Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-31

walton and its hills and valleys. Win
Rock creek flowing through its length.
| Rock creek just below the Military road
| presents a Weirdly wild picture. Yet one
| of picturesque confusion The middle OF
| the stream and its shores on either size
| are lined with a succession OF great
| powders and flat-surfaced stones OF
| great size. From these table rocks boys
| and men in the oden times. before the
| establishment of the Geological Park,
| We're wont to angle for the elusive eel,
catfish and others of the finny tribe.
The Pierce mill dam was another Ia
| vorte resort for fishermen of years gone
| by. Angling in Rock Creek along its
| course through the park is now prohibit
| ed by law, and the fishes are thus per-
| mitted to multiply without interruption.
| Tt is suggested that the site of the old
mill dam could be converted into pretty
! lake.
The Bridge of Boulders.
| The bowder bridge, constructed across
| the creek not far from the Blagden Mill
| road, is another attractive feature of
Rock Creek Park. 1t was built from the
great rocks from which the creek derives
| its name. and is arched over the stream
with great skill
The annals of the District government
show that the idea of establishing a park
| in Rock Creek valley was conceived many
years ago. It's rugged hills and dense
woods threaded by wild ravines and rapid
| running streams appealed to the city
fathers and the citizens Of Washington
and created Il desire for their preserva-
| ton and care.
| In 1866, it is recorded a resolution was
introduced in the Senate for the selection
of suitable site for public park and
presidential mansion. This resolution was
| referred through military channels to
Maj. Michler, Corps of Engineers United
States Army, for report.
After carefully examining a number of
sites Mai. Michler submitted a report
in favor of the Rock Creek valley region
In part he said:
Maj. Michler's Report.
I'm no place has nature been more
bountiful of her charms than in the vi
entity of this city, and all can be found
so near and accessible; the valley of
Rock creek and it's tributaries, the Broad
and Piney branches and the several minor
rivulets, with the adjoining hills over
looking these beautiful streams, present
to the capital of the nation advantages
| not to be lightly dsregarded in provid-
ing park worthy of a great people
All the elements which constitute a
public resort of the kind can be found in
this wild and romantic tract of country
With its charming drives and walks, it's
hills and dales, it's pleasant valleys and
deep ravInes. its primeval forests and
running waters, it's rocks clothed with
rich fern and MOSES. it's repose and tram
quillity its light and shade, its ever-vary-
ing shrubbery, it's beautiful and extensive
views, the locality is already possessed
with all the features necessary for the
object in view.
There you can find nature diversified in
almost every hue and FORM Maj. Mich
lers report continues, needing but the
taste of the artist and the skill of the
engineer to enhance its beauty and use
fulness; gentle pruning and removing
what may be distaSteful, improving the
| roads and paths. and the construction of
new ones, and increasing the already
large growth of trees and shrubs decdu-
Gus and evergreens, by adding to them
those of other chimes and countries
| So 1t may be seen that forty-three years
ago engineer officers and prominent cfti-
| zens of the District of Columbia were
enthusiastic over the project of popular
| izing Rock Creek Park. constructing new
roads and paths in the reservation and
creating new entrances to the park.
Among those who evidenced much inter-
| est In the matter were the late w. w.
Corcoran and Admiral Lee.
Land Bought in 1890.
| In 1887, through the efforts of c. c.
Glover and other citizens. a bill was in
| troduced in Congress for the purchase
of the land. September 81, 1890, it be-
came a law. The act provided for the
| purchase of a tract of land lying on both
sides of Rock creek, beginning at klingle
Ford bridge and running northwardly
| along the course of the creek, with a
| width of not less than 600 feet nor more
| than 200 feet, including the bed of the
| creek.
| 1t was provided that this land was to
| be perpetually dedicated and set apart as
public park or pleasure ground for the
| benefit and enjoyment of the people of
| the United States to be known by the
name of Rock Creek Park
| Camp Good Will occupies a small por-
ton of the park, near Brightwood. There
/ have been constructed in the reservation
| about twenty-one miles of bride paths
principally along the lines of old foot
paths.
! The present plans provide for modes of
| transportation into and through the park:
the opening up of new roads into and
| through the area of the reservation and
general improvements that it may be
made one of the best and prettiest natural
parks in the world, and incidentally the
| clearing away of fallen trees and other
|