Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-24
TOR0CK CREEKPARK
BY GAR CONNECTION
Plan for the Benefit of Visitors
Suggested by Austin P.
Brown.
LINE OF MOTOR COACHES
PART OF PROPOSITION
Recommends Tunnel in Line With
Spring Pace Through Avenue of
the Presidents.

With the object of making Rock Creek
Park accessible to persons who cannot
AFFORD the luxury OF carriages and auto
mobiles Austin P. Brown. one of the
founders of the Petworth addition to
Washington. has written to the District
Commissioners and Senator Gallinger
urging leg Station which will give the
park street car connection.
Mr. Brown believes that this can. be
done by means of a tunnel to be con-
structed in the line of Spring place
through the Avenue of the Presidents.
1t would then be- possible. he says. to
establish motor coach lines running from
18th street through the park.
The District Commissioners are not in
favor Of the tunnel.ng proposition. as
they consider that q more practical meth
ed would be to acquire about four and a
half acres of land n the valley OF Piney
branch. east Of the Avenue of the Presi-
dents. and to provide for rearrange-
ment of the highway plan SO as to en-
between the grade of the Avenue of the
Presidents and the Piney Branch park
way. lying to the west of the avenue.
The Commissioners recently reported
favorably on a bill which contemplates
the carrying out of the above plan, at a
cost Of about $4,000.
Land to Be Acquired.
Some years ago Congress authorized
the construction Of a bridge across
Piney branch in the line Of 18th street,
now known as the Avenue of the. Presi-
dents. and this bridge has been built
in the form Of concrete arch. The
land in the valley to the west is a
part Of the approach to Rock Creek
Park and Is owned by the United States,
but the land to the east is private prop
erty. This land, say the Commissioners,
should be acquired as protection of
the valley itself and Of the bridge. and
in order to permit the construction Of
a roadway from the low level of the
creek to the higher level Of the Avenue
Of the Presidents.
Mr. Brown believes this plan to be bet
ter than none. but he considers that the
most practical one is that calling for
the construction of tunnel under the
bridge. which would eliminate the ne
cessity Of filling in the depression, east of
the bridge, provided for in the bill ia
vorably reported upon by the Commits
sioners.
"If the tunnel should be constructed.
states Mr.. Brown in his letter to the
Commissioners. that part of Spring road
between the Avenue Of the Presidents
and 18th street could be eliminated and
the land required therefor retained as a
part Of Piney Branch parkway. and that
part of 18th street road between 10th and
18th streets could be eliminated and the
land occupied by that street added to the
parkway then 1t might be advisable to
also eliminate from the highway plan
that part of Spring road west Of Its con-
nection with Spring place.
Provides Additional Parking.
'.If this is done considerable land will
y oh .lrr ~
an enormous and expensive fill in Spring
road between 18th and 18th streets avoid
ed. and also costly fill in 18th street
would be made unnecessary and the
whole beautiful contour of the country
and the trees thereon will be preserved;
therefore, this change. In addition to be-
ing of great advantage to property own
ers, would be of inestimable benefit from
an artistic point Of view and Of consid-
cradle advantage to the District from an
economic standpoint
Mr.. Browns letter to Senator Gallinger
is. in part, as follows:
IT notice from The Washington Evening
Star that the District Commissioners
have approved Of the bill introduced by
you, which provides for acquiring about
four and one-half acres of land in Piney
branch valley as protection both to
the bridge and the valley.
while thoroughly believe in the mer
restrictive to be of great public benefit.
What Rock Creek Park needs is
street car connection Herewith, in order
to afford cheap access thereto by people
who cannot afford the luxury of riding
In carriages and automobiles; therefore.
from my point of view. the bill referred to
should, through an amendment be made
to provide for the requirement of the
land embraced In squares 280O and 1892,
and for the land that will be required
for Randolph street and Spring road. be-
tween 14th and 18th streets. as shown
on the highway extension plan.
Benefits Outlined.
IF this is done. Rock Creek Park will
have a street car connection; then. when
Randolph street Is opened and put in
condition for public travel from 18th
street to Blagden avenue. and Spring
road is also put In condition for travel
between 14th and Goth streets, through
the tunneling Of Spring place through 10th
street, as suggested in my letter to the
District Commissioners under date Of
May Is. 1913 a copy Of which is trans
mitted herewith, and two motor coach
lines with q f1ve-cent fare starting at
18th street, and running respectively
through Randolph street and Spring road,
and thence through Rock creek by diff
ferent routes to the Connecticut avenue
car line and return, public benefit
would surely be in evidence that would
justify the expenditure of whatever sum
is necessary to put 1t into actual and
active operation"