Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-31
LAND SALE OPPOSED
Adverse Report on Resolution
Pending in Congress.
LIES ALONG THE CONDUIT
War Department Officials Think It
Should be Held.
PUBLIC PARK IS PROPOSED
Willing to Surrender Old High
Service Reservoir for Use
of the Public.
LIES ALONG THE CONDUIT
PUBLIC PARK IS PROPOSED

None of the government land along the
line of the Washington aqueduct, with
one possible exception, will be reln-
quished for private purposes il the Off
Gals OF the War Department, can prevent
1t. There arc several such parcels OF
more or less value on the line Of the
conduit between Great Falls and the fill
tration plant south of the Soldiers Home
grounds. The only parcel, however, that
the War Department is willing to relin-
quish is lot IS. square 2a2i. That is 10
Gated Just west of tho southern approach
to the Connecticut avenue bridge between
Wyoming and Kalorama avenues. On it
is located the Widows Mite air shaft.
one of the pumping stations Of the sys-
tenn.
The War Department officials have in
dictated their willingness, however. to re-
linouish jurisdiction over the high-service
reservoir at the intersection of Wisconsin
avenue and f street. but only on con-
dition that it be converted into a public
park.
Report to the Speaker.
These statements are based on a report
just made by the Secretary of War to the
Speaker of the House Of Representatives
with respect TO a pending resolution bear
ing on the general subject That resolu-
tion directs the Secretary of War to sell
to the highest bidder several parcels of
government land lying along the conduit
tunnel extending from the receiving reser-
voir near the District line to the filtration
plant. Following the usual course the
resolution was referred to the War De-
partment for report.
Under instructions from Gen. Marshall
q H9nn1lm. the
officer in charge of the District water
supply system, made q thorough jnvesti-
cation of the subject. AS a. result the
| chief Of engineers reported to the Secre-
tary of War that the resolution should
not be passed in its present form He
said that none of the land involved should
be sold. except possibly the south half OF
the parcel at Widows Mite. With respect
that as it might be desired for, use as
park the District Commissioners be con-
suited before even its sale was author
lied. Because of it's location in good
residential section it is desirable from
financial standpoint.
Secretary Dickinson forwarded the re-
port of Gen Marshall to Congress, say
ing that he concurred in its conclusions.
Convert It Into Park.
In his report Capt. Hannum advocated
the conversion of the reservation on
which the Georgetown high service reser-
voir is located into a public park for
the benefit of the people in that section
Of the District. He said IL was originally
purchased and used as high service
reservoir to supply water to certain por-
tons of Georgetown, and afterward was
acquired by the government for possible
use in connection with the tunnel be
tween the distributing reservoir and the
filtration plant. The plot embraces 1.5
acres Of ground.
Capt Hannum said that it is no longer
needed for the purpose for which it was
acquired, nor for any present or pros
pective purpose in connection with the
District water supply system. There
would be no objection to its sale, he said,
unless it should be found desirable to
retain 1t for future development into
small park. He said, also, that the
Georgetown Citizens Association had re-
peatedly urged it's development into
park. He estimated that it would not
take more than 5000 or $4,000 to do
it. In case Congress decides to authorize
the sale of any of the parcels of govern
ment land along the line Of the tunnel,
Capt Hannum suggested that provision
be made for the use of the proceeds Ill
making needed repairs to the tunnel it
self and for the Improvement of the Con
duit road.