Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-29
TO SAVE ROCK CREEK
Renewed Effort in Favor of
Open Treatment.
COMMITTEES NOW AT WORK
Movement for @ Street Bridge. Begun
by Women.
PROPERTY OWNER SIGNERS
Resolutions of the National Society
Of Fine Arts Being Forwarded
by Prominent Citizens.

Efforts to preserve the valley of Rock
creek have been renewed during the pas,
week in the petition of citizens of George
town for public hearing before the Com
missioners on the subject of the proposed
open or closed treatments.
Considerable unanimity has been brought
about by the gathering Of the petitions, ap-
peals and resolutions Of various bodies,
committees and organizations favoring the
open treatment as proposed by the park
commission, and it is believed the question
as to who are in favor of the adornmenr
and identifying Of the city and what the
real sentiment of the property owners on
both sides of the creek.
Mr.. George A. King, for the men OF
Georgetown, had an interview with the
Engineer Commissioner, Maj. Jay J. Nor
row., and arrangements are being made in
consequence of carrying out his advice to
appeal to the Commissioners for a public
hearing, to lay all the arguments for the
open valley treatment before the board OF
Commissioners.
1t is being pointed out that the petition
ers for a bridge at Q street are in hearty
sympathy with those who favor the open
treatment and efforts are understood as
being made to further the erection Of a
fine large bridge at O street in order to
1t is shown that as early as October "a,
1908, from the Department of State the
following letter was written:
my Dear Mr.. Macfarland: .-.-----
John Hay Was in Favor Of Bridge.
II have received letters and personal
solicitations from some Of the best people
In Georgetown, asking me to join in the
petition which they are making to the
honorable Board Of Commissioners of the
District of Columbia, to have an adequate
and appropriate bridge built across the
valley at Q street. I have always been
interested in Georgetown, and intended at
one time to live there. but the disagreeable
approaches to the ancient city were one Of
the reasons that induced me to give up
the idea I do not question the wisdom
of the commission nor the better informa-
ton on which they will doubtless act, but
I beg to join the other citizens of Wash
ington and Georgetown in adding my name
to theirs in favor of this Improvement.
(signed.) JOHN HAY"
With the late secretary in the regret that
the ancient and interesting city of George
town has no fit approaches to its beautiful
residential portions are the women and
men of that section. the National Society OF
Fine Arts, practically all the important
property owners and taxpayers on botf
sides of the creek. the American Institute
of Architects, the Municipal Art Society Of
Baltimore ana nOSlS OF persons lndependen
of the park commission anxious to SEE
Washington the most beautiful city in the
world and it's most historic section pre-
served without further Dissertation and de
cay, which 1t is believed can be accom-
plished by proper parks, bridges and the
preservation and treatment of Rock creel
a parkway from the river to the ma
tional park on the upper portion Of the
creek.
To show the weight of opinion in favor
80 h. Of fIn q
pointed out that the women of Georgetown
property owners in 1904. through Senator
Gallinger, presented petition to Congress
In asking that the petition be made Sen
ate document. which was done, Senator
Gallinger said:
Of influence and Education.
'Mr President, this petition is signed BY
pol women of Georgetown-women of prop.
erty, of influence and of education, they
having come to Congress making an appea
fer a bridge across Rock creek at Q street
and for a park in the portion of the Dis.
trict known as Georgetown, where at the
present time there is not single breathing
space for the inhabitants outside Of the
streets Of the city. The request is a rea
sonable and proper one, and I trust thai
the condition of the finances may warran,
the necessary appropriation"
Later on January Is, 1905. Mr.. Gallingel
said: "Mr. President, 1 desire to call the
attention of the Senate to a petition that IL
Of more than usual interest. l will state
that at a meeting Of the committee Of the
District Of Columbia. this morning com.
mittee of leading women from Georgetown
honored us with their presence and pre-
scented this petition to the committee
will take the liberty, If their Is no objection
to read the text of the petition, which il
brief:
Whereas in 1895 that part of the District
west of Rock creek, known for IA years a.
Georgetown, was incorporated with the
capital city; and
Whereas the men Of that portion of the
city have appealed In vain for some recog
milton Of the fact on the part of our legis.
lators,
I'VE, the women undersigned, citizens OF
Washington, do hereby earnestly request
prompt attention to the great need for a
bridge at Q street and for a park or
Georgetown Heights.
1.-THE only bridges connecting the two
western portions of the city are cramped
and crowded with traffic, and for sixty
years there has been no new link A bridge
spanning Rock creek at Q street, orna.
mented by parking on both sides of its
western extension, will make an entrance
pleasant for walking and driving so greatly
needed to connect the residence sections OF
the city.
I'm said part of the District, containing
about $1,000 inhabitants, and taxed since
1871 at equal rate with every other Dor.
ton of the District there is no park
Work Of the Men.
OF the mems petition presented in 100;
Senator Gallinger said:
Il present a petition signed by no of the
leading citizens of Georgetown, D. c., pray
ing for the construction of bridge owe,
Rock creek at Q street. The men and firm.
who have signed the petition are among
the most reputable and potential citizens o.
the District"
The names of these citizens, which were
then and are now interested in the bridge
park and Rock creek movement, were the
following:
Messrs. Louis Mackall. John Marbury
Walter G. Peter. Armistead Peter, jr, G.
Freeland Peter, VIM. L. Dunlop, Frederick
l. Moore, Robert B. Tenny, w. H Tenn,
& Sons. w. T. Powell. Edgar F'risby, VIM
A. Leetch, John Leetch, George G. Easter
day, George E. Truett, c. L. Nicholson, d
c. Paper Manufacturing Company, Eugene
F. Arnold. H. earle Cooke Mayfield &
Hieston. F. L. Wager, E. w. Creepy, Chas