Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-10
Brightwood Citizens Association Pro-
pose a Public Improvement.
NEED FOR ROADS and STREETS
Resolutions Calling on the Com
missioners and Congress to Act.
OTHER MATTERS DISCUSSED

after recess Of three months, at Bright
wood Hotel
Those who took active part in the meet
ing were Mr.. w. v. Cox, president: DIR. c.
G. Stone. Messrs. Claude F. King, Austin
P. Brown, w. E. Nslley. B. Frank Saul,
George Field, Edward T. Bates. Theo. c.
Felter. DR.. ]. A. Lavender and William A.
Knowles. Several others were present
After the minutes of the last meeting
were read by Secretary King, and approved
without amendment, President Cox called
for the reports of the standing committees.
DR.. Stole chairman of the sanitation COM
mittee, reported progress In the work as
signed his committee. Mr.. Brown, chair
man of the committee on streets, roads and
bridges reported the grading and improv-
ing the streets and roads for which appro-
priations were made by the last session OF
Congress. Mr.. Bates, chairman Of the COM
mittee on police fire and lights, reported
that out Of the fifty additional policemen
appointed July l twelve had been detailed
for duty in this precinct.
He also stated that lot for the new en-
CINE house had been purchased. and the
plans for the house were being prepared by
the District building inspector. The site
is on the old Moses property on Brightwood
avenue below Shepherd road. 1t was unan-
imously agreed that some of the firemen to
be appointed for manning this engine
should be citizens Of the community AMI
the chief of the department and the Com
missioners will be urged to make such Sc
lection.
On a motion of Mr. Nalley this committee
was instructed to secure If possible an addi-
tional gas lamp on Brightwood avenue be-
tween Genessee street and Shepherd road.
Secretary King read a letter from Mr.. T.
NJ. Blake of the Federation of Labor invit-
ing the association to unite with the local
Federation of Labor in organizing a leg
islative council. Upon motion, the letter
was referred to the executive committee
for action
Rock Creek Park.
The president called Dr. Stone to the
chair, and then followed the most import
ant feature Of the evening. President Cox
stated that. in his judgment, the question
of the improvement Of Rock Creek Park
should receive the immediate attention of
the association. He said III part: lover
six years have elapsed since the act es-
tatlishing the Rock Creek Park became
law. Five years have passed since Its pres
ent boundaries were finally determined
upon. Yet far ! am aware, not
single dollar has been spent in making it
accessible to the people for whose recre-
alton it was purchased; and today the ro-
| mantle valley Of Rock creek. only few
hundred feet west of us, with all Its nat
ural beauty, remains as wild and almost
as unobserved as it did when prehistoric
| men made their stone axes in the quarries
on it's banks.
IF this magnificent natural park is TO
| be what it was intended to be, 1t is now
| full time that roads and pathways be made
/ to and through it; but in absolute har-
mony with all its wild surroundings. until
this is done, our people cannot have free
| sccess to this. the most beautiful region
possessed by any city or any country for
| a park. With view of calling the atten-
ton of the Commissioners and Congress
To nd will nf ma n "
the park symmetrical and even more pic
| turesque-a park worthy of a great peo-
ple-I offer the following resolutions:
Resolutions Adopted.
| Whereas under the act of September
| -, 1880, authorizing the establishment Of
| a public parry in the District of Columbia
| there was acquired most picturesque
tract of land lying on both sides Of Rock
creek, from Klingle Ford bridge to the
state line of Maryland, which, under the
| law, is to be peIpetLally dedicated and
| set apart as a pleasure ground for the
| benefit and enjoyment Of the people Of
| the United States; and
| Whereas the said park is inaccessible to
those for whom it was created for want
| of proper roads and entrances. Therefore,
| be it
! Resolved, That the Brightwood Avenue
Citizens Association petition the honorable
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
| to recommend and urge upon the Congress
| of the United States the necessity of max
| ing an appropriation of at least sloo,N9
| to enable the legal custodians of the park
| TO begin to carry out the provisions of the
| law, for laying out and preparing road
| ways and bride paths to be used for driv-
| ing and horseback riding, respectively, and
| foot paths for pedestrians; and also to
| preserve from injury spolia,ion all tim
| Der, animals or cariosites within said
| parks and their retention in their natural
| state as nearly as possible
In, nrln fn 10 he
| said Rock Creek Park more accessible and
| to preserve it's beauty and symmetry, 18th
| street should form the eastern boundary
of said park from Blagden Mill road to the
Resolved, That on account Of its great
| natural beauty, the tract of land, about
| six hundred feet in width, lying on either
| side of Piney Branch stream, from its juno
| ton with Rock creek to Columbia avenue,
should also be made part OF the ROCK
| Creek Park.
"Resolved, That the honorable the Com
| mlssioners of the District of Columbia he
| requested to make a preliminary survey Of
| the land herein mentioned and an estimate
of its cost, and prepare plats OF the same
| together with such bill or bills for obtain
ing said land by purchase or condemnation,
and submit to and urge the passage of these
measures by the Congress Of the United
States.
Resolved, That a copy Of these resolu-
lions be furnished to the Commissioners
| of the District of Columbia and to the Sen
ate and House committee on the District
of Columbia"
Extending Streets.
| Mr.. Cox illustrated his remarks with q
plat showing the boundary lines of the
park and Ahe proposed new lines. 1t wa:
estimated that the land desired to be added
to the park contained about fifty acres
He also exhibited a series of artistic pho
| tographs he had taken of charming view
| in the Rock creek region. Concluding, M
| said: This is not matter limited to this
| association nor the citizens of the Distrlc
only nor to the thousands Of visitors tt
the nations capital but to every citizen o.
| the United States, most Of whom will visi
Washington some time in their lives"
Remarks were made by the majority o
the members before the final action wa!
taken on the resolutions. Mr.. Bates made
special argument as regarded the park
of other cities and the question OF extrav
agance should the improvements be mad
to the park. He said:
There need be no hesitancy through
fear of extravaganza in this matter. Thi
city is far behind many Of her sister cities