Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-07

parcel. slightly less than acre in ex-
tent, adjoining the northern boundary OF
the park. for a sum not to exceed slop-
Owing to some difficulties encountered re-
garding the title, this land has not yet
been acquired. but steps are being taken
toward that end. The balance of the APP
preparation has been expended in the gen
eral care and improvement of the park.
This included the continuance OF the grad
ing and soddng of the public golf course,
the construction of new footpaths and
bride paths. and sprinkling and main
tanning the roadways. The Commission
ars ask appropriation for the next
fiscal GEAR of 10000 With the addition
al amount it is proposed to begin an en-
trance TO the park from 10th street. by
way Of Piney Branch parkway. as we'll as
to construct additional roads, shelters and
paths.
The commissioners believe that this
large park should he made more accessible
to the general public than it is at present.
BY the construction of roadways and
bride paths that portion of the public
which uses horses and vehicles can read
lily obtain access to all parts of the park.
The greater portion of the public, how
ever do not make such use of the reser-
walton as is desirable. on account of the
inadequate street car facilities. The near
est street railway lines located at
some distance from the park itself, re.
quiring a walk of some length before the
park is reached. Plans are under con-
sheraton Tor furnishing add1tiOnal trans
portation, either by means of an extension
Of the street railway system nearer to the
park boundaries, or by the use of BUSES,
which could be operated from the exist
ing car lines to and through the park.
Great public interest has been manifested
in the plans to make the park more
popular. and the Commissioners hope
that their plans to do this will soon be
realized.
The Commissioners would call atten-
TO fxxyn n xf-E{ n,
ing in Congress for several years pro-
vding for the purchase of additional land
to be added to the park. This land is
situated along the line of 18th street and
along Massachusetts avenue extended,
and it should be acquired at once, as
1t is necessary to straighten out the
boundary lines, and unless procured soon
the rise In the value of land will be
such as to make the future purchase al
most prohibitive.
Rock Creek Improvements.
The Commissioners again call attention
to the necessity for the improvement of
the valley of Rock creek, from Massa-
chusetts avenue to the Potomac river.
Plans and estimates were made for this
work, and report submitted to Con-
gress This report was printed as Senate
Document No. ass. Sixtieth Congress. first
session, and in it the Commissioners
recommended the open-valey method of
Improvement. which is estimated to cost
S5.7jO.OOO. This is one of the large
projects of permanent Improvement men
toned elsewhere in this report, and which
the Commissioners believe should be COM
pleted within the next ten or twelve
years. provided that Congress authorizes
by appropriate legislation a method of
financing such large projects. This i'm
provement should be executed in the near
future, the existing conditions are I'M
slightly and insanitary and retard the