Evening star., 1909-08-18
HOPE LONG DEFERRED NEW FORESTRY PlAN|
Early Plan for Improvement Railroads Are Going to Beau
of Rock Greek Valley tify Rights of Way.
IA REPORT TO CONGRESS PLANT TREES AND GRASS
Bill Framed by Committee Of Cit
Following Conference Thought
PROVIDED PURCHASE GETS THE MONEY ALL RIGHT
Until Success ings Population
Crowned Effort
Early Plan for Improvement
of Rock Creek Valley.
A REPORT TO CONGRESS
IS PLANT TREES AND GRASS
Bill Framed by Committee Of Citi
zens Following Conference.
PROVIDED FOR LAND PURCHASE
Progress OF Legislation in Interest
of the Project Until Success
Crowned Effort.

One of the early movements for the i'm
provement and Identification Of Rock
Creek Park is described in report made
to Congress by William v. Cox, which
was ordered printed April 10, 1901. Mr..
Cox says:
'On Thanksgiving morning of 1855
Charles c. Glover, the well known banker,
invited Capt. T. w. Symons. Calderon
Carlisle and j. NJ. johnson to ride with
him through the Rock Creek valley. AS a
result of that drive these gentlemen
pledged each other to work from that
time for the establishment Of great ma
tional park in Rock Creek valley.
MIR. johnson and Mr.. Carlisle framed q
BILL and few evenings later Mr.. Glover
invited these gentlemen and others to
meet at his residence. The project was
talked over at length, the bill was read
and the plan as outlined by Mr.. Glover
was approved.
"Mr. Crosby S. Noyes, that public
pioning every measure for the improve
ment or the beautifying of Washington -
the report continues, presided over this
historic meeting. Among those present
We're washington Mclean. Crosby g.
Boynton. Henry Wise Garnett,f A. T. Brit
ton, George E. Lemon, Charles Nordhoff,
B. H. Warner, Stilson Hutchins, F. A.
Richardson, NJ. NJ. Parker, Lewis J.
Davis, Charles J. Bell, F. B. P. Sands
ker, o. C. Green, Hallett Kilbourn, James
A. Bates and e. w. Fox.
when the proceedings Of this meeting
were known all public-spirited citizens
realized that the time for decided action
had come. The work as mapped out by
the committee under Mr.. Glover was ac-
lively pushed in every direction, for q
master hand was at the helm.
Makes Steady Progress.
Advocates for the Rock Creek PARK
measure were found on every side, and
the progress from this time was steadil,
forward. January II, 1889, meeting a
building, at which a resolution wa:
adopted indorsing the plan of securing
the park. A strong executive committee
composed Of G. c. Glover, chairman: A
A. Richardson and B. H. Warner was
appointed. This meeting was attended
by many of the leading citizens Of the
District
THE bill drawn up and approved by
the citizens committee was introduced ir
1889. This bill provided for the pur.
chase of tract of land not exceeding
$500 acres, following the course of the
creek, and q width of not less at any
point than 400 feet. The chief OF engi.
neers, the secretary Of the Smithsonian
Institution and the Engineer Commits.
sioner Of the District were named as q
commission to locate and purchase thu
park, with the assistance Of the Engi
neer Commissioner as executive Officer
Of the commission. One-half OF the cos
of the park, according to the bill, wai
to be charged to the District.
The tenor of the debates in tft
House." Mr. Coxs report continues, "hae
convinced those who were urging the
park project that 1t would be quite i'm.
possible to get any measure through thai
did not propose to make the District pa1
one-half Of the cost. While this wal
considered unjust. the citizens' commit.
tee deemed 1t wisest to secure the part
on the best terms possibly and leave Il
to Congress in the future to make amends
for the wrong done the people of the Dis.
trict.