The Washington herald., 1911-08-03
SENATE VOTES FOR
CONNECTING PARK
Wetmore Bill Calls for an
Outlay of $1,000, 900.

The Senate yesterday gave impetus to
the project of connecting Potomac Park
with Rock Creek Park and establishing
a new site for the government Botanic
Garden by passing the Wetmore bill,
introduced some time ago for that pur-
pose. Securing unanimous consent at
the session yesterday afternoon, Sena-
tor Wetmore caused the measure to be
put through without a dissenting vote,
it having previously been reported from
the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds.
The bill calls for an outlay of $3.50, 900
in the purchase of the land necessary
to carry out the project, which the
measure states is largely for the purpose
of preventing the pollution and obstruc-
ton Of the waters Of Rock Creek
A commission is authorized, consisting
of the Secretary Of the Treasury, the
Secretary of War, and the Secretary Of
Agriculture, with instructions to acquire
the land lying between Potomac and
Rock Creek parks by condemnation, pur-
chase, or otherwise. Lands in the path
of the project which belong to the United
States are to be included therein and
made part or the parkway.
Whatever portion of the tract the COM
mission deems adequate for the purpose
is 10 be set apart for the building of
new Botanic Garden, it being the plan
to remove the present government gar
den from the site near the Capitol. In
its report on the Wetmore bill. the Public
Buildings and Grounds Committee says:
1t has become apparent that the public health re-
.ba
Rock Greek TO prevent it's obstruction and pollution,
which has already gone to the point of serious dan
the valley being used by the rapidly increasing
adjacent population a general dumping place Tor
refuse Of all kinds.
The development Of Potomac Park has made more
apparent the importance to the proper development
Of Washington that the Mall and Potomac Park
should be connected with Rock Creek Park BY suit
able avenues Of communication.
The development Of the botanic gardens in other
cities, both in this country and abroad Is showing
that the present site Of the government Botanic Gar
den at the foot OF Capitol Hill Is absurdy made
quate, and that unless the maintenance of such
garden Is to be abandoned entirely, suitable pro-
vision for its accommodation should be made. Con
gess and its various committees have from time 10
time for a good many years indicated the existenco
of an understanding that sich change in the
Botanic Garden must necessarily be made.
All Of these three considerations will be met by
the bill.
The report Of the District Commissioners in 1905
included several different methods Of treatment Of
the valley Of Rock Creek between the two existing
parks. but the present bill does not undertake. to
determine as between these different methods It
simply relates to the acquisition OF the land which
viii be necessary for any method Of treatment
The amount fixed in the bill Is based upon q
tabulation Of the assembled value OF the land in
cluded In the lines of the land TO be acquired. To
that has been added smount equal to the average
excess asessed valuation for which the govern
ment was able 10 obtain the land for the Senate
and House Office buildings. the new city post
site. and the new ate for the departmental build
ings on Fifteenth street.