Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-27

Of a century that passed the project always hat
Its friends. several bills were introduced ane
many reports were made, but it was not unit
the year 1890 that Congress became SO I'M
pressed with the practical wisdom OF the PARK
scheme to enact the legislation required to
secure the park. Congress may be excused Ior
SO long delaying an act now universally &c
knOwledged to have been q wise one as l, ~
only within a few wears that ii has been pam
to every one that the rapl1 growth OF tne e!.S
would soon make Of a stream noteu IOt ~
scenic beauty along all its winding length ~
the District limits q nolsOne anu pes'lleH' iA-
sewer.
The sscurino AZ a beautiful suburban park al
the gat.- OF the national capital was IN ltseiI an
object which many men IN Congress AM -
considered worth working for, buE Hneh :. - -
came evilen. that unless Rock creeA was 81
teeted from pollution by the estaUD'. ~ ~
the park. many millions more than VIZ -
would cost would ultimately nave W $50
pended IN walking and arehlng me creeA, :;
tical men who had not been mueh ilte -, eu ~
the proposed PARK as an ornament " -. p
tai gave Their earnest support 20 the ProJeo' as
a Druierr business measure. Senator norman,
in a tsnent published IN iHE oinA; eaileu
attention To the costly experience Daiin0fe
had had with Jones creek 10 wall anu VI tose
tat creek. when the city encroached upon 1t,
Lad cost Baltimore Si.2JO,OOO a mile AT
tba- rate Mr. German estimated that
il would cost $1,000. UOo to wall In hocK
creek ..WashingtOn, he said, "can now get
r,sg1iSceu: park tor what 1t cost Baltimore to
val up one mile of its creek. This, besides
adding 10 the beauty and health of the city and
increasing the taxable value of property. Will
save the city and the government from the I'M
p,suse expenses which must result from the
occupation Of this valley by dwellings or lac
tories
ZEE COST OF COVERING ROCK CREEK
The facts stated by Senator Gorpan had
been discussed by officials before and had been
,rophasized by the state of that section of Rock
.reek already inclosed by the city. In the re
oort made BY Capt Symons, assistant 10 'Le
Engineer Commissioner, for the nseal year
ending June, 1855, much space was ceNo'ei 10
irging the need for the abatement OF the
nuisance arising from tins large s're I1I oi
s;agnant and sewase-PoAnted
water" and 10 discussing plan Ior accom-
plishing the desired object ,.,-,
The plan then suggested proposed tunnels and |
.rches for carrying the creek The tunnels |
rronosed were y2O feet long and the archway !
m fsat long and the entire cost for this |
- a little more than hal; mile long. was |
..timsted at $3.50. 900, or more than half the |
amount appropriated FOR the purchase OF |
For Creek Park. which IS TO inclose many |
roiles of the meander1ng stream |
The same view of the case wss presented also |
x.rv strongly In q report made 10 the House |
hx Mr. Hemphill from the District committee |
isnnarv rs. 1853. That report said:
..Kock creek drains large section of the |
.onntv GRAPHICALLY and flows through the CITY |
~ W Arlington II residences should be placed |
along its banks the sewerage would be emptied |
~ 10 that stream and necessarily endanger the |
health Of the city. The consequence would be |
either that this continuous risk must exist or |
that this picturesque creek must be covered In
and used exclusively as a sewer. That portion |
Of the creek along which dwelling houses have
already teen built Is now an open sewer fow-
ING through the city, from which dlsagreeable