Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-09
IN ROCK CREEK PARK
REPORT OF IMPROVEMENTS MADE
THE PAST YEAR.
Estimates of the Money Needed for
Fiscal Year Tihdihg June
80. 1905:


Mr. W. P Richards. assistant engineer,
| having charge of the Improvement work in
Rock Creek Park, hys submitted to the
| board of control his apnual report, together
with estimates for the Coming year. The
| report covers the twelve-month period end
ed June 90 last. Mr.. Richards says:
THE annual appropriation for the past
| year was the smallest made since the va
! rious improvements in the park were be-
| gun. 1t was not sufficient to allow needed
| repairs to the macadam roads and was
used sparingly in places where absolutely
demanded.
Beach driveway was repaired for dis
| lance of one thousand feet on each side
OF the boulder bridge, and cover of fine
stone placed upon 1t. High water during the
past winter occasioned repairs at various
points on Beach driveway and to the tenn
porary bridges north Of the Military road.
A small amount of the appropriation was
| used on Ross road for team hire and the
purchase of material. Much of what has
been accomplished during the year has
therefore depended the operations of
the chain gang.
Three Thousand Feet of Grading.
Grading has progressed along Ross road
for a distance Of three thousand feet, re-
curing the removal of several thousand
cubic yards of earth, there being heavy
cuts and fills in places. Banks have been
sloped and sodded and grass and weeds have
been kept down by the gang along all the
improved drives. During the winter. when
1t was impossible to do much grading a
rustic viaduct was constructed by the gang
on the line of Ross road across deep ra-
vine. This viaduct measures one hundred
and seventy feet in length and Is forty-fve
feet high at it's center. The flooring rests
on ten trestleS, well braced and two abut-
ments made of logs. The trestles rest on
stills which are imbedded in concrete for
their preservation. The viaduct is built of
rather heavy timbers and on account of
lack of facilities and hosting apparatus it's
construction proved heavy undertaking. 1t
stands as creditable eaXmpe of what the
gang is capable of doing and of the excel
lent way in which the foreman has handled
the men.
Recommended for Fiscal Year 1905.
I'm submitting an estimate of work for
the next fiscal year l can only repeat what
l recommended in my last report, leaving
out, Of course, work that will be accom-
plished this year and making one or two
changes in the interest of economy.
THE completion and repair of Beach
driveway. together with bridge at the
north end of the park, calls for the largest
item of expense, and will give the greatest
dement, for the amount expended. Unless
some appropriation is made for work in the
northern end of the park the dirt road will
soon have to be shut off from travel as
the temporary bridges are becoming dan
gerous and the road impossible in places.
This would leave the largest part of the
park without any access, as no other road
leads through it north of the Military road.
1T is intended during the present year
to construct a walk along the creek from
the Geological Park as far as Pierce mill
This should be extended next year to the
Military road, so that the most accessible
part of the park will be open to pedestrians
who are beginning to feel the need of some
path other than along the present drives"
Estimates in Detail.
The estimates in detail call for an appro-
priation of S73,4OO, to be expended as fol-
lows Completing the grading and mac
adamizing of Beach driveway. 1000 feet
in length, $19,35O; one arch across Rock
creek to replace temporary bridge, SIS 600,
completing Ross road, 5000 feet long,
$4,000; completing roadway leading from
north end of Daniels road to Beach drive
way, $4,000; grading and matchmaking
Milk House Ford road, from Rock creek to
Daniels road, $1,000; protecting Rock creek
banks, $1,000; footpaths and shelters,
$4,000; cost of running two sprinklers $50
days, at ST. 81 $50; care and repair of pres
ent macadam roads, 5000; engineering in
spection, etc, 5000.