Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-10
ROCK GREEK CONDUIT
PROPOSITION FOR ITS CONSTRUC-
TON REVIVED.
Bill Before Congress Reported Upon
Substitute Presented by Dis
trict Commissioners.

The proposition to construct a conduit
FOR the waters Of Rock Creek and
thus more perfectly unite Georgetown
and Washington. both physically and le-
gaily, Is again up for consideration by
tbs commissioners and Congress. bill
looking to this end was introduced In the
Fifty-eighth Congress, and at that time
favorable report was made by the Dis
trict Commissioners, but the bill failed of
enactment. The same plan is brought up
again this year in Senate bill 5O53, and
the Commissioners today completed the
preparation of their report on the meas
ure.
III q general way this report is identical
20 the report sent to the fty-eighth
Congress-. but another line of action has
been suggested, and the Commissioners
have drafted d substitute bill which pro-
yf0es an appropriation of So, 900 for pre-
nminary survey and for estimates for
construction. This substitute bill specl-
f1es that the necessary borings test pits
and plans shall be made for the construc-
ton of a conduit of the same general d.
mansions as the culvert across Rock
creek on the line of Massachusetts, ave-
nue. extended. According to this plan the
water of the creek is to be carried under
ground from Lyons mill to point about
100 feet south of the south building line
of o street. 1t Is provided that one-half
the expense Of this preliminary work
shall be borne by the District and the
otl.er half by the United States and that
a report OF the result shall be made to
the second session OF the Fifty-ninth Con-
gress during the month Of December,
1909.
Suggestion by Commissioners.
The Commissioner report, In an explana-
tory way. states that the original Senate bill
has for Its object the treatment Of portion
OF the Rock Creek valley only, and that con-
sideration must be given to the general ques-
ton OF what shall be done with the entire
valley within the city limits. The Senate
park commission which was appointed I'M
der a Senate resolution of March 8, 1891,
proposed to treat this valley as a park
throughout its whole length. with drive
ways along the edge of the creek. This
plan, the Commissioners state. would prob
ably have been the proper method of pro-
cedure II 1t had been taken ND before the
city had grown to the edges OF the creek.
but under. existing conditions they express
the belief that the best plan will be clos
ing In OF the creek by conduit Or tun-
mel such as 10 proposed by the bill. This
tunnel should extend. 1t Is believed. be-
tween d point short distance above Q
street and Pennsylvania avenue. leaving
sthe valley above Q street to be developed
into a park and below Pennsylvania avenue
to be used for commercial purposes.
A step toward the contamination of this
plan, the Commissioners state. has already
been taken in the construction OF an arch
over the creek on the line OF Massachu-
sets avenue but they. do not think that
the creek should be covered In between
Massachusetts avenue and the point just
north of Q street. They declare they would
rather see the park extended to this latter
point The location of Oak Hill cemetery
on the west of the creek above Q street u
given as one Of the reasons for this prefer
euce
Elimination Of Bridges.
II this plan be followed the construction
of all bridges between Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and @ street will be eliminated ana
Georgetown will become an integral part
OF the city of Washington. In such an
event. it is believed. all streets crossing
the creek. running both east ana west ana
north and south. will be opened and bulk