The morning times., 1896-10-18
ROCK CREEK PARKS BEAUTY
Various Points in the Great
Breathing Spot.
THE WAY TO IMPROVE 1T
The Plans Proposed by Those
Interested in the Future
of the Place.

October is the month 10 see Rock Greek
Park, The season is a little farther ad-
yauced III the country than Ill the city, and
the tiuts of autumn are bright week ear
lier and disappear little sooner.
They are now at their best in the park, aud
In The clear, frosty mornings there are Few
sights in this region more gorgeous or i'll
spring han the masses of russet, red, gold,
purpleS, browns and yellows. with broad
reaches of green and patches of brilliant
scarlet.
a drivc through this pleasure-grouud"o OF
the nation is a delight at any time OF the
wear; 1t Is uneXcclled by anything of the
nature about Washington at this time.
There IS a great lack of road ways to make
the place really accessible, so the horses
can only take the sight-seer &c 1.-THE Of
the pretty places.
This is especially true of the rugged and
more picturesque half of the reservation at
the northern end, where there is not Il single
road that deserves the name, from the old
Military road to the District line.
Essu the Rock Creek Ford road is rot
kept up, and is not inviting to titnid
driver Furthermore, il leads only to the
creek, and the traveller is obliged TO turn
there and go over the same ground twice
The only really good road that allows a
view of a portion of this end of the park
is the Daniel road that skirts the grounds
on the west for long distance.
IN THE HEART OF THE PARK.
There is Il rough track that has been
practically abandoned, leading Off to the
right from the Rock Ford way, just before il
enters the park, and going up into the heart
of this unfrequented northern end. II Is
safe for bold and experienced driver, 5u'
Should not pe urled u y any olheF thah the
most expert.
Probably one of the first outlays in this
section will be to make good Ioad from
one end of the reservation to the other.
At present the most convenient point OF
access is from Park street, in Mount
Pleasant. by what is sometimes called the
I-innean Hill road. but is really only a
continuation Of the Pierce Mill way, and is
oftenest called by that name.
A rapid descent brings the party TO a
deep sufge. across wnicn the cu:ors flame
out, and in which the tree trunks have bee
IuDbIed pIomIscuously by the recent tor
nadn- 1t is filled with underbrush, and
rural enough for a mountain side.
Less than half mile farther is fount
the creek, cutting deep into the clay and
sand, with huge boulders lining its side ant
glinting, cool with gray, bare face, and witt
varied green OF moss a2d lichen, through
the rich folage.
At the bottom the stream Quarrels It!
way over jagged points and high-pilet
stones that seem TO confine it, and break
in foamy crcsts to run way TO clear limpit
reaches that mirror the scarlet dog wood
and maple and sumac that overhang it.
A good, open view OF it is to be had a,
the first bridge, where there is a sligh
ascent and an open field on the right.
from this there is continuous interes
along to the big bridge just this side th'
half-ruined structures that mark the plac,
where old Isaac Pierce made meal and flou
with his water mill three-quarters of
century ago. This place is almost toe
familiar to residents in Washington to beal
description.
The quaint, ropgh-stqn Structures, fiv
IN number, that mAtk the progress Of tai