The Washington times., 1894-12-27
BEAUTIFUL ROCK CREEK PARK.
Assessment OF Bencfits-Mr. Perry Dis.
cusses Changes TO BE Made.

Assessment OF Bencfits-Mr. Perry Dis
cusses Changes TO BE Made.
Rock Creek Park is now in the hands of
Gen. Casey and the District Commissioners,
constituting its permanent board of mana
gers. and plans are being made for its i'm
provement; but the commission to select
lands for it have still an important part Of
their work to do.
This is the assessment of benefits to the
other lands of the District which will accrue
upon the completion of what will be one OF
the most beautiful public grounds in the
the world. At the session of the commission
for this purpose, which will begin in Room
81 City Hall, week from next Saturday,
first will be heard all who wish TO make
statements as to The effect of the location of
the park. These will principally be persons
who own property likely to be assessed as
benefited.
Then the commission will call witnesses
who may be supposed to have valuable special
knowledge upon the subject and take their
testimony. After thorough discussion among
themselves they will set the limits to which
they think the benefit extends. and will pro-
ceed TO hear evidence as 10 advantages to
each piece Of property.
Il is said that views are very diverse as to
the limit to which benefits TO other real es-
tate extend. One man has said that he thinks
every piece of real estate in the District will
be enhanced in value by the opening OF the
park; others think only lands Immediately ad-
/ joining the park can be justly assessed. Some
I where between these two opinions probably
/ lies the decision the commission will reach.
! They will be at work several weeks and all
/ the testimony before them will be recorded
4 and handed over with their findings 10 the
/ district supreme court for its approval. The
| assessments will be put in the hands OF the
! tax collector. If more money is obtained
| than the cost of the lands for the
park. $4,000 of this surplus is to be
| given for the improvement of the grounds.
| II there is anything above that amount it will
| be returned pro rata to the persons assessed.
| II is har,ily possible that the amount of the
assessments will equal the cost of the park
and it is reasonably certain that no part OF
/ the money collected will be returned to the
| persons who paid it.
/ THE park as selected said Mr. R. Ross
Perry, of the commission, last night, sex
| tends from the end of the Geological Park to
the District boundary. distance of about
! five miles. Its brea1th varies very much.
About the center OF 1t is the old fort, upon one
| of the highest elevations in the District
Along by this winds the old military road
From the road toward the city along the
1 windings of the creek the less improving
done thu better. Nature has already made
the scenery the finest probably near any great
city in the world It is as charming as
anything in the Alieghenies.
''It is in accordance with the act under
which the park has been secured to do only
such work at the picturesque points as is alb
solutely necessary to make the places accessi
bic. To the northwest of the fort, however
there is Il wide expHnse which has no par
ticular natural charms, and this will AFFORD
an ample field for the art of the landscape
gardener. East of this is low stretct
which we thought would do well for the con
struction OF lake. Ii will cover about fifty
acres and will be a long sheet with irregu
larly indented shores. II is hoped an appro
priation will soon be obtained for begin
ming the improvements