Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-06
ROCK CREEK PARK
BILL FOR ADDITION PASSED BY
SENATE TODAY.

The Gallnger bill, providing for an
addition to Rock Creek Park. comprising
about 100 acres and reaching to the naval
observatory grounds. was favorably re-
ported today from the Senate committee
on public buildings and grounds by Sem
ato- Warren of Wyoming. 1t was adopt
ed without amendment. Accompanying
the bill was a report urging it's early
passage and stating that the fault of
municipalities with reference to public
parks is usually that they do not pur-
chase lands for parks soon enough. but
wait until values are greatly increased
by the growth of the cities.
The bill provides that board of con-
troll. consisting of the chief of engineers
of the United States Army and the Dis
trict Commissioners. shall have made an
accurate map of all the parcels of land
involved in the proposed addition. show
ing the quantity and character of each
parcel and the location of proposed new
streets which map shall be filed in the
public records of the District of Columbia.
II Is provided that from the date of the
filing of this map the several tracts of
land shown thereon shall be held as taken
for public uses and the title thereof vest
ed in the United States, subject to the
payment of just compensation, to be de-
terrRined by the board of control of the
par:a and approved by the President. pro-
vided that this compensation be ac-
cepted by the owners Of the land.
One Particular Tract.
Among the tracts of land designated in
the bill are those the title of which is
vested in Charles J. Bell, Amos H. Plumb
and John Cassels, trustees, and embrac-
ing property lying to the south of Mas
sachusetts avenue and east of the center
line of Rock Creek drive, containing
about three and a, half acres; also prop
erty beginning on the center line of the
drive and on the dividing line between
WoodIey Park and the first mentioned
tract the boundary line of which runs
southwardly to point near Rock creek
thence sOuthwesterly down the creek to
the north building line of Massachusetts
avenue. thence nOrthweSterly along Mas
sachusetts avenue where the west line of
the property leaves the avenue, thence
following said line in northerly direc-
ton to it's intersection with the Observa-
tory circle. thence along the circle line
westerly to 34th street, thence north
along Bath street to Garfield street thence
due east to a point perpendicularly distant
325 feet to Cleveland avenue, thence
northeas sterly and parallel to Cleveland
avenue to point on 18th street. thence
southeasterly by reverse curved line to
the intersection with Rock Creek drive
thence about 3.D feet along the drive to
the point of beginning. this tract con-
tanning about eightyfour and half
acres: also all portions of lots 1. , ,.
and b in block IA. and parts of lots and
2I in block II, Woodey Park. are in
cluded between Connecticut avenue, Rock
creek, the west line of Woodley Park
and the center line of Rock Greek drive,
containing in all about eight and half
acres: also that part of a tract known
as Nornamstone, owned by William +.
Edmundson and others. trustees. and ly-
ing between Massachusetts, avenue and
the grounds Of the United States Naval
Observatory. and containing two and
seven-tenths acres.
Authorized to Exchange.
The board of control is authorized to
exchange for a portion OF this ground,
foot by foot. that piece of ground now
owned by the United States, containing
seven-tenths of an acre, lying on the
south side of Massa chusetts avenue, next
to the observatory circle. 1t is also pro-
vided that the portion of Benton street
lying within the property described shall
be abandoned as highway upon acquisi-
l<tion of the title of the property by the
United States and that the United States
shall set apart as a public highway strip
Of land thirty feet wide along the bound
ary line of the park as heretofore de-
scribed, wherever this boundary line Is
the center of a street in the permanent
street plan of the District.
In order to pay the expense of the in
qury survey cost o. the land and all
other incidental expenses. $423,Oo0 is ao-
propriated in the bill. one-half out of the
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