The Washington herald., 1907-11-27
HEAR ROCK CREEK ARGUMENT
Commissioners Consider Views OF
Leading Citizens.
Park Treatment Of valley Generally
FavOred-WiH Cost Less Thnn
Tunnel Project.

/ a hearing was conducted by the Com
mIssioners yesterday for the purpose OF
ascertaining what treatment of Rock
Creek Valley. from Massachusetts avenue
20 the Potomac River. should be recon-
/ mended by them at the coming session
/ of Congress. some definite plan viii be
/ recommended for the treatment OF the
valley. but as Yet no conclusion has been
/ reached as to whether the closed or tun-
ncllinC treatment would be more satisfac-
tory than the ooca park treatment
/ The Commissioners called this hearing.
therefore, that persons interested in the
future OF the valley might have an op-
portunity 10 express their views before
any decision was reached by them in the
matter. More than 100 persons attended
the hearing. as representatives Of the Ma
! tional Society Of Fine Arts. The Ameri-
can Civic Association the Georgetown
Citizens Association. and property own
ers who are interested. Among those
present were;
Charles W. Needham. president of the George
Washington University; Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick L.
Moore. Mr.. and Mrs n. /. Bl0unt Pryf. ?. r.
Emm0ns. Of the Geological Survey; Rev. Frank
Sewall. George !. Eostcriay Dr. SNYDER. David
Fairchd. II the Agricultural Department; Charles
J. Bell. president Of the American Security and
TuIs, Company; Mrs Patten. Col Blunt W A.
Gordon. Glenn Brown. Miss Julia Strong Prof
Raymond frank Jeoch. Miss Ritienhcuse Prank
". Hackctt. ]. H. Gordon Rev. C. Freeand Peters
Joseph c. Homblower Rev. 7. Il. W. Blake. Arm
istead Peters. IT, Mr. A. Stewart. EOyd Wight
and oxReprcsentatiVc Baker. Of New Hampshire.
The majority Of opinion of these persons
cd In, e Il IL
ment OF the valley, less than half dozen
having expressed themselves as advocat-
/ ing the closed or tunneling treatment.
! George a King. member of the Board
! Of Trade and the National Society of
/ Fine Arts. made a vigorous appeal for
| the open or park treatment. He also
| spoke at length Upon the banks of the
creek being used as a dump for the street
/ cleaning department of the District. and
said that I'm his opinion il was deplorable
/ that the Commissioners should sanction
I such action
Mr. Macfarland who presided at the
hearing. replied that hut a small space
on these banks is being used by the street
cleaning department for that purpose.
Others who addressed the hearing on
/ behalf OF the open treatment of the val
/ ley were Hennen Jennings. member Of
the National Society of Fine Arts. and
Glenn Brown. member of the American
Architects Association. During the hear
/ ing Commissioner Macfarland read a let
ter from Smith Thompson, president Of
the Georgetown Citizens Association
who was unable 10 be present. in which
he strongly advocated the closed or tun-
nfl treatment Of the valley. w w. An
derson and g. ". Wood made addresses
before the hearing in which they an
nounced themselves as in favor OF the
closed treatment. their argument being
that to adopt the park treatment would
be more costly and would I1 in no way
a benefit 20 Georgetown.
At the conclusion OF the hearing both
Commissioner Macfarland and Commits
siOner Morrow issued statements rela-
tive to the hearing. Commissioner Mac
farland said
The Commissioners mere than two years ag1. r.
ported favcrahy upcn a bin referred 10 them By
Congress providing for the closed treatment. More
than year ago they rCcunsderod this action and
since then have been seeking with open mind %
gct all the light possible the question a new
question. They are considering II in that spirit.