Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-13

the roadbed needs repairing. New stone
will be placed on this road and arrange
ments will be made for better drainage
along the drive. 1t is also proposed to
macadamize the driveway between the
Boulder bridge and Milk House ford. The
roadway between these points at present Is
merely dirt and unsa tisfactory for driving
after rains.
Banks Have Caved In.
The banks along some of the driveways
have caved in, and it will be necessary to
remedy these defects with stone embank-
ments. The old abandoned bridge across
the creek on the line where the Old Blagden
road formerly crossed the stream will be
torn down and the stone will be removed to
the north end Of the park. to be used in re-
pairing the foundations of a bridge In that
part of the reservation. The construction
of a ford across Rock creek near the mouth
of Broad branch will also be desirable
improvement to be made this year. while
the walks and footpaths to be constructed
along the banks of the stream In various
parts will be greatly appreciated by pedes-
TRAN visitors to the park.
number OF important improvements are
already being made in the park by force
of about twenty colored men, all wearing
the peculiar uniforms Of black and white
stripes. which are furnished free Of cost
to those persons who are required for va
rious reasons to take up their residence
temporarily In the District workhouse.
The "chaingang," as this force is called.
is at work practically every day in the
park.
Under the watchful care of Private ]. F.
Amos Of the metropolitan police force,
crap-shooters, proprietors Of speak
easies.'' over-boisterous street preachers.
habitual imbibers of grand jury and per-
sons of pugilistic tendencies. all of whom
have been unfortunate enough to be caught
in the meShes of the law, are doing great
deal toward identifying the park. and be-
ciI 1alr ppp tn 10 hon col
full.
Work Of the Changing.
The grass on the banks of the creek is
kept neatly trimmed by this force, the
bridges are kept in good repair, and new
dirt roads are being laid out in various
parts of the reservation. The work of the
chaingang during the past few years has
been of great value toward the improve
ment Of the park. Along Ross road large
rustic bridge, about 125 feet long. has been
built across ravine about seventy feet
deep. The bridge was constructed by the
chaingang under the supervision Of Police
man Amos. and the officials highly compli-
ment that officer for the engineering ability
he displayed In this particular piece Of
work
Assistant Engineer Richards makes
trip to the park almost every day and SUI
pervises the work of the force from the
District house of correction.
1t has been estimated that not ten per-
sons in every 100 resident in Washington
are acquainted with the beauties of the
Rock Creek National Park. 1t is a wild
and picturesque tract, about seven miles
long and not more than mile across at
its greatest width. The picturesqueness of
the park is probably rendered all the more
attractive because of its location SO near
to a great modern city. the law of con-
trasts working with pleasing effect on the
mind Of the visitor. 1t seems but a step
from the scenes made pleasing altogether
by the artifice and design of man to the
scenes OF beauty carelessly spread out by
nature.
The winding driveways, although care
fully constructed. and the rustic and bould-
er bridges across the stream at various
points but add attractiveness to the other
wise disorderly scenes within the confines
OF the park. These afford the public
opportunity to more adequately enjoy the
change from the broad, smoothly paved
streets, lined with rows of neatly trimmed
trees set out in regular order, and the
splendid buildings of the city, to the dis
ordered groves of trees, the boulder-strewn
creek, Jagged walls of rock and country
paths winding over the hills and in and
out of the tangled underbrush. 1t has been
the desire and design of the officials in
charge of the park to preserve It's wild and
picturesque beauty and all the improve
ments made in it are with that purpose in
mind.