Evening star., 1901-03-28


ers Of the capital"
Mr. Bl0unt's Report.
In the same year Mr.. Henry r. Blount.
chairman Of the committee on parks and
reservations Of the board. made a report In
whicn he made an earnest appeal for an
active campaign for bringing about a com
prehensiye park system for the District.
After describing the improvements that
had been made in Rock Creek Park, the
committee recommended that the eastern
boundary Of Rock Creek Park shoula be
changed and that beyond the new reservoir
at Brightwood to the District line 18th
street should be its eastern boundary. The
committee recommended that q broad road
way should connect Rock Creek Park with
the grounds Of the Soldiers Home. and
that the Boyce tract, Clifton and 'Nor-
mantown. comprising about seventy acres
In Georgetown. be purchased and be con.
hected with driveways and made a part Of
the system of parks west of Rock creek
me committee called attention to the con-
spicuous absence Of parks and reservations
Directly north Of the city, and commended
the effort to save old Fort Stevens, near
Brightwood, and the fertilization line to
ROCK Creek Park as a battlefield park The
general development of q park system was
heartily commended.
The work for advancing the project for a
park system was continued steadily by the
board. 1t was earnestly urged by President
Jonn JOY Edison of the board In his annual
report of last November.
Urged by President Edison,
After full investigation into the propo-
sitlon for the extension Of the park sys-
tenn along Rock creek valley" said Mr.
Edison. referring to the report of the COM
mittee on parks and reservations, 1T rec
ommends the continuance Of the National
Park system along Rock creek from the
geological Park south to Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and 9th street and suitably inproy-
Ing the latter street to make it a. desira ble
and pleasant driveway between the Rock
creek and Potomac parks 1t also In
dorses the proposition to extend the park
west Of Rock creek by the purchase of
what is now known as the Boyce tract.
leading up to u or Road street, which
would make natural entrance to the
park from West Washington. He COM
mended the proposition for the purchase
by the government Of the land south of
pennsylvania avenue between the Botani-
cal Gardens and 10Th street az a part of
the park system. The necessity for parks
north of Florida avenue was referred to-
as was the desirability OF the establish
ment of a battlefield park at Fort Stevens
on Brightwood avenue.
Here the capital was successfully de-
Tended on July II and 12 1894 against
capture by General Early's army, and here
stood Abraham Lincoln under fire during
that important battle" said Mr. Edison re-
ferring to Fort Stevens. 'The Union Vet
eran Union has taken a patriotic interest
In the proposition and has earnestly given
1t its Endorsement. The first time that this
Idea was advanced, in respect to Fort
Stevens, was as far back as 1867, and 1t
was felt that earnest effort should now
be made to accomplish the purchase of
ground necessary without further delay.
Other historical battlefields and forts
OF the civil war in the District Of Column
bfa could be similarly utilized to great ad-
vantage In the way of securing beautiful
national parks. not only to be enjoyed by
the people, but instructive in history"
The Committee on Parks.
The committee on parks and reservations
continued its advocacy for developing the
park system of the District In its annual
report made by Mr.. Blount. It's chairman,
last November. He renewed recommended
tions previously made. After again refer
ring to the desira ability Of acquiring Fort
Stevens as park, the report Of the COM
mittee says:
stand the grim reminders Of the civil war
will then likely also be obtained. and by
connecting one with the other. and with
the Soldiers Home grounds and Anacostia
Park, in connection with the Mall Poto-
mac, Geological, Rock Creek parks and Ar
hngton, Washington will be surrounded by
a system of the most beautiful natural
parks in the world; and marking the only
oatueneld "a OF the civil war In the District
of Columbia, and the point where the gaI-
lant Joshua Barney and his brave men
opposed the British on August "a. 1914
would be Of great historic interest to ali
Americans; '.o
Anacostia Park.
''The subject of the Improvement of Ana
costa river and the reclamation of the
Notwithstanding marshes. has been be-
fore Congress for many years. Numerous
surveys have been made, but as the ex-
pense Is considerable. it has thus far failed
to take hold of this important improve
ment seriously. 1t is hoped that this mat
ter Will receive the attention 1t deserves
ana that this uninviting river, with it's
mlasmatic sWamps, whose baneful fnfiu-
e epce Is SO seriously felt by large por-
tlon of the citizens of Washington. troops
at the barracks, employees at the navy
yard. inmates of st. Elizabeth's ASYLUM
and those in other public institutions ID
Gated IN that region. will be improved as
reported on by Lieut.. Col c. J. Allen. q.
1898 ~ "A@oh III
The committee reported a resolution IA
v3iing ,hidg comprehensive system of parks
Whlch was unanimously adopted by the
w ashington Board of Trade on December
a. 1900, as follows:
RESOLVED That the Washington Board OF
of Congress that an appropriate legislatiye
act be passed at the earliest practica BILE
date to authorize the President to appoint
commission OF three or five building and
landscape architects, each eminent and ex-
perienced In his profession, whose duty it
shall be to devise and report to Congress
suitable and adequate plans for the deveI-
opment of the capital city, in subordination
to the plan of its founders. and yet suffi-
GENTLY expanded In dimensions to typify
century's growth of the republic"
Practically the purposes Of this resolu-
tion are now to be realized in the work of
the park commission, which will meet here
in about week to begin its labors.