Norwich bulletin., 1910-12-07

tant uutleS III tnlS capital or the nation effectively: The parks and streets of the city and the District are generally kept clean and in excellent condition. The commissioners of the District have it's affairs we'll in hand and, while not extravagant. are constantly looking to those municipal improve mentS that are expensive, but that must be made in a 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 responsi- ble 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 it's 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 model in respect of economy of expenditure. of sanita- 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 playgrounds and opportunity for popular recreation and of beautiful system of parks. I am glad to think that progress is being made in all these directions, but I ven ture to point out certain specific im- provements toward these ends which congress in its wisdom might adopt. Speaking generally, I think there ought to be more concentration of au- thority in respect to the accomplish ment of some of these purposes with more economy of expenditure
 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- larly open to the public and ought to be part of the park system. Exclusive of the grounds of the Soldiers home and of Washington barracks, the pub lie grounds used as parks in the Dis trict of Columbia comprise over 8, 100 acres, under ten different controlling officials or bodies. This division of ju- risdiction Is most unfortunate.
 Large sums of money are spent yearly in beautifying 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 inn provement upon the grounds belonging to the United States in the District of Columbia were put as far as possible under one responsible head the result would be not only greater efficiency and economy in the work itself, but greater harmony ill the development of the public parks and gardens of the city.
 Congress at it's last session provided for two more parks, called the Merid- ian Hill and Montrose parks, and the District Commissioners have also in- cIuded in their estimates 8 sum to be used for the acquisition of much need ed park land adjoining the geological park, known as the klingle Ford tract. The expense of these three parks, included in the estimates of the aggregates S900,000. I think it would lead to economy if the Improvement and care of all these parks and other public grounds above described should be transferred to the office of public buildings and grounds, which has an equipment well 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 1t 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 Coiumhia fn Virginia.
 I have already in previous communi- cations to congress referred to the inn portance of acquiring for the District of Columbia at least a 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 1S46.
 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-
 omac river there would be no partic-
 lar advantage in bringing that within
 ational control.
 But the land which lies along the
 otomac river above the railroad
 ridge and across the Potomac, in-
 uding Arlington cemetery, Fort My
 ., the government experiment farm,