Evening star., 1896-04-11
Potomac Park vs.. Rivcr.ide Park

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Everybody is pleased to learn that Con-
gress intends to rescue the reclaimed flats
from the tramps and crap Shooters and
convert them into noble park But trust
the mistake will not be made of christening
the new acquisition by the humdrum and
meaningless name of Riverside Park" in
stead of allowing it to receive the beautiful
and appropriate name of Potomac Park"
Among the numerous good reasons against
the proposition are these:
/. The land reclaimed Is not on the river
side. but lies within the original bed of the
Potomac river, as it had done for centuries
until reclaimed by the government There
was something like fitness in giving that
name to the new park in New York city,
for that land never was within the Hudson
and lies on its banks and from fifty to one
hundred feet above it's waters, ~ 4
2. 1t is not descriptive of the location for
the reason that Washington is situated at
the confluence of the Potomac and Anacos-
tia rivers, and the name does not inform a
stranger which river IS referred to.
:; The name name is perfectly commonplace
represents, and of its location in the mid
stream of one of the most beautiful and
majestic of American rivers, and in front
OF what Is soon to become one of the most
superb of national capitals.
t. The water that covered the now re-
claimed land was part of the Potomac
river. TIE shallow places when left un-
covered at low TIDE were always known as
the Potomac flats, and no reason can be
conceived why the reclaimed Potomac flats
should not now bear the name of the Po-
tomac Park.
s. So many blunders have been made in
cur national geographical nomenclature
that it would be objectionable to offend
again in SO conspicuous an instance as this
The Clinton. who filled the valley Of the
Nofno oyHyI r1yff1 t11
cient cities should have no imitators in
our day; certainly not in Congress. Think
of the folly of fixing upon the homes of an
iEoffensive American people such names as
Syracuse, 1lion, Troy, Utica or Athens
when beautiful Indian names like Canaan
daigua and Oneida, were suggested by every
natural object. There is no excuse for ever
neglecting to use these grand historical
names except wnere 1t becomes appropriate
to honor a great patriot by affixing his
name to some enduring natural monument
If this city itself, and so many things with
In 1t, did not bear the name of the greatest
of mankind it would be appropriate to
honor this reclaimed land and ourselves by
calling it washington Park" But MOTH
ing could be more entirely appropriate than
that the grand park which our "River of
swans Will hold forever in its embrace
should bear the euphonious name of its
protector, and be called the Potomac Park;
as our beautiful rolling lands that border
the picturesque stream that enters the river
at Georgetown bear it's name and are
known as Rock Creek Park" and the fu-
ture reclamations in the Eastern branch
will be known as THE Anacostia Park
When we recall that Washington in his
early manhood explored the Potomac to its
head waters: that he crossed it with Brad
dock, and repeatedly afterward during the
revolution; that he passed the greater part
OF his life at his stately home at Mount
Vernon on its banks, and that his ewes
rested for the last time on its beautiful
waters before they were closed in death.
1t would seem almost as commemorative of
Washington to call the new park by the
beautiful name he loved so well as to be-
stow upon it the very name of the father of
his country. I hope the powerful influence
OF The Star will be exerted in advocacy of
this suggestion. PHILO-POTOMAC,