The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-18
PRESERVE POTOMAC PARK
General Wilson Opposes the Sale of
Portion of the Flats.
The Reclaimed Territory Desirable
as a Public Resort-Enorts to Gust
Bridge Site - Objections to = Bill
Now Before Congress. -sH-.

| General Wilson, Chief Of Engineers OF
to the Secretary Of War report on SEN
| ate bill 2S09. introduced by Senator FL
! kins authorizing the Secretary Of War to
| sell to Elijah s. Avord and Mortimer II.
Acheson a plot of land at the foot oil
| REIMBURSEMENT Street, constituting a
portion OF Potomac Park. The Secretary
of War has transmitted General Wilson's
report to the Committee on the District OF
Columbia. General Wilson says:
have the honor TO return herewith a letter.
dated the Ist instant. from the Senate Commits
tee on the District OF Columbia, enclosing Tor
the views Of the War Department thereon, 3
2spq Fifty-sxth Congress first session.;
"a hill authorizing the sale of part OF the
In January, 1893. the Secretary OF War leased
to Littlefeld & Alvord. for period OF hse ysaIS
a plot Of ground at the foot OF Twenty seventh
| Street in the city OF Washington, and granted
| ,,errnission to the said parties TO construct a
| wharf in front OF the said plot OF ground 1t
We stipulated in the lease that upon me e1p .i
tion or revocation thereof, the said parties should
remove the buildings and other property they
might have on the premises within such time Is
the Secretary OF War might direct.
When the lsas, expired, January 8, 1s9S, an
snplicstion was made for its renewal, hut the
application was denied by the Secretary Of War
Later on in April 1893. the parties applied Tor
reyocable license 10 occupy the said grounds anu
this application was also denied. This action OF
the department was based on the fact that Con
gress, by an act approved March ), 1877. had set
apart the entire known as Potomac + lats as
a bubble mark, to he forever held and used as
park for the recreation and pleasure Of the people;
and as the plot OF land formerly leased was en-
braccd within that area, there was obviously no
power lodged in the Secretary OF War to grant
4 further lease. Notwithstanding this action,
1fI tlftE
continued to occupy the premises
In accordance with an order made by the Sec
Rotary Of War. July Z, 1899, the parties were noti'
fed that they must vacate the premises on or
before December 81, ls91. At the expiration OF
that time it appeared that 10 steps had been
taken TO vacate the grounds. and the matter was
brought TO the attention Of the United states Az
tarncy for the District Of Columbia, with view
to having the necessary legal proceedings insti-
tuted against the parties.
The object OF the bill under consideration i
to authorize the Secretary Of war 70 sen .hls
plot Of ground to Elijah :. AlvoTd and Mortimer
H. Achesyn, who are understood 20 he the sue
cessors OF the original lessons, Littiefeld &
Alyord
Of which about GIL acres reclaimed land, and
about us acres are OF tidal reservoirs or ponds
| hor,lered Lv the reclaimed land and stone WALL
| constructed by the United States. congress nav
| ing set apart this as park for the pleasure
and recreation Of the people. II IS believed 20 De
1 inconpatible with the public interest TO sell or
/ lease any part uf it to private parties. AI tne
area wi lie needed for park purposes, particularly
\ the upper end. where the proposed Memorial
Bridge is to cross and whore there is not any too
( much park room now.
| Moreover the grantees under This bill IRE not
the only ones occupying without authority Of Ia"
portions Of this park There are SIX other
distinct persons and firms occupying for nriraie
business purposes portions OF this area. Notice to
vaoa;e was served all OF them. but no attention
was paid 10 it,. and legal action against them
has been recommended. Doubtless each OF them
would be willing TO purchase the ground occupied,
and doubtless each OF them has as much claim
upon Congress fer the passage OF law permitting
such purchase as the grantees under this hili
Should the bill become a law 1t would not only
result in diminishing the park area, but be USED
as a basis for further appeals TO Congress OF the
| same nature. $500
Ii the design Of Congress, enuaeiate in the act
! 81 March g 1897 to make Of tbs AREA a public
mark is TO be carried out am Of the opinion that
/ IN, area should remain intact. and consequently
/ that Ibis bill shoud-not receive favorable CON
| sideration,
| IOilN VI. WILSON,
\ Brig. Gen. Chief OF Engineers, L. $. \.