Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-06

10 InOSe mUDlciHAi ALAPAO'S
ments that are expensive. but that
must be made in modern growing
city like Washington. While all this
is true, nevertheless the fact that
Washington is governed by congress
and that the citizens are not RESPONSE
BILE and have no direct control through
popular election in District matters
properly subjects the government to
inquiry and criticism by its citizens,
manifested through the public press
and otherwise, such criticism should
command the careful attention of con-
gress. Washington is the capital OF
the nation. and its maintenance as a
great and beautiful city under nation
al control every lover of his country
has much at heart. and it should pre-
sent in every way a model in respect
Of economy of expenditure, of SANTA
ton. of tenement reform, of thorough
public instruction, of the proper regu-
lation of public utilities, Of sensible
and extended charities. of the proper
care of criminals and Of youth needing
reform. of healthful Fairgrounds and
opportunity for popular recreation and
of a beautiful system of parks. am
glad TO think that progress is being
made IN all these directions, but l ven
ture to point out certain specific I'M
provements toward these ends which
congress in its wisdom might adopt.
Speaking generally, / think there
ought to be more concentration of au-
thority in respect to the accomplish
ment of some of these purposes with
mora naOnnnv of pvnpnditurp
Public Parks.
Attention Is invited TO the peculiar
situation existing in regard to the
parks of Washington. The park sys-
tenn proper. comprising some 343 diff
ferent areas, is under the Office OF
public buildings and grounds. which.
however. has nothing TO do with the
control Of Rock Creek park. the ZOO
logical park. the grounds of the de
partment of agriculture. the botanic
garden. the grounds of the capitol and
other public grounds which are regu-
larry open to the public and ought to
be part of the park system. Exclusive
of the grounds of the Soldiers home
ana Of Washington barracks. the pub
lie grounds used as parks in the Dis
trict Of Columbia comprise over 300
acres. under ten different controlling
officials or bodies. This division of jul
riSdictiOn is most unfortunate.
Large sums of money are spent
yearly in identifying and keeping in
good condition these parks and the
grounds connected with government
buildings and institutions. The work
done on all of them is Of the same
general character-wOrk for which the
office Of public buildings and grounds
has been provided by congress with
special organization and equipment.
which are lacking for the grounds not
under that Office. There can be no
doubt that if all work Of care and i'm
provement upon the grounds belonging
10 the United States in the District Of
Columbia We're pat rs far as possible
under one responsible head the result
would be not only greater efficiency
and economy in The work itself hut
greater harmony in the development
of the public parks and gardens Of the
city
Congress at its last session provided
for two more parks. called the Merid-
ian Hill and Montrose parks, and the
District Commissioners have also in
Guided in their estimates Il sum to be
used for the acquisition of much need
ed park land adjoining the geological
park, known as the KlinCle Ford
tract. The expense of these three
parks, included in the estimates of the
commissioners. aggregates 100000
think it would lead to economy if the
Improvement and care OF all these
n nd nj, IL. al,
described should be transferred to the
Office of public buildings and grounds.
which has an equipment we'll and eco
nomically adapted to carrying out the
public purpose in respect to improve
ments Of this kind.
To prevent encroachments upon the
park area it is recommended that the
erection of any permanent structure on
any lands in the District of Columbia
belonging to the United States be pro-
hibited except by specific authority of
congress
The District of Columbia In Virginia.
have already in previous communi-
cations to congress referred to the i'm
portance of acquiring for the District
of Columbia at least Il part of the ter
ritory on the other side of the Potomac
in Virginia, which was originally
granted for the District by the state
of Virginia and then was retroceded
by act of congress In 1916.
It is very evident from conferences
that have had with the senators and
representatives from Virginia that
there is no hope of a regranting by
the state of the land thus given back.
and L am frank to say that in so far
as the tract includes the town of Alex
andria and land remote from the Po-
tomac river there would be no partic-
ular advantage in bringing that within
national control.
But the land which lies along the
Potomac river above the railroad
bridge and across the Potomac. in
GLIDING Arlington cemetery, Fort My
er, the government experiment farm.
the village of Rosslyn and the Pail |
sades of the Potomac, reaching TO
where the old District limo iDtarSactc