Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-08
EXTENSIONS ARE NEEDED
Resorts for the People Might Be
Made Easier to Reach.
FINE DOMAIN ON THE RIVER
Then. Too. There Are the Attrac-
tions of the Extensive Region
Along Rock Greek.

The nearest approach TO the magnificent
new park that has been opened up along
the Potomac south of the White House
for those who have no vehicles of their
own cannot be described as within fair
walking distance OF course the ideas as
TO what is and what is not reasonable
interval of that sort varies with the in-
dividual. but In this city a couple OF
blocks or at the most three blocks 10
thought to be as great a distance as peo-
pie ought to be expected to he obliged
to go from their homes to reach the
nearest street car line.
This public estimate of street car ia
cilities is shown by the character and the
extent Of the building in the resident Sec
tions of the city, so that it has the au-
thOrity of the approval of the majority
of the public and that may be expected
as final on such a question. The in
f1uence Of street car lines on improve
ments in this city is of such long stand
ing and so sweeping that il has come to
be recognized as one of the leading fac
tors in the real estate market.
influence Of Car Lines.
1t is quite evident that IL people choose
| their homes with reference largely to
such facilities and that values Of realty
are mainly governed by the same consid-
GRAFTON. then IL a place of public resort
such as park is expected to be gen.
orally available the question of providing
adequate means OF reaching IL which are
open to the public becomes one of first
Importance. OF course there are the roads
which extend not only through and about
such an area, but have direct connection
with existing highways so that If one has
any sort of a vehicle IL is possible to
make use of such a recreation place
But the great majority OF the public do
not ride except in street cars and II these
do not go within what public opinion
looks upon as reasonable distance then
such resort. although primarily designed
for the masses is not meeting the pur-
poses for which ii was created.
Along the Outer Edge.
In the case of Potomac Park. which now
stretches from the foot of 18th street
south along the river TO the new bridges.
distance Of more than a mile. and has
nearly mile width which brings 1t to
the Washington Monument grounds on
the east none of the existing car lines
extends to il except i'm two and perhaps
three places. and that. of course. along
the outer edges. The nearest line is that
of the Alexandria and Mount vernon
Company. as il passes down 14th street
and thence across a section of the new
park on the embankment that forms tho
approach TO the new Highway bridge.
But the Use OF that road would mean
the payment Of a double fare on the part
of most of the public. as IL has its start
AT Pennsylvania avenue and 18th street
and does not exchange transfers with the
other city lines. Then again. this line
reaches that portion OF the park which
lies between the tidal basin and the high
way bridge. and there is no way OF cross
ing the outlet. on the other side OF which
is the main section OF the park.
A Discouraging Distance.
The cars of the Washington railway
bring one down i4th street and by getting
off either at Il street north or street
south the visitor can enter at once into
the park. but the bank OF the river, which
is the objective point for most people, Is
distant from both of these places about
a mile and that for the majority, is a dis
couraging distance, not to say an fmpos-
sible one.
There is another nearby point OF con-
tact OF the park with existing street car
service and that occurs within some four
blocks OF the Capital Traction line that
passes along + and q streets northwest
and thence north along 10Th street. BY
getting of at 26th and r streets one is
some four blocks from the entrance TO
the park and in that way reaches one OF
its outer edges. But that line would hard
ly meet the notions OF the public in ac-
tually reaching the park itself II is
quite evident. therefore, that existing IA
cilities are hardly adequate to meet the
needs Of those who would like to make
use of this great recreation resort
Rock Creek Park.
But Potomac Park 10 not the only place
of the sort which is without direct street
car service. as there is Rock Creek Park
1t is quite evident that in both instances,
owing to the great extent and unusual al
fractions, il il proper that some study. /.
should be given to the problem OF bring
ing street car lines not only nearer 10 the
borders Of these reservations. but also
within them and through them.