Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-08
ALONG SIXTEENTH STREET
Romantic Locality Lying Between
Two New Bridges.
NATURE RESORT FOR PEOPLE
Measures to Make More Perfect
What Has Become an Essential
to This City.

The rounding out Of the plan of Rock
Creek Park-that popular and much fire.
uuented pleasure resort of the people OF
this city-is the purpose Of several meas
ures now pending in Congress. In the
first place, 1t is proposed as a necessary
precaution that the eastern line OF the
park be brought ont to the line of 10th
street as originally designed when the
park was first acquired.
There are several places where the hold
ings OF individuals bite into the straight
line of the boundary Of the park on the
east side and instead Of 10th street form
ing. as was designed. the dividing line
along its entire extent between private
and public holdings. there are here and
there little parcels OF ground which lie
in the midst of the surroundings OF the
public property and which in time will
come to be looked upon as more or less
blemishes to that properly.
To Round Out the Lines.
The proposition is now to acquire these
pieces of land and conform to the first
plan about the park which Is recognized
as wise and as required almost by the
necessities Of the case. Fortunately for
the public and the interests Of this prop
-
vide for the continuation OF 18th street
on a straight line from the old bounds OF
the city all the way out to the limits OF
the District.
err edge of this great thoroughfare. be-
cir ring where the park widens out about
on line with the old Blagden road. so
that from that point north all the way
ou- to the District line the eastern border
OF the park and that of 10th street COIN
eide. with the exception OF a few pieces
OF land which il is now proposed to
acquire.
Advantage to the Public.
This undertaking has been made easy
and economical by the public spirit OF
Charles c. Glover, who has been regarded
as a factor in the movement to secure the
park, and who has acquired all these prop
critics and proposes TO turn them over 10
the public for just what they cost him.
which OF course means that the natural
increase in values which comes with the
years will not figure in this case OF
purchase by the public.
There is another feature about this
splendid park which is not generally
known at this time. owing to the fact that
thus far the course of population and OF
building has not crossed Rock creek be-
tween the two bridges of Connecticut and
Massachusetts, avenues, and therefore the
distinction between what is private prop
erty on that side Of the stream and
public property is not noticeable to those
who visit that locality.
Almost q Dissertation.
In fact the character OF the entire re-
gion bordering the creek on the west side
between those two points partakes in .
striking degree Of the romantic character
Of the scenery, which makes the en-
tire park source Of pleasure and
of wonder to visitors. There are
the steep wooded slopes rising from the
level Of the water and In some places
forming sheer rise of rock frownins
cliff crowned with the foliage OF for
est trees The ground is broken and
when 1t is thought OF in connection WITH
the level OF the surveyor and the grade
OF city streets and the uniformity of city
blocks 1t seems that it would be almost
a dissertation to destroy what is univer-
sally recognized as a charming bit of
natural beauty.
In addition the ground IS really needed
to complete Rock Creek Park, which ends
In narrow strip at Massachusetts ave-
nue. bridge. 1t is proposed on the city
side of the stream TO have a driveway.
which will continue south and will con-
meet with the Potomac Park on the river
front near the Washington Monument.
Wooded Slopes.
This practical continuation OF the park.
which In this connection is used to In
clude also the boundaries OF what 10
known as the Zoo. Is thus to be made
complete on the east side OF the creek.
1t is not designed is It deemed neces-
sary to provide for a continuation on the
opposite west side farther south than
the Massachusetts avenue bridge.
From the character of the land and its
special adaptation for such uses and the
extremely handsome addition which &c
will make to that noble reservation of
Rock Greek Park. IL is believed that 10
would be wise at this time to acquire
those wooded slopes and sylvan dells on
The city borders
At any rate that is what Congress 10
being asked TO do, and In order to have
definite about the cost OF ac-
CURING the property Mr.. Glover has again
Interested himself. and It will be known
nave to be expended to acquire this dssip.
able addition