Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-31
.POPULARlE THE PARK
Plan a Dandy All Right, But 1t
Isn't New.
STAR ALWAYS FAVORED IT
Read Report Of Maj. Michler, U. S.
A.. Made in 1866.
BEAUTY OF THE RESERVATION
Natural Attractions Have Been Pre-
served-Some Secluded Spots.
Need for Bus Line.

| report OF MAJ. Mlcnler or the JiIted
States Engineer Corps, In which he pro-
posed practically the same method OF
| treatment for the great reservation as is
i being suggested today
| One of the strongest arguments in ia
vor of the opening up and popularizing
of Rock Creek Park is a stroll through
the picturesque reservation some cool
morning or late afternoon.
Some of the park features can be seen
| from an automobile or other vehicle. All
of its beauties can be observed and stud
/ led by the man woman on foot. 1t is
safe to say that any person who loves
| the beautiful and inspiring in nature
| will become an enthusiastic adherent OF
! the movement to make this vast park
one of the distinctive beauty spots in the
world by properly opening ii up to the
| public.
Tiny, Tumbling Cascades.
| Entering Rock Creek Park from the
Klinsle road and crossing the bridge near
the entrance, the first and one of the
| most beautiful and impressive of its ma
ture pictures is presented. Towering
| above the roadway are great shelves of
| moss-covered stone centuries old.
Between the crevices of the stone, toss
ing and tumbling downward, are cascades
of crystal water. AS the little streams
dash down the stony declivities, the spray
rising in miniature clouds. the tiny rivu-
let's charm the observer with the music
of falling waters. At the base of the
natural stone precipices is pool of
clearest water, into which the cascades
plunge. Its bottom is of silver sand.
and minnows sport in the sunshine, which
is reflected in the pool.
High above the steep slopes of stone are
| dense forests of trees of many varieties.
forming the deep green shade SO refresh
ing to the eyes and the senses these hot
midsummer days. In the shade of these
trees there is GOODNESS suggestive of
a morning in November. The ground be-
meath the trees adown the slope is car
peted with the fallen leaves of many
seasons.
Farther northward is a most pictur-
esque spot, which some delighted wan
derer through the park has named I'm
spiration Glen" 1t may have been in
just such a beauty spot that some of the
great poets received their inspiration
from Dame Nature to have composed
| some of their masterpieces. Flowing be-
low is Rock creek, completely canopied
with magnificent shade trees. it's waters
| ripping an unwritten poem as they flow
toward the Potomac.
Looking Down on the Mill.
Next, provided with an impromptu AL
| pine staff made from sapling, the OBJ
server may climb precipitous cliffs, and.
gazing through vistas in the forests and
thickets, see smuggling below a quaint
gray structure of other days like a grim
and silent sentinel standing guard on
the very brink of the flowing creek. The
building is known as Pierce'S MILL and
in days gone by it was an institution of
some Importance to the good people of
that part of the District. The farmers
who titled the soil in that portion of
northwest Washington which is now COW
cred with modern residences were wont
to take their grain to the old mill and
have it converted into meal and flour.
But the great wheel which revoved un-
der the pressure of the waters of Rock
Creek is now dismanted, the machinery
removed and the ancient edifice remains
only as one of the picturesque features of
the pretty park.
Under its shadows many family outings
and fetes have been held The surround
ings are poetical and pleasant and there
is ever present the memory of the good
old days of long ago: The venerable
building suggests the lines of poem:
The mill will never grind again
With the waters that have passed
1t is the opinion Of many persons who
have toured the park that the mill
should be allowed to remain as one of
| the landmarks of the District, as well as
a picturesque feature Of the reservation.
1.-The Artists Corner" is another
beauty spot of the park. Two woman
! painters with palate and brushes were
making pictures of the place yesterday.
| In the foreground is Rock Creek puring
along and dashing into foam over a wall
| of rocks forming a miniature falls. Just
| ties of water fowl breasting the current
| of the creek. The stream at this point is
completely canopied by the trees on
either bank.
Sunbeams and Shadows.
| The sunlight filtering through the
dense foliage above casts fitting sun
| beams over the picture and adds shad-
| ows to the setting. To the man or
woman with the artistic temperament
| this is one of the ideal spots in the wide
| expanse of the natural park.
| Proceeding Tenleytown way over the
| hills and through dels one is impressed
| by the stiffness of the dark green forest
| depths and thickets. which is only broken
| by the occasional notes of song bird
| the chirp of crickets or the wind sing
| ing gentle requiems through the leafy
| treetops.
| Emerging from the woods with their
| leafy floors and moss covered rocks
| there comes into view a natural amphi-
/ theater-a green meadow completely sur
| rounded by green walls OF mighty trees
| Leaving the amphitheater with its sun
| shine and it's stiffness. the tourist enters
| a series of pretty dels with their car
| pets of moss. Little streams flow laEily
/ along through the shade and silence and
/ "a young rabbit dashes away into a near
| by thicket. These dells. which are scat
| tered throughout the park are the home
| of many varieties of the fern family.
| Throughout the wide and long eXpanst
| of Rock Creek Park is a continuation o.
| just such eauty spots and a succession o
picturesqueness. There are leafy bower:
| for loving SWANS and innumerable resting
| places beneath the shade trees for tired
| humanity. Viewed from the tree-cappeC
| high places in and about the reservation
| the scene presented is one of natural ma e
| niiicence. In all directions can he seer
| the deep dark green of the woodlands
with open spaces and dells at intervals
Near the southern end of the park. wher.
it connects with the National Geological
Park, a suggestion OF the African jungle is
given the tourist by the occasional erie
of the wild beasts from their cages o.
dens in the Zoo. Some idea of Rock Greet
Park may be gained from the genera
landscape feature of the Geological Park
that reservation being of the same gen
eral character as the park it is propose,
10 open up and populariZe.
Bus Line Is Needed.
Stone springs from which clear an,
cool Water could be obtained might b.
located DIT different points in Rock Creel
Park for the use of those who may e.
there To enjoy its natural beauty an,
: scenery New driveways could be con
! structed through the Businesses of tn
park. over which horse or electric omni
!, buses would carry passengers to all sec
tions of the reservation from the termin