Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19

system. as assured by Col. Bromwell in
his report upon the care and improvement
Of the public buildings and grounds. will
be completed June 30. 1908. To none
more than to Col. Bromwell. ii is de-
clared. Is the city indebted for keen in
terest in the preservation and develop
ment of the beauty of the parks of
Washington.
Steps have been taken and a bill intro
duced I'm the House of Representativessto
acquire certain land i'm Hall & ElVans
subdivision OF Meridian Hill. included be-
tween Euclid street. Columbia avenue or
18th street: w street or Florida avenue
and 18th street extended. containing in
the aggregate 437 600 square feet. and its
dedication as public park.
Fort Thayer Park.
Going in a northeasterly direction con-
gressional action looks to the establish
ment of another public park al West
Woodbridge between 24th and 18th and
Irving and Hamlin streets northeast. to
be known as Fort Thayer Park. 1t is
to be improved and cared for under the
regulations which govern other public
parks of the District.
But recently the Senate passed a BILL in
PRODUCED by Senator Scott. providing for
the purchase and dedication. as a public
park. of the twenty-five acres embraced
in what is now known as Graceland Gene
Terry. mus tTauSIOTnluS b CITY Oh tfe Oedu
into a haven for the living. This land
lies in the neighborhood Of 18th and II
streets northeast. and is said to be espe-
cially adapted to the purpose. 1t Is ar
gued that the march of civilization has
crowded this city of the dead out of its
present beautiful location, and that sooner
or later the land must be condemned.
This is therefore regarded as the fitting
time, at low cost. to incorporate ii into
the park system of the District.
Senator Gallinger has also introduced a
bill to provide for the completion of the
park surrounding the filtration plant of
the District. and for acquiring the land
necessary to round out the reservation.
The additional ground provided for in the
bill Is a small area of 21O0 square feet
and its estimated cost but $1,000.
Eight bills were introduced in the House
of Representatives at the first session of
the Sixtieth Congress. all of which are I'M
der consideration by the proper committee
to acquire land for the establishment of
public parks. Two of these, however. are
directed rather to the perfection of the
boundary lines of Rock Creek National
Park. Seven bills have been introduced in
the Senate. one of which mas reference to
the acquisition of additional land for
Rock Creek National Park Four of these
have already passed the Senate-the one
providing for the park on Georgetown
Heights; the one to acquire certain tracts
for the Rock Creek Park, a full descrip-
in The Star; the one for the park be-
tween Euclid street and Florida avenue
and 18th and 18th streets. being Hall and
Elvan's subdivision of Meridian Hill, and
the one for the establishment of a park
upon the site of Graceland cemetery
Improvement Of Avenue.
Two of the bills are in the hands of the
committee on public. buildings and
grounds: and one. the Hepburn bill. for
the purchase Of land south of Pennsyl-
vania avenue and adjoining the mall. was
passed by the Senate last Thursday.
OF all these bills. perhaps. none is SO i'm
portant as the Hepburn bill, which pro-
poses to turn the chief avenue of the
city into a thing of beauty and joy for
ever. Few If any who are thoroughly
conversant with the facts but concede
the wisdom of the early purchase Of this
tract of land. Not only dQes it belong
naturally to the splendid Mall which has
occupied the mind and talent of the ar
chitects and landscape gardeners of the
nation and the world in plans for the
of the city beautiful at the
nations capital but aside from all other
considerations the purchase Of the land
is demanded for the erection of needed
public buildings, which here better than
elsewhere in the District, may spring up
in realization of the founders ideal