Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-13

to provide for the public park In which
they We're much interested.
The cost of the park which 1t is hoped
the government will establish on the
Montrose tract has been estimated to
b. S150,OO0, which Is held to be a reason
able price for the land, the buildings on
it and the work which Is necessary to
put the place in readiness for use by the
people.
Georgetown contains upward of 10000
nhabitants. and since 1871 has been pay
Ing equal taxes with those of Washing
ton 1t is true that until Georgetown
was incorporated with Washington fifteen
years ago the city fathers Of George
town had much to say in the affairs OF
Georgetown, and it Is largely due to
short sighted policy on their part that no
parks were laid out there But even SO,
the citizens contend, they have not been
given a square deal since they became
Washing tonians
Changes in Recent Years.
During the period Of infancy of the
capital of the nation Georgetown gave
shelter to the builders and designers.
The tracI ten miles square which was
selected for the District Of Columbia in
Guided Georgetown. The refined and dis
tiEsuislled. social life OF Georgetown made
a stable background for the floating pop
ulation which was brought to Washing
~
government in the District OF Columbia.
Representatives, senators. members Of the
cabinet and foreign ministers all sought
homes In beautiful Georgetown. ConSe
o,ently there grew up In Georgetown
great many handsome residences, sur
rounded by wide grounds. For years gar
dens and trees were necessary settings
for homes i'll Georgetown. and little at
tention was paid to streets or to public
parks But all that Is now changed. and
nil
remain in Georgetown, with their fine
gardens and beautiful shade trees. they
aye giving place to small houses. and the
section of the city west Of Rock creek
may find itself without parks and with
out private homes surrounded by hand
some gardens before long.
Across Lovers lane, from the Montrose
estate lies that fine old place, the Oaks,
formerly called Monterey. where La1ay-
cite was the guest of John c. Calhoun in
1924 Mr.. Calhoun owned the property
for sixteen years. Caroline place. original
~ known as Peter grove, which lay to the
south Of r street, opposite Montrose. was
almost as beautiful as the Oaks before 1t
was purchased by SPECTATORS and the fine
trees on It cut down. A number of small
buildings have been erected that do not
add to the beauty OF the location. 1t is
said Thackeray was entertained there
by an English minister to the United
States. Later, when the place was occu-
pied by the French minister to this coun-
try, the handsome house which had been
erected on the property of Mr.. Peter. a
son of the first mayor Of Georgetown,
was burned to the ground. Some years
later Mrs William Gordon endeavored to
have Congress purchase this property for
a public park. but this was not accom-
plished and the property fell into the
hands of real estate spectators.
Washington and Jefferson both admired
Georgetown very much. and themselves
freauented the old Montrose place. 1t is
said, and it is now suggested that II this
property be purchased for park 1t be
called Washington and Jefferson Park.
The Rock Creek Plan.
1t was the hope Of many citizens of
Georgetown, and Of Washington. too. that
Congress would appropriate for a park
along the banks of Rock creek, from
Massachusetts avenue down to the mouth
of the creek The advocates OF this plan
of treating the banks Of the creek de-
clared that It offered an opportunity for
making one of the most beautiful parks
found in any city in the world Inc
treatment of stream that runs through
Edinburgh. Scotland, was poined out as
an example OF what could be done with
Rock creek But while estimates were
made for this plan. nothing mas ever
been accomplished toward improving the
unsightly boundary line between wash
creek. The banks. part Of them. have
been used as dumping ground. and tin
cans and ashes are more in evidence To-Day
than green grass and shade trees lining
the stream It's friend still hope that
Congress may take up this plan for
park, and argue that 1t can be made into
a park with the outlay of compare
lively small sum. Notwithstanding the
fact that the banks are now hnsightly
dumping grounds.
There are still other residents of
Georgetown and Washington who desire
to see Rock creek below Massachusetts
avenue covered over entirely. They say
that this would be to the interests OF
business in Georgetown, since 1t would
make all parts Of Georgetown more &C
cessible from Washington. In answer
to the plea that the banks OF the stream
be left as a park, the advocates Of the
covered stream say that wide bosile-
ward. containing park could be left for
the use of the public on the made ground
which will result A. from covering the
creek While the Plan for covering the
creek would cost about twice as much
as the plan for the open treatment, 1t is