The evening times., 1899-06-20
GEORGETOWN PARK
PR0JBCr REVIVED
Special Committee Visits the
District Commissioners.
Proposed Sites for the Needed Pub
lie Reservation.
Authorities to Give the Plan Favor
able COnsideratiOn-Git
Endorse the Scheme.

The efforts of the people of Georgetown
to secure public park west Of Rock Greek
now seem in a fair way to bear fruit. The
movement was started last spring shortly
after the formation of the Citizens Asso-
citation by J. Barton Miller. who. for sew
eral years past has been endeavoring to
arouse public sentiment in favor Of max
ing an active fight for the establishment
OF public reservation which would be of
benefit to Georgetown residents. Previous
to the formation of the association there
was no representative body OF citizens
through which the project could be set in
motion. But after the association was or
ganized, at Mr.. Miller's suggestion, the
matter was taken up with considerable
enthusiasm which has resulted in the very
material advancement OF the project.
The legislative committee of the asso-
citation. consisting of B. T. Janney, Jesse
H. Wilson, and Col. H. T. Blount, visited
the District Commissioners recently and
pointed out Georgetown's need OF a public
reservation of some sort and asked them
to use their influence with Congress to
secure an appropriation at the next session
to be expended in purchasing land for the
proposed park. Commissioner Ross was
OutSpOhtu III Ol project ana gave
assurances that ii would have his earnest
support Commissioner Wight, while ia
voring the plan, thought that it was a
matter to be submitted to the Parking
Commission. The Commissioners promised
TO set aside an early date to consider the
matter and determine through what chan
nels il should be agitated
Three sites were submitted for the con-
sideration of the Commission The first
was the tract of land including about five
acres known as Boyd's place. 1t adjoins
Oak Hill Cemetery on the west and ex-
tends westward as far as Lovers Lane
The site is elevated and commands an ex-
cellent view OF the city. Its elevation
would make it a delightful place in sum-
mer. ii being SO situated as to receive all
the breeze which may be blowing.
The second site, known as the McPher-
son place. is located between Twenty-sev-
enth and Twenty-eighth Streets. north of
y Street. and is well elevated 1t COM
mands a good outlook. II includes about
half square of ground. The third pros
pective location is that of the old Pres
by yterian graveyard on Q Street. at the cor
ner of Thirty third Street. This also in
cludes about half square. The latter site
is now in deplorable condition. 1t is over
grown with weeds and small trees and
of several hundred persons. some of whom
died of the cholera during the epidemic
in 1S32-'33. The graveyard serves as q
dumping ground for refuse matter from
the surrounding houses. and has BEEN re-
condemned by the physicians OF
GecfgetCxn as a menace to the pubic
health. With the removal of the 10 lies
inferred there and a general cleaning Up
of the place. it would form very desira-
bic site, providing the few houses in the
square could be removed and the whole
block be converted into a park.
The citizens of Georgetown are taking
an active interest in the progress of the
plans and seem to be thoroughly alive to
the desirability of securing the proposed
reservation. At present there is no pub
lie reservation of any sort west of Rock
Creek and near enough to Georgetown to
be of benefit to its citizens The Zoologi-
cal Park is located several miles from the
heart of the :own and can be reached only
by taking the electric cars or by driving
Several prominent citizens. when seen by
a Times reporter this morning expressed
themselves as being well pleased over the
success of the legislative committee of the
Citizens Association in securing the sup
port of the Commissioners in the matter
and stated that they were willing to work
hard for the establishment of the park