Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-27
Maj. MorroW's Suggestion of
Open-vaIIey Treatment.
PROBABLE COST, $4,750,0O0
Beautiful Park, Winding Roadways,
Bypaths and Boulevards.
LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Conflict in Plans Of Rock Greek
Observation-Disclosures Of the
Lands Necessary.

Maj Jay Morrow, Engineer Commits
sioner. has recommended the open-valley
treatment of the valley of Rock creek
| from Massa chusetts avenue to the mouth
| of the creek. For several years the
question of the permanent treatment OF
this territory has been under discussion,
and a year ago Congress appropriated
$4,000 for the preparation of plans and
estimates for the treatment of this val
ley. and after closely studying several
proposed methods. most prominent OF
which were the open-valley treatment
and the closed treatment. Commits
sioner Morrow has come to the conclusion
| that the former method would prove more
advisable and would cost less.
He estimates the total cost Of the open
valley treatment at 81, 10000. The gen.
eral plan is to form beautiful park with
winding roadways. bypaths and boule-
wards. the latter to serve as connecting
link between Rock Creek Park and Poto-
mac Park. The boulevard will connect
with the speedway on the south. and will
make, a continuous roadway from the
speedway to Rock Creek Park.
Although the other Commissioners have
not openly expressed their opinions re-
Is authoritatively stated that they favor
the open treatment and will within the
next day or so approve Maj. Morrow's rec
ommendation.
preparation Of plans were carried out un-
der the District engineer depa trment un-
der the direction of Capt. Edwin Mark
ham. assistant engineer commissioner.
Studies have been made looking to four
possible solutions in which all variations
occur between l. street and the Massa-
chusetts avenue crossing Of Rock creek
First Proposition Considered.
The first solution studied provides for
filing Rock creek valley from Massachu
setts avenue to L street by the construc-
ton Of a conduit for the waters Of Rock
creek and the subsequent construction on
the fill over this conduit Of a boulevard
$50 feet in width -sts
The second solution involves the same
treatment of the valley. excepting the
subsequent construction of the boulevard
$50 feet in width.
The third solution involves the construc-
tion Of the conduit from L street to o
street with a 15O-foot boulevard subse-
quently everything it. and the open treat
ment Of the valley from o street to Mas
sachusetts avenue.
the entire valley from Massachusetts ave-
nue. to l. street, preserving it as valley
with the proper arrangement of high level
and low level roads and paths throughout
Below l. street all solutions involve the
same treatment. namely. an elevated bou-
levard to the connection with Potomac
Park. Above Massachusetts avenue the
same treatment Is proposed in all solu-
tions. namely. the acquisition Of a portion
of Rock Creek valley for park purposes
and its preservation in its present natural
condition.
Estimates Of Cost.
The estimates ~ cost ara as foIlous.
For the treatment between L street and
Potomac Park under all projects. $1.1O0.-
OOO
For the treatment between l. street and
Massachusetts, avenue under the various
plans considered. as follows:
For the closed treatment throughout.
with boulevard $50 feet in width, $780,
600. and as against this cost a credit for
1,247. 900 square feet of land. to be resold.
which would reduce the cost to an ag-
gregate of $5.9OO.OO0.
For the closed treatment throughout,
with boulevard $50 feet In width. 1885,
600. against which credit for o26.349
square feet of land to be resold. which
would reduce the cost to an aggregate of
81, 10000.
For the closed treatment with a 100
foot boulevard between L and o streets
and open treatment between o street and
Massachusetts, avenue. S., 600.
$4.1oO.OOO. as previously stated.
Maj. Morrow's Recommendations.
In his recommendations to his colleagues
Commissioner Morrow briefly outlined
the project as follows:
"A main road to be constructed in the
valley of the park extending from Mas
sachusetts avenue to the river; a main
path extending the same distance in a
general way parallel to the main road
all In the valley of the creek. and wher-
ever possible additional driveways and
paths are provided.
1t Is planned to develop the entire
area as city park, with the exception
OF the section between L street and Poto-
mac Park, which will be treated as a
more or less formal parkway and park
connection. The section north of o street
could easily be developed into a beautiful
Informal city park. having a maximum
width of 900 feet and a minimum width
of 400 feet. At Massachusetts, avenue
the main drive is planned to be carried
through the embankment now crossing
the valley at that point, a subway being
provided with a width OF thirty-five feet
and height of twenty-four feet. having
the form of single arch.
Bordering Roadways.
In addition to the main drive in the
bottom of the valley. bordering roadways
are contemplated on both sides. with a
view to having the park almost entirely
surrounded by streets. SO that the backs
of buildings could not be presented to
view from the park. Main driveway en-
frances to the park are provided from
Massachusetts avenue just south Of the
valley by the road now known as Water.
side drive, and from Q street by the same
| road: also from 18th street just north OF
street and from 26th and L streets. and
from the formal driveway which leads
from Potomac Park along the banks OF
the Potomac river and Rock creek to this
aforementioned entrance. Entrances from
the west are provided at a point near
26th and streets and from a point near
26th and Q streets. and by way of the old
Lovers Lane valley. and from T street
as far as that street will ultimately be
completed. In addition to these carriage
way entrances pathway entrances are pro-
vided at nearly every point where the
bounding streets are intersected by lateral
streets. 80
Crossings are provided as follows:
"A bridge Is proposed from the inter-
section OF 2Sth and r streets to the inter-
section of Massachusetts avenue and 8
| street. A bridge is provided at Q street.
a new bridge at street, a bridge at N