The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-07-23
Would Make Rock Creek Val
ley Place Of Interest.
CITIZENS OFFER SUGGESTIONS
William Knowles Cooper, of the Y.
NJ. c. A, Gives Approval 10 Move
ment FOstered by The washington
Hernld-Advocated as Factor to Inn
prove Health of Poorer Glasses.

popularize Rock Greek Park is being
manifested daily. Officials Of the gov
eminent and representative citizens of
the city are not only voicing hearty APP
proval Of the plan 10 make Washingtons
most beautiful park Of some real use to
the public. but are submitting numberless
suggestions for carrying out the project
Postmaster General Hitchcock presi-
dent Of the Washington Fairgrounds As
ISOLATION. speaking Of the movement In
augurated by The Washington Herald.
TO open up Rock Creek Park, said
yesterday:
Il am certainly in favor Of opening up
Rock Creek Park 20 the utmost. I have
frequently been through the park. and
have wondered, not only why there were
comparatively so few people there. but
why there were no tennis courts or base
ball diamonds. such as the parks OF other
cities have where the citizens. particu-
| larry the poorer and middle classes. can
go at any time for rest and recreation.
The park al Rock Creek Is az present
more Of a museum where people can
80 and passively gaze at natures skill
IN building up beautiful woodland pic
lures. 1t Is certainly OF no practical use
as far as affording the citizens a real
park. with all that the name implies. is
concerned. 1t is an ideal place for ath-
letic sports. picnic parties, and the like
things that are beneficial 70 and are
needed by the people, and It should so
be used"
Approval from Y. VI. G. A.
William Knowles Cooper. secretary OF
the Young Mems Christian Association,
also expressed himself as being an enthu-
siastic believer in making public parks
Of value 10 the entire mass OF citizens.
I have seen many such movements as
The Washington Herald IS now starting"
he said, carried on in other cities IN
the New England States. and concluded
successfully. as this one will undoubtedly
be, II the proper measures are taken. II
Is important, however, that II the people
are 70 be thoroughly interested In the
park. they should be provided with the
things that they want such as tennis
courts, baseball diamonds, ard a golf
course. As Frederick Thompson. the
great amusement magnate Of America,
said: They must be allowed 20 amuse
themselves. They viii not 50 there for
any other purpose.
The aesthetic sense OF the great ma
jority OF the citizens is not highly enough
developed 10 impel them TO come 10 the
park merely 10 enjoy the scenery, how
ever beautiful II may be. I know that
there are not enough baseball diamonds
and tennis courts in the city and I think
there Is no more suitable place for the
construction OF such than IN Rock Creek
Park II would be n good thing also for
car lines 10 skirt the park making It
more easily accessible"
John JOY Edison vigorously indorsed the
project we should follow all other
cities" he said. "and when we have such
park as Rock Creek Park would be.
II used properly, we should develop Il
and throw IL open as FAR as possible.
am heartily in favor OF The Washington
Herald's plan 20 open up Rock Creek
Park. and I think it should have been
done long ago"
r. P. Belew. assistant clerk OF the Dis
trict Supreme Court, In speaking OF The
Washington Herald movement TO popu-
larize Rock Creek Park. said yesterday
that lnasmuch as the park had been
neglected for so long everybody should
join The Washington Herald now IN
making the reservation accessible even
TO the poorest
Fresh Air for People.
Give the poor people fresh air and
chance to get away from their daily
drudge, and you win save thousands OF
dollars in druggists and doctors bills.
&C out 10 the park and get some air,
should be made the slogan Of this city.
and Westinghouse should acquire the
habit. 1t will add years OF life and hap
piness and health 60 their existence. Band
concerts, picnic places, athletic sports and
tournaments. bathing opportunities, and
every other facility should be established
which tends 70 promote health and hap
piness. First OF an. however. make Rock
Creek Park accessible, and the rest win
follow"
Edwin J. Mckee, assistant clerk OF the
District Supreme Court, is also enthu-
siastically in favor OF the scheme 10
popularize Rock Creek Park "Ameri- !
cans should lave the best in everything.
and 1 don't draw the lines at Rock
Creek Park. II should be the most popu-
lar park In the United States as #
certainly IS the most beautiful natural
parkland in the United States-yes. 1
may say. in the world. It should be the
recreation place OF the men. women. and
children Of the city, and It ought to be !
crowded from morning till night all the
year round. All the attractions possible ]
which make life worth while should be
placed In the park. and enough police
protection should be made one OF the
most important points IN IT'S development.
The Washington Herald is TO be com |
mended on its enterprise in this connec- |
ton, and II certainly deserves the thanks |
OF the community for having brought the
matter 10 the attention of the authorities
causing them to take a warm interest in |
the proposition"
f. w. Mitchell, in indorsing the project /
in a letter to the editor Of The Wash
ington Herald, makes an urgent request ]
for open cars. "A large part of the
beauty and benefit of the ride" he writes
will be lost If even strong men. much
more invalid and weaker women and
children. are crowded and confined in any !
sort Of closed cars during the hot sum
mer evenings"
Rabbi Abram Simon, one OF the preach !
ers who have been active In all move |
ments pertaining to the civic welfare Of
Washington, is emphatically In favor OF
placing all the natural beauties of Rock
Creek Park within the enjoyment of the I
public.
Rock Creek Park" he says, belongs |
to the people as much as any portion
OF the District OF Columbia. 1t should I
be made their favorite outing ground. /
I think the era OF aloofness and secluslon (
is past, so far as this splendid natural |
reserve is concerned. It is time the peo-
pie realized their heritage. and time the |
officials Of the District united IN an effort /
to give 1t TO them.
without n Park.
"a campaign Of this type is one OF the |