The Washington times., 1912-03-06
LANCASTER URGES
BETTER TRANSIT TO
ROCK CREEK PARK
Tells Citizens That 1t Should
Be More Available to
the Public.

'.Under present conditions Rock Creek
Park is for the exclusive use of bob
tailed horses and automobiles" said
Col. Charles c. Lancaster, at the month
iy meeting of the Columbia Heights
Citizens Association, in st. Stephens
parish hall last night.
"Why can't this park be thrown open
for the use of the general public and
the poor people of the District" con-
tinued Colonel Lancaster. "Why can't
the street car systems be extended in
such a way that the people who are
denied the use of automobiles can en-
JOY this great park without walking a
mile or more over dusty roads or
through the hot sun? / hope this as
ISOLATION will take some action In the
near future with that object in view.
TITS all right to advocate small pub
lie parks for the special benefit of a
certain community, but in these parks
tho children are denied the privilege of
playing on the grass. What we want
Is an adequate transportation system
whereby we can get to Rock Creek
Park on a street car"
Playground Case Ends.
Judge Charles s. Bundy, president of
the association, announced that the last
chapter had been written in the ten
years controversy over the disposition
of the tract at Fourteenth street and
Columbia road, which the association
had sought to have the District pur-
chase for a public park and playground
The site has again changed hands,
Judge Bundy stated, and as soon as
warm weather sets in ground will be
broken for the erection of an apart
ment house. In this connection it was
stated that the commissioners have in
view the use of a part of the tract on
which the new Central High School will
be erected at Thirteenth street and Flor
Ida avenue for public playground and
athletic field.
There Is plenty of room there for
the erection of stadium" said Judge
Bundy, that would seat 5, 900 persons
The expense would not be great, and it
will be the ideal place for holding the
various athletic contests between the
United States Naval Academy and the
United States Military Academy. This
association is furthering the project in
every way possible, and we have been
promised the assistance of eighteen
other citizens associations to make this
scheme reality"
Challenges Statement.
James s. Easby-Smith challenged the
statement of Colonel Lancaster thai
Rock Creek Park was used exclusively
by persons who were able to afford au
tomobiles and carriages.
IF Colonel Lancaster will take the
trouble to walk through Rock Creek
Park from the Connecticut avenue en-,
trance any nice Sunday or week day,
said Mr.. Smith, he will see thousands
and tens of thousands of men anc
women, boys, and girls and little chill
dren enjoying the advantages of tho
park. ! think that Colonel Lancaster
has been misinformed about the exist
ing conditions"
The association voted to appropriat,
$40 to help defray the expenses Of tn,
recent universal transfer conference
letter being read from the joint commit
tee stating that there was deficit o
$50 In the treasury.
G. GrosVenor Dave, managing direc
tor of the Southern Commercial Con
gress, delivered an interesting addres
on the work that Is being done by tn
organization of which he is in charge
He spoke of the bearing that the worl
of the congress will have on Washing
tons future.
The lack Of civic spirit is, to m.
mind, the most appalling thing there Il
In the National Capital said Mr.
Dave.
Ala For the South.
He then went on to explain how thu
congress Is endeavoring to dispel tn,
prejudice that seems to exist agains
the South, which, he said, had certain
natural resources far surprising thos'
of any other part of the country, ant
which were to make the South tn,
great commercial center of the United
States. AS an example of the remark
able progress that has been made II
the face of great handicap, Mr.. Daw'
said that forty years ago land in Bir
mingham, Ala, that could have beel
bought for so an acre could not b,
purchased now for $4,000 a front foot.
The April meeting of the association
will be devoted TO a discussion Q
means for improving lawns In Colum
bia Heights. 1t was decided last nigh
TO suspend all regular business at tn
next meeting and extend an Invitation
to one of the officials of thc Depart
ment of Agriculture to deliver an illus
trated lecture. The sum of $25 wa
appropriated for prizes to be awarde,
for the best kept lawns and parking
during the coming summer.