Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-13
The announcement in TIE srAn saturda,

The announcement in The star Saturday
that the Secretary of the Treasury had directed
the payment Of the Rock Creek Park purchase
money in compliance with the requisition OF
the park commissioners gave public notice Of
the happy ending Of long and most remarka-
bic controversy. The park movement was one
near TO the hearts OF the people Of the
District and approved BY the people Of the
country. who hsd an interest in any
measure that promised to add so much
to the att~sctiveness Of the capital and
to preserve 1t from the evils that must follow
the conversion Of Rock creek into an open
sewer, which was threatened by the rapid
growth Of the city. The project waited for
years 10 receive the final approval Of the
lawmakers, not because of objection to the plan,
but on account Of dissgreements a. to the
character and extent Of the park to be acquired.
From the very start over quarter Of . century
ago the project met the favor Of all the officers
of the government Immediately interested. In
fact II was first proposed and urged by officers
of the national government and committees Of
Congress, and no. by residents Of the District.
II was not. however. until within few years
that the urgent need of providing for the pro-
lection Of Rock creek, IN the interest Of the
health Of the capital, became so apparent a. to
arouse new interest in the park movement and
to hasten legislation TEE EVENING STAR re-
vived public interest in the measure and vigor-
oGsly urged prompt ard liberal action by Con-
gress. Citizens committees were appointed
and they. supported in every step by TIE
STAR, kept the matter before Congress until the
final passage of the Rock Greek Park act in
once the approval of the President. who
promptly appointed the commissioners charged
with the management of the proceedings neces-
sary to acquire possession of the park, so that
the project 80 long delayed might be quickly
carried into execution. No one dreamed then
Of the laws delays. or Of the long fight that the
commission would have to carry on before the
will Of the people and of Congress could be
made effective. The opposition represented but
few individuals, Who we're not satisfied with the
sums awarded for their properties. By the en-
ployment of the most in yenious pleas and subtle
sophistries and every dilatory measure sane
toned by law. they succeeded In deferring the
execution Of the plan and almost exhausted the
patience Of the public. Even after the approval
Of the courts of the country had been added to
that Of Congress and the President the obstruc-
tionists succeeded in caIsing still further DELAY by
means Of delusive statements intended for effect
in Congress. The commissioners. however,
went steadily forward in their work To their
zeal and fidelity to the task imposed upon them
the public owes much mere perfunctory
discharge of their duties would not have suf-
feed to have gained the park. They gave to
the accomplishment Of their work an enthusi-
bfah
made defeat impossible. When the people
take possession Of the park they will hold in
grateful remembrance the citizens committee
who secured the legislation, the champions of
the park project in Congress, the President
whose sympathy and support did much toward
the accomplishment Of the plan, and last but
not least the commissioners, to whose faithful
attention to the work intrusted to them and
able management Of the case the final achieve
ment is mainly due.