Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03
Original Design
of City Trainers

there are about 300 such parks, con-
sisting of squares. circles and triangles.
with an area of about 170 acres. No
provision was, made when the streets
of the city were extended into the re-
naming four fifths Of the District, and,
as a consequence, no such parks exist
in this section.
Such small parks have been recon-
mended by the Senate park commission
quire all of such parks needed. it will
enable the Commissioners to select
sites in the various sections OF the
District outside of the city where the
price. Locations have been tentatively
selected to the number of thirty four
but 1t is estimated that the cost of that
number would amount to 100000. If
lections will be made from these thir-
ty-four sites. and beginning made in
extending the smaller park system
now existing in the city to the built-up
portion of the District outside the old
city limits.
In 1902 there was published. as Senate
Report No. 1855, Fifty-seventh. Congress,
first session. the report of what has been
variously called the Senate. the Mcmillan
and the Burnham park commission.
architects Burnham & McKim, ST.
Gaudens standing first among American
sculptors) and Mr.. Olmsted. the leading
landscape architect in this country. The
preparation OF the report cost nearly
$4,000.
Among the lands recommended by this
commission for park purposes some were
contiguous to federal buildings or were to
serve as the sites for federal buildings,
and 1T has been recognized that the fed
eral government will sooner or later ac-
quire them, but for the most part the
lands to be purchased are not only essen
tial to the creation of a great and suit
able Capital city, but will also serve to
in many cases will advance the value of
nearby lands owned by local residents.
With each passing year the natural
growth of the city is not only raising the
value of the lands to be acquired, but in
many cases, by building operations, is
interposing almost insuperable obstacles
to the execution of the park plan. 1t is
time now to act in this matter. 1t will
soon be too late.
At the last session of Congress a law
was enacted providing for a general sys-
tenn of assessments when parkways or
park lands are acquired. This law is as
follows:
Hereafter the United States shall not
bear any part Of the cost Of the acquisi-
ton of land for street extensions, but
when the condemnation Of any land for
such purposes is authorized by law the
total cost Of the land and the expense of
the condemnation pTOCeculNGS SHALL DC
assessed as benefits; in any case where
land is condemned for a parkway, includ-
ing street or streets, where such park
way is of considerable length with rela-
ton to it's width, not less than one-half
of the cost of the land, including the
same fraction of the expenses of the con-
domination proceedings. shall be assessed
as benefits, and in any case where land
is condemned for a public park not less
than one-third Of the cost of the land.
including the same fraction Of the ex-
penses Of the condemnation proceedings,
shall be assessed as benefits.
All acquisitions of park lands proposed
in the estimates of the Commissioners
and hereinbefore de-
Park Commission scribed follow the