The Washington herald., 1907-12-01
THE EYESORE OF WASHINGTON


Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Rock
Creek should be confined TO a masonry
conduit. and the valley filled TO a level
that viii afford slightly street grades join
ing the already improved streets east and
west To take care Of this feature in
proper manner will require the control OF
"a very considerable area OF Iand-as a
rough approximation. probably seventy TO
eighty acres. The full height OF the fill
ing may terminate about Q street on
the north. and Pennsylvania avenue on
the south. descending on gradual slope
TO the ends fixed for the masonry con-
duit The entrance TO the upper park
would be along the upper descent and
along the line of Q street.
The lower valley filed area can be util-
lied either for building development or as
a park. The economic advantage Is in
every way In favor Of the former solu-
ton, n the valuable consideration Of ere
ating a built-up area adjacent TO the
center Of the city; and in the probability
that the increased value Of the improved
ground will more than cover the construc-
ton cost This development should. how
ever. provide for a parkway boulevard
connecting the river front with the pro-
posed upper park adjacent TO @ street
The material progress in retaining the
river-front that will result from the OBJ
ject lesson Of what has already been
done. Will, by this plan, make a con-
tinuous parkway in time from the Capt.
tol TO the present Rock Creek Park.
For the building development plan. the
question has to be carefully weighed as
to the liability TO continued or errauc
settlement of the filled material. A prop
erly organized plan of work. the placing
Of material in layers. and the free use
Of drenching water. win secure. after the
lapse Of time necessary for completing
the work. a satisfactory mass which,
with inexpensive widening and reinforc-
ing OF foundations. supplemented by piles
in cases of concentrated or unusual
weights, will permit safe building.
In regard 10 this matter as a whole
several things appear clear. The present
situation cannot continue. Accept as a
fact that no private effort viii ever bring
a desirable improvement, and that the
government must do whatever is 10 be
done. Before attempting Improvement.
authOritatively develop and settle the
whole Of the scheme. so that any partial
construction applies on the general plan.
As preliminary to any plan. settle
whether the government can or shall ar
range for a resale OF the property 70 be
acquired IN improving the lower valley.
The government alone has the power to
properly make this Improvement, because
10 make It rightly much land must be
acquired by condemnation. The practi-
cal question is whether this land, after
improvement. is to remain simply n park
or whether the government retain some
park and sell the larger area for build
ing purposes. The interests of the city
demand that the larger part Of the land
be available for building-that is the con-
trolling motive: an incidental result Is
that the sale has a reasonable chance
to reimburse the cost Of the Improvement
to the government from the increase in
land value created.
The government in this will, apparently
be condemning land for purposes that are
not specifically provided for in its au-
thority. These purposes would, however,
be amply justified on the ground Of public
policy.
As the improvement cannot be made
without the governments acting. it would
seem that some way could be found by
which the city could get the economic
benefit Of utilizing the land as a building
area, and the government get the ad-
vantage Of offsettiDg the cost.
think it viii not be denied that the
business interest of the CITY demands thar