Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-28
ROCK CREEK PARK
Plans for Opening the Property to the
Public.
WORK IN CHARGE OF CAPTAIN BEACH
Roads Proiectedand Several Bridges
to Span Stream
THE MON Ely AVAILABLE

officer Of the board of control OF the Rock
| Creek Park, will soon make accessible TO
the public portion at least of that mag
| niicent tract Of land. Although the 1000
acres lying on both sides of Rock creek
| from the Klingle road to the bounds of the
District, have been the property Jointly of
the United States and the District for the
past six or seven years. 1t has been pos
| sible to do but little in opening up the prop
erty for park purposes, for the reason that
until the last session OF Congress no appro-
priation of money had been made for such
a purpose.
The session of Congress which closed last
March will be notable one in the history
of this great enterprise, marking. as it did.
the beginning of the utilization Of this prop
erty a park. Considering both the ex-
tent and the character of the land within
the limits of Rock Creek Park the appro-
prlation of $1,000, which was made is not
large one. however, as Capt Beach has
already made q record OF accomplishing n
good deal in the park without any direct
appropriation, it is believed he will make
this rather meager sum accomplfsb Won.
ders.
During previous years Capt. Beach has
utilized the scanty resources at his conn
mand so that in a modest way he has been
able to make a few roads and TO clear away
underhrush in some sections of the mark
He has made use of the chain gang and
While ii has been under the disadvantage Of
coming a long distance daily 10 its labor
much has been done.
For example, the present bit of road from
the klingle road to the Pierce Mil road Is
the result of the labors of these workers
as well as the improved condition of the
ground on the creek side and along the all
ready established roads through the park.
where the underbrush is kept cleared out
ana the grass cut. In some places, where
tfere are small ravines tiny runs of
water. rustic bridges have been thrown
8cross due to the ingenuity of the same
workers.
Other Aids.
In addition to the labor of the chain
gang, Capt. Beach has been able to get
things done by various devices illustrating
how much can be accomplished with scanty
resources if they are judiciously admins
tered. When the property passed into the
hands of the present owners there were
various houses and other improvements
which produced revenue in the form OF
rent In many cases Of this sort Capt.
Beach arranged with the tenants to give la
hor instead of money in payment of rent,
ard this labor was employed in making i'm
provements In the park, so that while the
property had not cost the new owners any
thing during the past six or seven years II
has been maintained and actual improve
ments have been made.
In order to make the most of the apDro-
priation of S23,00. Capt Beach made a
careful study of the park. going over the
ground with view of determining where
suitable roads could be opened, thus maxi
ing a beginning, at least, of the system of
rCadways, which ultimately, it is expected
Will extend throughout the entire property
In determining the location of the new
reads, Capt Beach endeavored to follow
what seemed to be the natural directions
for such thoroughfares and those which
would harmonize with any plan that might
in the future be adopted. One Of these
natural roadways appeared to follow the
bank of Rock creek. As stated above a
continuation has been built OF the road
through the Zoo along the bank of the
creek from Klingle road to Pierce Mil road,
which follows the bank of the stream from
that point
The drive is still further continued by the
Argyle or Blagden Mill road At the site Of
the old Blagden mill the present road leaves
the creek and ascends the hill eaStwardly
in the direction of 14th street. The gang
of men employed is Eow engaged in opening
a road which proceeds north from the old
Blagden mill site along the east side OF
Rock creek, and 1t is the purpose 10 con-
tinue 1t to the Military road.
The eastern bank of the stream was Sc
lected by Captain Beach because the west
ern side is extremely rugged and covered
with heavy growth of forest trees, while,
owing to the conformation OF the land on
the other side, easy grade can be Sc
cured with comparatively l5ttle cutting.
This road, passing through the dense for
est and through one of the widest and
most picturesque sections. Will be the
means OF disclosing TO many some Of the
beauties of the park which they have hith-
erto never had the opportunity of seeing.
Another Thoroughfnre.
Another important roadway which Cap
tain Beach is opening, and which, to his
mind seems to follow the natural line of
the property, is one along the ridge be-
tween Rock creek and the Broad Branch
road. The new road starts from the Juno
tion of the Argyle and Broad Branch roads
and passing to the west around the base
of the ridge an ascent is made to the top,
and then the new roadway follows the ridge
until Ii reaches the Military road the dis
tance, as in the case of the road along
the creek, being over mile. These are
the principal thoroughfares which are be-
ing constructed through the park. There
are, however, some shorter ones, which,
together with the bridgings over ravines,
will further increase the accessibility of the
park.
For example. it is proposed TO start a
road at the top of the Iinnean Hill road,
which will pass along the eastern border
of the park and by an easy grade will be
brought to the bridge at the foot of Lime
an HILL. 1t is proposed TO abandon that
portion of the Linnean Hill road, and peo-
pie who drive will be glad TO know that
instead OF a - II per cent grade as at
present, they will be able to pass over
practically the same route with only a 6
per cent grade
Projected Bridge.
1t is also the plan OF Captain Beach to
bridge the ravne at the foot of this hill,
but east of the present bridge. and con-
struct a road which viii pass through the
woods and terminate near the site of the
old Bla9den mill
Mr.. Thomas Blagden, the owner of the
Argyle property, has just given another
evidence of his public spirit by donating
the ground for an avenue 120 feet wide
and about a mise long near the western
line of his property. 1t is proposed by
Captain Beach TO make use of this right OF
way and to open up road through a nat
ural gorge to the east of the present Ar
gyle road so that II will be possible in the
near future TO abandon that portion of the
Argyle Mill road east of Rock creek The
grade of that portion of the road is one OF
the heaviest in the District. and on this ac-
count can be used only in very limited
way, and so the proposed road will AFFORD
facilities for communication which are
greatly needed in that locality.
Movements of Naval vesseIs.
The Bennington has arrived at Sanderan.
The Alliance arrived at New London.
The collier Caesar corop,fSSiopaa