Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-20
PARK NEAR THE RIVER
Takes Place of What Was a
Menace to the City.
NOW A SCENE OF MARVELS
Kidwell's Bottoms Gives Way to
Potomac Park.
BRAINS AND ENERGY OF MEN
Use of Improved Machinery and
Methods Effective in Bringing
About the Change.
NOW A SCENE OF MARVELS
BRAINS AND ENERGY OF MEN

Few, If any, of the latter-day resi-
dents of the District of Columbia have
failed to enjoy one or more of the fea-
lures Of the park along the Potomac. its
smooth wide drives. it's new athletic field,
its shady walks, it's wall abutting right
on deep water for the fishermen. and fits
cinder paths for equestrians. Then. too,
all lovers of out-of- door life in the capt.
tai find pleasure in anticipation of the
greater improvements to come when the
park is extended below its present bound
airy at 18th street southwest all the way
to the junction of the Washington and
Georgetown channels. SO that the entire
southeastern front of the city will be a
solid stretch of greensward. shaded by
trees and maintained as recreation
ground for the public.
And. further. comes the promise, fore
casted in recently proposed legislation,
contemplating the open valley treat
ment of the shores of Rock creek. that
the whole system of Rock Creek Park and
Potomac Park will be converted into one
great playground. affording some Of the
finest and longest drives of any park
in any city in the world
Scores, possibly hundreds. of the citi-
zens of the District of Columbia remem-
her the time when the present Potomac
Park was nothing but a waste of flats
and swamp lands, its noisome expanse
to the capital of the nation. but posi-
tive and ever-present menace to the
health of the community.
In fact, one of the official reports OF
the United States engineer in charge at
the time speaks of the then existing con-
dition as follows: Before the improve
ments were commenced the flats or
marshes in front of the city had become
SO offensive that certain parts Of the city
in their neighborhood were not habitable. -
Mr.. Benson and the Contract.
At the present time the man who was
largely identified with the successful exc
cution of the great project which has re-
shifted in the Potomac Park, of today is
again in the public eye. tits probable
that no one has thought of iassociating
Iobn A. Benson, one of thu four de-
PENDANTS in the HydeBensoh- Dimond-
Schneider land frauds conspiracy. which
has been on trial before Justice Stafford
in Criminal Court No. l, with the John
4 BENSON of the firm of Benson & Nc
Nee whose hydraulic dredges drew mil
lions of cubic yards OF material from the
bottom of the Georgetown and washing
ton channels of the river, and from the
Tidal reservoir.
when the first work toward improving
tho condition Of the Potomac fats was
authorized by Congress, the act being
nassed August . 1850. Prior thereto mi
nor Improvements We're made under s,. super,
main the river and its banks remained
as nature willed until in the eighties. Up
dor the caption of Improvement OF the
Hsrhors of Washington and Georgetown.
of the District of Columbia and the Inn
movement of the Potomac River at Wash
ineton. D. c." Maj. Peter c. Hams. Corps
o, Ehe en Extensive review, in his annual
report for the year ended June 30: 1888.
Undertaken by the general government
and by private interests.
To Get Rid Of the Flats.
The original project for deepening the
channel contemplated a depth Of sixteen
feet at mean low tide. Congress author
lied the removal Of the dangerous rocks
in the harbor of Georgetown and made
the necessary appropriation. and the i'm
provements remained practically station
airy at that point until Maj. Hams
report and recommendation, which spoke