The times., 1897-08-22
FOR A ROCK CREEK PARK
Col. BramhalI Pleads for a New
Reservation.
AGAINST THE ARCH SCHEME
An Interview With Friend OF the
Residents Along the Classic Creek
He Stands by Rossell's Report
of 1893 = Intercepting Sewers
Make Archipe Unnecessary.

Col. W. L. Rramhail, OF No. PIP street
northwest. W no sent letter to the Commis-
sioners last Tuesday asking for reconsid-
Grafton of the report made by Engineer
Commissioned RosseI in 1898 in regard
TO the filling in of Rock Greek valley. in an
interview with a reporter for The Times
last night made some interesting remarks.
Col Bra.nhan, like many others living
near the creek basin, is opposed To the
FILLING 1p' plan, and in defense or his
side of tile question has advanced many
strong points. First ef all, with the pres
ent interceptng sewers completed, as they
viii be in about ten days, there would be
no danger from pollution OF the water Of
tile stream. thus obviating the necessity of
arching the stream and FILLING in-
The paIking OF the valley would be the
cheapest way 10 improve it, and when
terraces and drives have been constr ucted
along the crack it would make park that
any city might well feel proud of owning
To the inquiry, ~ understand that, I'm
your letter 10 the Commissioners, you in
dicate that your suggestions are iii the
line of the conclusions arrived at by
Engineer Commissioner Rossell in his re-
port Of 1892" Col. Rramhan replied.
Yes, that is true; the tenor and drift
OF his report all tie way through seem
TO be unfavoranle to the proposed arching
Of the creek, although, before he began
that inquiry, / know from conversations
with lin, he was inclined to that plan.
in common with the generally-expressed
sentiment.
Before his report on the subject was
! written, however, when iii his oflire one
day, he said to me. with his Characteristic
frankness, that he had changed his mind.
having discovered that the scheme was i'm
practicable, unnecessary and expensive.
III Is report is "a most exhaustive one, and
instructive H. those desiring To be informed
on tho subject. 1t is stated that the
drainage of Rock Creek is over seventy
seven square miles, more than three-fourths
of which lies in Maryland. That this
area is rapidly passing from wooded and
farming region TO that OF a suburban, and
some or 1t already becoming urban in
character. all of which must contribute to
a more rapid discharge OF RAINFALL
How V rs if suggested that the present
or the increased rainfall would be carried
OFF, asked the reporter.
sTo carry this storm water he re
| piled. lit was computed that an arch
| of 80 feet span and a height Of 32-5
feet, giving an area of cross section OF
1850 square feet would be required to
carry off $4,000 To $4,000 cutie feet
per second Many difficulties are sug-
| gested IN the report as to condition, con
| strHcung and in reaching conclusions. 1t
says, substantially, that as a means OF
sewage disposal it would be wrong in
From a sanitary standpoint it is un-
Necessary If the sewage is intercepted.
His conclusions seem to be that the
only OBJECT to be reached by arching and
filling would be- the reclamation of 4
lsrge body of comparatively worthless
land in and along the creek"
what would this reclamation cost?'
why, the cost thereof would be more
than double what it would sell for after
the alleged improvement was completed"
Col. Bramhall was asked: Upon what
do you base your estimate that the con-
demnation value of the land would not be
more than S40o .0G0, when Capt. Feibeger
placed 1t at nearly 81 coo ,c00?''
Col. BraInhaIl replied that it is very
clear to bin that the average real value OF
the land is under 40 cents per square foot.
worth 10 cents per foot, having no avail
ability whatever, either present or pros
pcctive, for manufacturing, domiciliary or
commercial purposes
What viii the result be if dumping
isnot stopped along the banks OF thecreek?"
1T viii result in large amount of
filling being washed into the creek and
carried down into the Potomac, filling
J the channel thereof, necessitating very eX-
! penFive work in dredging out the chan
mel in order 10 keep it clear. That ques
ton fully answered by the Engineer Com
missioner. Not only does his report answer
, Ii, but also the numerous reports of other
Engineer Commissioners Another ide2
that occurs To me is that what is know n
as Rocl. Creek Park, extended from the
District line 10 the Geological Park. was
Established having in view as one of its
principal objects to prevent the pollution
or the Rock Greek waters as affecting the
sanitary condition of Washington city.
III that is considered to be necessary in
region occupied almost entirely by native
/ forests and farm lands, how much more
necessary is il To continue the said pa rk
between the densely populated urban dis
tricts Of Washington and Georgetown to
| prevent the pollution of the stream
"a great deal has been said about Wash
ington as residence city, by reason Of its
large park area, and yet upon examina-
tion, We find that there is hardly city of
the population and area of Washington
that has not a larger area of parks than
We have II should be born in mind that
west Of Seventeenth street, excepting a
few triangular parks along Pennsylvania
avenue, there are none.s
Since the publication of Col. Brambau' s
letter in The Times he has received many
letters from residents of Washington and
Georgetown, approving, in the strongest
terms, of the recommendations it contains
PRINTING BUREAU REPORT.