Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-02

turesque and historic Rock creek, afording
the most attractive natural beauties to be
found so near any large city in the country,
where the United States government has
expended more than half million dollars,
and where the taxpayers of this District
were required to do likewise over ten years
ago. Surely now at this late day the prin-
clpal purpose declared in the act Of Con-
gress should be realiZed-that this land has
been acquired pleasure ground for the
benefit of the people of the United States.
Why not direct the Marine Band TO play
there, rather than within chalk line on a
hard and heated concrete east of the Capt.
toll, or in what should be the private
grounds surrounding the home of the Presi-
dent of the United States?
The District Preferred
why not offer District people amuse-
ment pleasure and recreation within the
District of Columbia, and in an accessible
and healthy location, rather than force
them and the Improvements necessary for
their entertainment beyond its limits into
MARYLAND and along the picturesque but in
accessible and malarial surroundings of the
upper Potomac? Shall District interests lie
dormant? Shall District pleasure grounds
remain unimproved for years after their
acquisition at great cost? Shall District
people be forced into Maryland to sustain
Maryland enterprises, make Maryland i'm
provements and augment Maryland rev.
enue? These substantial Improvements
the Shoemaker mill, Joshua Pierces resi-
dence and the immense stone outbuildings-
could all be utilized with but slight expense.
The second floors of these large stone out
buildings the barn and the mill, could be
converted into large halls for entertain
ment; a suitable place for 'merry-go-
rounds could be arranged on the first floor
for the young folks. and provisions made
for the Marine or other bands, when not
located under the great trees and in the
open air.
What the People Desire.
at is permit to use and enjoy this
land and these buildings, executive act
on the part of the park authorities in be-
half of the people, that is desired to bring
about these results, rather than the OK
penditure of money. A few hundred dol
lars. however. of the amount appropriated
for the Improvement of the Rock Creek
Park at the last session would cause this
portion of it to be of great utility and ad-
vantage to the public. 1t would make the
park a pleasure ground for the people, as
was intended by the act of Congress and
so declared. District people woGld not be
pense of two fares and great risk on
oVercrowded cars to visit Glen Echo.
Cabin John Wildwood and other Maryland
resorts in order to obtain refreshments,
breathe pure air beyond the city limits
and hear the charm Of music. We hone
for favorable action of the proper author
tiles, so that this park can become Of the
utmost public utility
Mr. +. B. Townsend spoke next on a va
riety of topics lie criticised Congress
sharply In a number Of instances and
closed with a plea for the capital, which
was enthusiastically applauded
Resolution Adopted
Mr. Lamberts resolution, referred to in
the foregoing, which was unanimously
adopted. called for the formation in the
District of Columbia Of a National Society
for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Washington as
proposed in resolutions submitted by Mr.
Louis =. Shoemaker to the Northwest Sub
urban Association, the Mount Pleasant
Citizens Association, the Takoma Citizens
Association and other associations and by
those associations unanimously adopted.
This society is to circulate such plans as
have been prepared by the park commia=
sion after their approval by Congress- or
subsequent plan which may be prepared or
suggested for the Improvement of Wash
ington ard benefit of the nation at the na-
tional expense. the same being federal I'M
dertakingS and beyond the mere local reeds
and necessities Of the taxpayers of the
District; that all local Improvements lee
essary and for the benefit of local tax
payers be paid for, onehalf by the people
of the District and the other half by the
United States, stipulated in the compact
or organic act Of 1878. The society will
spread broadcast the following appropriate
s.
sachusetts on the floor of the Senate March
g. 1901:
The government is a great property
owner here and the credit of the city Of
Washington is the credit of the nation 1t
is also the national capital and IL is of
great national interest to have wen-or-
dered, beautiful. well-ornamented and ar
ranged city here. The complaint that the
government pays a part of the taxes seems
to me TO have no foundation in reason
whatever The people here do not govern
their own city; II Is governed by the gov
eminent. The public property is enormous
il. amount"
In Favor Of Improvements.
It was declared to be the firm belief Of
the Columbia Heights Association that
the people Of this country are in favor of
extensive national improvements and de-
sire to see Washington made what it ought
TO be as the capital city of this great coun-
try, properly at national expense; that the
people of this nation will not advocate that
the land owners of the District of Column
bia should be required to pay more than
their just proportion for federal improve
ment. that is, the relationship that 300 900
would bear to 10000 900; that they are i'm
bued with the spirit of fairness as well as
Justice, and, consequently, opposed to a
levy of taxation for national purposes upon
the 10000 property owners of the District
of Columbia to burdensome extent, which
must follow if improvements of a national
character, Sucn as geenral street extension
plans and the suggestions of the park COM
mission. are to fall burden upon the
few land owners Of the District of CO.
lunbia"
Overhead Wires.
Mr.. W. b. Todd, secretary of the asso-
citation, introduced a resolution on the SUBJ
ject of overhead wires, which was unani-
mously adopted. The resolution declares
that all interested in the development Of
I h., al f,,l1,,
Importance Of the House bill reintroduced,
March u. by Representative Jenkins de-
limiting the territory which shall be pro-
vided with underground wire conduits and
from which all poles and overhead wires
Shall be removed 1t is further cited that
the proposed location Of the northern boun-
Diary Of this territory only as far as Co
lumba road and 18th street would do
great injustice to many leading and popu-
lous streets of Columbia Heights and vi
cinity. 1t was therefore declared that the
Columbia Heights Citizens Association, in
regular meeting assembled recommends