Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-21
SEVEN LOST PARKS.
Property Seized by the Railroad Which
1t Will Not Return or Pay For.


The report Of the commissioner of public
buildings and grounds FOR 1887 gives some in
teresting information concerning the reserva-
tons of the United States illegally crossed and
occupied by the Baltimore and Potomac rail-
roads tracks, which are to be virtually pre-
sented to the road without compensation by
the Atkinson bill, H. r. S243 and 8. BAL The
quotations are from this report. mo. 109
Triangle (ares 1850 square feet; unimproved):
Between South Capitol and Half streets west
and at the intersection o. Virginia avenue and
+ stree: south. (The railroad side track passes
through the centor of this park"
mo. 1l2. Quadriateral (area Ass square
feet; partially improved): At the intersection
OF Virginia avenue and South Capitol and G
streets south; graded, sown with grass and
partly planted. (The Baltimore and Potomac
railroad tracks divide this park into two parts)."
These little reservations, whose adornment
consists of railroad tracks and occasionally
standing cars are to be compared with parks
of similar size or smaller in other parts Of the
city. For instance.
mo. 81. Triangle (area 2275 square feet
highly imprOved): Between 25th and 26th
streets west at the intersection of Pennsylvania
avenue and l. street north. Enclosed with a
light wrought iron railing improved and
planted mainly with Towering dwarf trees and
shrubs"
The commissioner says: Attention is called
to the fact that without authority of law and,
in my opinion, in direct violation of section
222 of the Revised Statutes relating to the Dis
trict OF Columbia, the Baltimore and Potomac
railroad Is now occupying United States res
creations Nos. ia, 17S. 24l and 800. have re-
ported fully, from time to time, the facts Of the
occupancy OF the reservations by the railroad
company and was informed, under date OF Feb
ruary IS, 1887, by the United States district
attorney for the District of Columbia that the
Attorney General of the United States had re-
ferred the papers in the case to him and in
structed him to institute such proceedings as
the facts of the case warrant and may tie
necessary for the enforcement OF the law
against the company and the maintenance OF
the rights and interests OF the United States in
the premises" Indictments we're found against
the railroad for its occupation OF these and the
other reservations and public spaces, but the
Atkinson bill proposes to legalize this occupa-
ton and thus to dispose Of the indictments.
CONCERNING ia the commissioner says: No.
ia. Trapezum (area II, 462 square feet: unim-
proved: Between II and streets south and at
the intersection of New Jersey avenue, Canal
and First streets east.
Compare this railroad acquisition with the
smaller park:
No. 81. scott Circle (area II, 800 square feet;
highly improved): AT the intersection of Mas
sachusetts and Rhode Island avenues and
10th street west. This circle is the site of
the bronze statue of General Winfield Scott, by
Henry X. Brown. Improved and planted;
flower beds laid out Oh the lawn surface and at
the base of the statue; gas lamps and flag stone
pavement around the circle, and water intro
duced."
Concerning 17S the report says:
mo. IT'S TrapeZoid (area 5.029 square feet;
unimproved): Between 9th and 10th streets
west and at the intersection of Maryland ave-
nue. and ID street south"
wit IN Trio 10
square feet; highly improved): Between Sth
and 9th streets west and at the intersection of
Pennsylvania and Louisiana avenues. The
bronze statue of Gen. John A. Rawlins by A.
Bailly is now located in this park Inelosed
with post and pipe-rail fence; lawn planted
with deciduous trees Of large growth, and
asphalt walks through park"
mo. 24l. Triangle (srea 1929 square feet;
unimproved): At the intersection of Canal
street, II street south and Half street east"
Compare with No. 81 already described.
NO 500. Trapezoid (area las square feet;
unimprOved): At the intersection of South
Capitol, Canal and H streets southwest"
Compare this railroad park with some in
East Washington, for instance:
mo. 40. Triangle (area 1904 square feet:
highly improved): Between 4th and 9Th streets
east and at the intersection of Pennsylvania
and North Carolina avenues. Inclosed with
post and pipe-rail fence; lawn surface arranged
with a flower bed in the center and planted in
II.
(area 1878 square feet; partially improved): Be-
tween 5th and 9th streets east and at the in
tersection OF Pennsylvania and North Carolina
avenues. InclOsed with post and pipe-rail
fence; planted III part; lawn surface arranged
with a Hover bed in the center and a large
ornamental flower vase in the center of the
flower bed"
Concerning the railroad's occupation of reser-
walton 1O1 at the junction of Maryland and Vir-
gina avenues the attorney for the District in
Mr 1tA .tnI Al,
Senate committee that its possession was with
out shadow OF authority higher than squatter
sovereignty. In his report of 1886 the COM
missioner of public grounds refers to the illegal
seizure of the reservation, and says: If the
track now running through the reservation
across 7th street into Maryland avenue could
be removed a fence could be erected Just north
OF the railroad. and twO-thirds of the reserva-
ton could be improved, as desired by the cit-
zens and made an ornament to that section of
the city. 1t could, however, be still further
improved by the removal OF the entire system
OF tracks, and returning the reservation TO the
purpose for which it was originally int nded. a
public park for the adornment OF the city and
the use of the citizens" 1t is this reservation
which has been illegally used for shifting
freight trains. An injunction suit is now
pending which questions the legality of the
track running through it up Maryland avenue
This park contains two acres. 1l,376 square
feet. and is about the size of Dupont
Circle. which contains two acres, IA, 667 square
feet. The former is now ''mainly occupied by
the Baltimore and Potomac hallway Company
the tracks running dingonally through it," The
latter Is ''highly improved" with all the adorI-
ments which it is the custom to lavish upon
these beauty spots Of the city.
To ArLANTIc CRY VA BALTIMORE AND OHIO
The Baltimore and Ohio route is the only
double track line to this celebrated Jersey
coast resort The parlor car express leaving
Washington daily at IL noon arrives at Atlantic
City 5:2S pm.
A FLAG FOR THE FENCIBLES.
1t Was Presented at Reception In
Their Honor Last Night.
very pleasan. reception was given the Ma
tional Fencibles last night by Mr.. and Mrs C.