Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-21
COMMISSIONERS WILL ACT
Will Have Plan When Congress
Meets Next Winter.
MAY EXTEND CAR LINES, TOO
Proposed Route Through Park
From Brightwood to Chevy Chase
Other Suggestions.


lines in Rock Creek Park. suggested by
The Star, as a means of making the
reservation more accessible to the gen.
eral populace. is favored unanimously by
the District Commissioners.
When Congress meets in regular ses-
sion next December. Engineer Commits
sioner Judson declared this morning.
some definite plans for the opening up
of the park will be ready for presenta-
ton. and in the consideration of the
many projects which have been suggest
ed the plans to extend existing car
lines to the park boundaries and even
along some of the parks thoroughfares
and for the establishment of bus lines
from the present terminals Of the street
railways through the reservation will re-
ceive first consideration.
Maj. Judson declared that when he
took up the project for making Rock
Creek Park more accessible he consid-
cred the establishment of stages. In
Central Park. New York, he pointed out.
such means OF transportation have prov
ed very popular and he said that similar
lines ought to be operated In the local
park unless the street car lines are ex-
tended to provide access to the shady
groves and valleys.
Proposed Route.
That a bus line might well be estab-
lished and successfully operated between
the Georgia avenue line of the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company at
Brightwood along the Military road to the
Chevy Chase line of the Capital Traction
Company, was the suggestion OF COM
missioner Macfarland today.
81 see no objection to the operation OF
oy-frv vt,t tvTvN<n
Chevy Chase he said. land think
buses could be run on the north and
south roads the length Of the park with
out interfering with the other tranic. The
idea seems to be an excellent one.
Commissioner West was enthusiastic IN
his praise OF the plan for the operation
Of bus lines through the park. and pointed
at once to the success OF the llnes III
Central Park In New York city. where
the stages have done much to make the
reservation popular.
Definite Action Likely.
The Commissioners. with the chief Of
engineers Of the United States Army.
compose the board OF control Of Rock
Creek Park. and with these three mem
bers in favor Of the establishment of bus
lines in the park. at least across the park
between the car lines, 1t is expected that
some definite action will be taken upon
the plan.
Suggestions for street car extensions
are discussed In a letter received this
morning by Commissioner Macfarland
from DR.. c. c. Galloway Of 11th and =
streets.
Il am deeply interested and gratified
In watching through the local press the
progress Is being made In the plan
Of making Rock Creek Park more ac-
District" he says in the letter. Il note
that the most-talked-of plan just at pres
ent is the one to make the entrances
from the 14th street line and from the
Connecticut avenue line by way or Kiln
gle road northwest.
Some Objections.
will you kindly allow me to point to
some very undesirable features of this
plan? First, this will make tie park ac-
cessible from only one Of the two car
systems Of the District and compel those
who live on the other system to pay dou-
BILE car fare to reach the park: second, In
the plans spoken of I notice that 1t is
talked Of making steps leading from Con-
necticut avenue down into the ravlne to a
proposed car line on klingie road. To me
this would seem a very unWiSe arrange
ment, considering the fact that very
large proportion of those We hope will
benefit by the use of the open space at
forded by the park are the mothers and
small children, and even the odbieS. ana
to MAKE IL dCCSSSlUlC Why py tliC Use
Of steps would deter the very ones that
most need It.
This same result could be as easily
arrived at by the simple extension of the
car line now stoppng at 18th street and
Park road. along Park road and k1ingle
road to the park. thus avoiding all steps
and at the same time giving access to
the park from both car systems Of the
District.
Better Car Service.
aside from the use and benefit it
would be to those who wished to take ad-
vantage Of the beauties OF the natural
park. 1t could be made very practical
benefit by giving car service to that tract
of land that lies between Rock Creek
Park and Connecticut avenue. which lies
there unused because of no car service to
the city, while those two and three miles
farther out have excellent service
Commiss oner Macfarland has notified
DR.. Galloway that his suggestions Will
receive careful consideration.