Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-14
ROCK CREEK VALLEY
Preservation of Driveway Dis
cussed at Committee Meeting.
SOCIETY OF ARTS AT WORK
Paper Explaining Object Read by Mr..
Glenn Brown.
MAP OF AFFECTED PROPERTY
Project of George Washington Uni
versity Using Some of the Land
Near the Greek Proposed.
MAP OF AFFECTED PROPERTY

The committee of the National Society OF
the Fine Arts on the Preservation Of Rock
Creek valley met at the residence of Mr.
Charles NJ. Ffoulke, 2011 Massachusetts,
avenue, yesterday afternoon at o'clock
Mr.. Charles NJ. Ffoulke, president, acted as
chairman Of the committee, and Mr.. Glenn
Brown, secretary. read a brief review Of
the purposes of the committee and ac-
count of what they had already done to-
ward preserving Rock Creek valley. Mrs.
Patten read a bill, which passed the last
Congress, for the requirement of property
from Q street to Bellaire Heights, along
the bank Of the creek. After discussion
| it was delegated to committee to find out
just how much property it is contemplated
acquiring and the location of this proposed
embankment drive.
Mr.. w. e. Curtis suggested that in the
consideration of property by the George
Washington University that it would be
well for the university to consult with the
park commission that some Of the prop
erty which they had under consideration
might fall into the scheme and preserve
sections of this valley. Mr.. Marvin F..
Seattle explained the very disagreeable and
| insanitary condition of Highland Park, in
Pittsburg, which in a few years, by the
zeal Of some broad-minded citizens, was
changed as If by magic to one of the most
beautiful parks in the city, by which all
of the surrounding property was materially
advanced in value. Mr.. T. Wayland
Vaughn proposed that a subcommittee Of
the committee meet Capt. Morrow, the new
Engineer Commissioner, and lay the mat
ter before him for consideration.
The question Of dumping in the valley
was discussed, and it was considered most
it was gradually inclosng the open space
along the creek and would make it more
difficult and more costly to treat the
longer this dumping is continued. Dr.
of nr Dali kl,n
practicability Of trees growing in this new
made ground.
DR.. Baker proposed that it might be well
to give a definite, specific object for the
requirement of this valley by proposing to
make lake at Massachusetts avenue, ex-
tending back as far as the Zoo, on which
boats and aquatic sports might be en-
joyed in certain portions of the year, and
skating during the winter, and along other
sections of the valley it could be easy to
have typical gardens. such as Dutch gar
den, Japanese garden, Italian garden, and
In this way give types which would edu-
cate the people in various branches of
gardening.
The members in attendance were all en-
thusiastic in their desires to preserve this
valley for the future good of the city, and
expressed determination to use their best
endeavors to accomplish the end as speed
lily as possible. The meeting adjourned
at $40.
Report Of Mr.. Brown.
Briefly covering the history of the unique
plan of Washington city by Maj. LEnfant
and the work Of the park commission in
1902 secured by the American Institute of
Architects, Mr.. Brown said, in part, to
show the history of the movement:
Beginning with the Mall and Riverside
Park the commission recommended that
the authorities should acquire the valley of
Rock Creek from the river ste the Geological
Park; that they should park these valleys.
have driveways, walks, terraces, &C., where
1t would be most desirable; that the princi-
pal traffic streets between Washington and
Georgetown should be carried across this
valley on bridges, and that the drives and
walks in the park should pass through arch
ways under these bridges.
This connecting link was not only to be
a connection between the Mall, Geological
and Rock Creek parks, but forms one of
the chain which is to connect the Mall,
Rock Creek Park through Piney Branch to
valleys from Soldiers Home to the Water
side Park on the Eastern branch, thence to
Green Leaf Point, now the war college, and
then along the river by a raised driveway
back to the Mall. In this way circuit will
be made of the parks without driving or
walking through any of the city streets.
Several bills have been introduced in
Congress to cover Rock creek by a culvert
commencing somewhere near Lyons mill
between P street and Massachusetts ave-
nue. and running from this point to the Po-
tomac river, after which it is proposed to
fill the valley and use the filed ground for
building lots. Many Of those who are in
terested in the future development of the
city on beautiful and healthful lines 1elt
that this would be such serious mistake
that Mr.. Joseph c. Hornblower called a
meeting at his residence, where the matter
was discussed and measures were taken to
prevent the passage of this bill. Congress
did not act upon it.
1.-THE National Society of the Fine Arts,
through its civic committee. at the follow
ing session of Congress, took up the oues-
ton and organized under authority of the
council a committee on the preservation of
Rock Creek valley. This committee and its
subcommittee have held several meetings
Every member Of this committee was urged
to take active steps to inform people of the
Importance of preventing the culvert being
built.
'Bill Made Broader"
1.-THE Commissioners of the District of Co.
lumbia introduced bill during the past
session OF Congress asking for an appro-
priation to make an examination of the
foundations and surveys with reference to
the most feasible location Of this culvert
Through a subcommittee of your committee
the Commissioners were induced to make
the question little broader and the bill,
as passed at the last session Of Congress-
allows for the restudy OF the whole ques-
ton and a report on whether 1t would be
most desirable to have a culvert or have
an open parkway. The subject is now be-
ing studied by the Office of the Engineer
Commissioner. but it is uncertain what wifi
be the outcome Of this official report To
familiariZe your committee and other mem
bers of the National Society Of the Fine
Arts, at a meeting held at the residence of
Mrs. Alice P. Barney. the council of the
National Society of the Fine Arts appointed
a special committee to prepare a paper
upon the preservation of Rock Creek val
ley as public park. This paper presents
arguments for the preservation of the VAL
ley. This pamphlet also gives a synopsis
from the park commissions report strongly
advocating the open treatment and ex-
tracts from Col. RosselIs report giving
estimates on the cost of treating the valley
by culvert and fill and by parking and
open valley.
''At the convention of the American In
stitute of Architects, January 8, 1907, they