possessed but four parks
worthy of the name. and they now have thirty,
as large in acreage as Franklin Park in Boston.
During the last two years New York city, which
has the costllest experience of any city in the
world in this direction, has purchased lands for
SIX additional parks. to contain 1900 acres in
all. and the state Legislature last winter voted
S12 COO, 900 for their purchase.
Chicago has six rural paris.
Baltimore paid S693, 900 for Druid Hill Park
and has several smaller parks.
Paramount Park, Philadelphia, cost $780,
900.
central Iark, New 1Crk, cost Sb.253,O0O and
the city has So other parks. Prospect Park.
Brooklyn, cost about $4.000.000.
st. Louis has a number of parks, the largest
of which cost about $SJ0.000.
Vienna has 5000 acres of parks, Toxic {, 900,
Berlin 5000 and Dublin 1000.
No city on the globe OF equal Importance ia
as badly provided the city of Washington
with large parks in its vicinity for the purposes
of recreation. III which all classes rich and
poor alike, can spend leisure hours in summer
amid inviting shade and fresh air.
The Soldiers Home is only at time subject
to public use. and never except upon its road
ways. and can be used only through courtesy.
The ground for the use of national park in
this city can now be condemned at a reason
able cost and prompt action will not only save
many thousands Of dollars but prevent the de-
struction OF the natural beauties of the country
along Rock creek. which are second to those of
no other locality adjacent to any city in the
world.
Looking to the city as it now is. and more
particularly to the great future which is as
sured for it, a national park, which shall not
only meet present requirements but those of
after years as well. is. in my opinion one of its
greatest needs What is wanted to supplement
and complete the series Of small parks is
great one adjoining it, where the resident and
the visitor can find wholesome attractions.
Every consideration of economy, expediencv
and sanitation demands the speedy settlement
of this question. 1t will cost much less to
acquire property now, and it is better suited
for the purposes than it will be few years
hence. since the march of improvements in
that direction is moving with rapid strides.
The means of adjoining such a park are at
hand-the gardens and greenhouses for sup
plying the public parks with plants and flowers
and the tree nurseries of the parking commits
sion are in a condition to meet large demands
upon them, even for great national park and
l am informed that many public spirited citi-
Zens of this and other cities stand ready to