Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-21

The movement to develop and preserve
the beauty Of Rock Creek valley IS pro-
,ressiuG with enthusiasm
After wears of patient effort on the
part of citizens and civic bodies to eTadi-
ate the unsishtly dumping ground ut
the intersection of 24th street and ROCK
~reek events of the last few days indi-
ate the fulfillment of their desire.
Assistant Engineer Commissioners
I:rooke today recommended to the Com
missioners that the dumping of ashes
and refuse into Rock Creek valley at
that point cease at once. This action is
The latest step in the development of the
park system provided for in the bill In
reduced by Senator Wetmore Saturday.
Endorsement of the project by Presi-
dent Taft and the adoption of resolu-
tions by the Washington Society of Fine
-Nrts last evening favoring the plan which
would link Potomac Park and Rock Creek
Park has also given impetus to the move
!nenr.
Commissioners Determined.
law suit or no law suit, the District
commissioners are about to give Rock
creek its due and save It from the further
insult of the millions of tons of ashes
and waste piled high above its banks in
The unsishtly public dump at 24th street
Although that stretch of gray smoking
ashes which lines the stream in what
was once one of its prettiest courses Is
piled high in mammoth disregard of the
natural beauty of the little valley, the
present board OF Commissioners is about
TO take the arst step toward cleaning up
the neigh borhood.
The stretch Of dirty gray ashes was
once declared public dump. and it is as
Sumed in some quarters that the con
tractor who is using that dump will have
a club II on the Commissioners in
the form of that old declaration. The
Commissioners believe that they can
stand a little clubbing. however. and also
believe that they will be justified by the
courts in trying To clean up what has
long been considered one of the misfor-
tunes IF the city
Albion X Paris recently made a pro-
test 10 the Commissioners against the
continuance II this dump. Mr.. Paris
protest * only one of the protests Of
long line which are :" numerous at the
District building that they occupy file
al 10 themselves. There are records OF
letters and kicks for wears.
The Washington Society Of Fine Arts
has been agitating the subject for years
and decided on ne. campaign before
Congress last evening. Citizens asso-
Citations and private individuals have
added their voices and letters i'll com
plant against the ever-growing, ever
Spreading plateau OF ashes and crders
CA the banks OF a handsome little stream
running through the city.
Way Out of the Difficulty.
Mr. Paris protest fell into the hands
OF Commissioner Judson this time Com
missioner Judson. now having charge Of
tne street cleaning department. the new
superintendent of street cleaning, j. w.
Paxton, reported that lie believes the
Commissioners can get away from the
difficulties attending the dump by simply
holding ny their hands and saying This
is no longer "a public dump" The Dis
trlct has $3.50 a year taken off one of
IT'S ash contracts by allowing the ash
contractor To dump on the eyer-groWing
aShy banks OF Rock creek. So bv NOT
having this plateau Of ashes for a pub
Ho dump, Mr. Paxton thinks The city will
not De heid llab!c Corporation Counsel
Thomas is of that opinion also.
Therefore when the matter was mn, ~,
20 Capt Mark Brooke. assistant en-
clneer commissioner. he recommended
that not another scuttie fun of ashes be
dumped there after April L. 1911 Can,
Brooke SAYS III his recommendation:
= believe In" District should take the
iEitia5ive IN the matter Of stopping the
rractie" OF dumping In Rock Creek valley
by Closing the damp referred 70 herein
20 pubic contractors. The oniy CON
tractor Row using the dump is the con.
tractor Tor the d sposal of ashes and =
appears from the terms of his CONTRACT
nat IL il entirely practicable Ia deny hin,
the use OF tlis dump without any InofIi-
hcation OF the terms Of his present con
tract" ~
President Tafts letter indorxfnr the
park project and an account of the