Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-18
NOT SAFE TO OPEN It HE LIKES WINDSOR
Conditions In Montrose Park
Must Be improved.
REPORT OF COL. COSBY
New Recreation Place Will Probably
Be Maugurated August 8, When
Band Concert Will Be Given.

Montrose Park. the latest addition to
the park system Of the District. will not
be available for the use of the public
for several weeks. because its opening
under existing conditions II deemed
neither safe nor expedient This park IS
on r street between the western boun-
dairy Of Oak Hill cemetery and Lovers
lane running back TO Rock creek. and
contains sixteen acres Of land. It re-
Gently was purchased by tho District
Commissioners for $110 900 under the pro-
visions OF the District appropriation act
approved in March last.
At the request Of the District Commits
sioners, Gen. Bixby. chief OF Engineers
OF the Army. has assumed Jurisdiction
over tho reservation. BY his direction.
Col Cosby. Corps Of Engineers, in charge
Of public buildings and grounds. will
take charge OF the new park and prepare
II for tho use Of the public as quickly as
available funds will permit.
In their letter to the War Department
transferring the new park to the United
States government tho District Commits
sioners quote the law In the case and
show that the property Is In need OF con
siderable repair. They state that the I'M
provements on the property consist Of a
number Of brick and frame structures In
bad condition: q summer house or pavil-
ion under which is a large Ice pit. and
other pits and cisterns, the coverings Of
which. they declare. are unsafe. They
say that the property has been aban-
doned by the former owner and that II
Will be necessary to provide means for
caring for the property and protecting 1t
from spoliation. especially the trees and
shrubbery.
Dangers to Life and Limb.
Col. Cosby made \ special report to
Gen. Bixby. chief Of enginae.s. In regard
to the property, in which he said that the
various structures on the ground are In
a dilapidated condition. some Of them be-
ing dangerous to IFS and limb. For in
stance he said that .he brick wall on the
east side OF the barnyard IS in danger
Of falling down: that two cisterns ana
the entrances to two vaults under the
summer house arc open AMI practically
unprotected; that four porch etrlctures
are In danger Of collapse: that the gar
den abounds n poison i.y, and that tho
old mansion just back from the street Is
at is the intention" said Col. Cosby,
mot to open the park for the use Of the
public until these conditions have been
rem edied, so as to eliminate all elements
of possible danger. No appropriation has
been made for either the care or i'm
provement Of the park. SO that the funds
available for it are very limited
Formal Opening August 8.
1t is probable. however. that the new
park will be formally opened August 8, 1t
having been previously arranged that the
Cavalry Band at Fort Myer should give
a public promenade concert there that
evening. The same band will give an
other concert In Montrose Park, Septem-
Der 1S The opening Of this park will
prove a boon to the residents of George
town. 1t being the only public park In
that section Of the District.