Evening star., 1909-07-15
WOULD OPEN UP PARK
Commissioners Favor Exten-
sion of Street Car Lines.
UPPER END INACCESSIBLE
Beauty Spots Available Now Only
to Owners of Vehicles.
NAL JUDSON FATHERS PLAN
Mr.. Macfarland and Mr.. West Also
Favor Project to Give Trac-
tion Facilities.
MAI JUDSON FATHERS PLAN

Pock Creek Park, particularly the upper
mart Of it. more accessible, is the object of
legislation the Commissioners are consid-
erine for presentation to Congress next
winter.
With the exception of persons owning
vehicles, few Washingtonians frequent the
far end of the park. Yet there are pictur-
esoue. picnic grounds and cool and shady
lawns that would prove attractive to thou
sands of residents of the city In the sum-
mer time It Is one of the most beautlful
parts of the park, and yet its inaccessible
ity has in the past prevented its general
usage.
Recognizing the value that this PARK
would be to the residents or the NaLonai
Capital who have no motors or carriages
if street car lines ran to IFS ooroers vi
into it, Engineer Commissioner Judson
two months ago took up the work OF
drafting a bill which would allow the ex-
tension of the 14th street car line IRON
it's present terminus at 14th ana henheoy
streets along Kennedy street ABOUT wv.
blocks into the park near the BrightWooo
reservoir.
Capt. Markham was instructed to worh
out the details Of the plan, making tnt
necessary surveys to fix route LOT .Ils
cars to run into the park on easy sraoes
It is also in the plan OF the Engineer
Commissioner to erect at the terminus o.
this park spur combined Waltihs rooil
and public comfort station.
1t has also been pointed out thaL .ns
Washington Railway and Electric Com
many could serve public convenience by
extending its Mount Pleasant line IRON
Park road into the park.
MI. Macfarland for It.
Commissioner Macfarland, president OF
the Rock Creek Park board or controi
which is composed of the District com
missioners and the chief OF engineers o.
the United States Army, with the Engl
neer Commissioner of the District as tne
executive officer, declared today that NJ
wishes to see Rock Creek FarR useo nloI
hy the citizens Of the District and pro
noses to do everything possible to brinf
this about
He pointed out today that the Zoo
logical Park, under the controi or the
Smithsonian Institution, ana oirecty ac.
cessible TO pedestrians as well as by
trolley car was much patron1zed, Du'
that, because until recently it had been
less accessible, except for carriages ana
automobiles, Rock Creek Park, elsewhere
had not many visitors. .
That the l4th street car line practically
skirts the eastern boundary Of the PARK
on 14th street extended and that Hs
terminus is within a short distance OF
one of the most beautiful portions of the
aSSAAA
to be generally known.
individuals and picnic parties, MI
MacfarIand said, could go out on thar
line. and within three minutes walk IRON
the terminus Of the trolley line nnd
perfect picnic ground.
He said that the Commissioners would
probably recommend to Congress legisla-
ton for a spur from this street railway
terminus directly to the park, which
would make it unnecessary even TO ~als
the short distance now required.
He said that by repeated announce
ments in the newspapers in the past the
board of control of Rock Creek Pari
had endeavored to make 1t known tha
all citizens are heartily welcomed to en-
| 10Y the park and that everything pos
sible had been done to make the visitors
| feel at home. The insuft1ciency OF thf
| congressional appropriation for the main
| tenance of the park prevented the com
| pletion of the golf course planned by tht
| board of control but provision for ten
MS and other similar games could easily
| be made whenever desired.
AS the District taxpayers had to pa.
| hair of the cost of the acquisition. ant
also pay half of the cost OF the ma1nte
nance of Rock Creek Park, although ]
| is really a national park. he felt tina
| the District taxpayers ought to have TIN
fullest opportunity to enjoy it and wa
ready to do anything in his power Il
| improve the facilities for transportation
and enjoyment.
Commissioner Vests Views.
'"rhere is no doubt that the suggestion
looking to making Rock Creek Park mor'
accessible for people who are not fortu
nate enough to own automobiles or car
| riages," said Commissioner West today
will be realized in the near future.
"A few days ago, when Representative
Burleson, member Of the appropriation
committee, was visiting the bathing beaci
| with me, ] found him interested in th
question of making Rock Greek Park &C
cessible. When the Commissioners es
Inmates are considered l shall propose al
appropriation for opening up certain
streets between the present 14th stree
in order to give the Capital Traction
Company an opportunity to reach tn
edge of the park.
| .The Washington Railway and Elec
| trio Company can reach the park by ex
tending it's line from the present ter
minus at Park road, but In this case, a.
| in the case of the Capital Traction Com
pany, legislation will be required in orde
| to secure them the right of way ovel
! the public thoroughfares l believe tina
| this legislation will be easily secured.
| Whether Congress will agree to rail
road tracks within the park is another
question, but 1 remember that In Fair
mont Park, Philadelphia. by construct
| ing the tracks through the wooded por.
| ton the presence of the cars does moi
! interfere with the beauty of the sur
roundings, inasmuch as the track is prac
tically hidden and the cars themselves
are only occasionally seen through the
trees.
personally, I favor making Rock
Creek Park as accessible as possible to
the general public. 1t is one of the most
beautiful reservations in the entire coun-
try, and its beauty and attractiveness
l - ~, of
body 1t was never intended for the eX.
elusive enjoyment of q favored few