The Washington times., 1913-01-25

N)A y - ~ - " -
meets the White House with Rock
Creek park, and Is situated on the
crest OF the line of hills surround
Ing the lower valley of the Potomac:
All Of this crest, from North capitol
street to Rock Creek. is now prac-
space of its kind thar remains un-
improved.
Valuable For It's View.
1t has a view over the city and
town. the valley Of the Potomac
River, and IN the summer Is ex-
posed to the southwest breezes
prevalent in this section Of the coun-
try. II extends down the steep slope
of a hill from a point between
Chaplin and Belmont streets to w
street, and this slope Is necessary
as part Of the reservation to pre-
vent the construction OF houses
which would cut of the view and the
sweep Of the wind. This portion
the character Of the park. The upper
part Is fiat and well adapted either
to the laying out Of a garden or the
erection of public buildings. To d.
minish the size of the park would be
detrimental to its value as park.
The price named in the bill-$6o0,0oo
for about $4,000 square feet OF land,
or about Sl.37 per square foot-is in
excess of the estimate Of value OF
the land by the board OF assessors,
their value being 5000 Very little
property has changed hands In this
immediate vicinity recently, so II Is
difficult to gauge the value. but from
prices paid by the District for the
condemnation Of Sixteenth street ex-
fonhod ohnfrt Avn which
amounted to from Sl-25 to H.75 per
square foot, and from figures at
which II Is known some of the own
ers Of land in this vicinity hold the
same, 1t Is not thought that the land
could be obtained for less than that
named In the bill. In fact. II Is due
to large portion OF this tract being
on the market on the account of the
settlement OF an estate that so low
q figure as that proposed In the bill
can be obtained. Conditions are i'm
proving In that vicinity, and an early
increase in the value of the land Is
anticipated.
An Opportunity For City.
The Commissioners believe that this
Is an opportunity to obtain a reser-
walton In the line of those laid out in
the original city limits, In locality
which is without a park at present,
and where one Is much needed now,
and will be more needed as this sec
tion of the city builds up; that to OBJ
tain this reservation will greatly en-
hance the beauty Of the city and its
ENVIRONMENTS, and viii add greatly to
the beauty Of the Sixteenth street
boulevard, and in that way would be
Of benefit to all the people of the
United States, great number Of
whom. In visiting Washington. drive
time the land can be purchased at a
more reasonable figure than II can be
In a year or two from now. and that
there is no other site in the District
as suitable for Government reser-
walton.
The Commissioners therefore rec
ommend favorable action on the
: bill.
Very respectfully,
HENRY b. +. MCFARLAND,
President Board of Commissioners OF
District Of Columbia.
Hon. J. H. Gailinger.
Chairman Committee on the District
of Columbia. United States Senate
II will be observed that the Com
missioners recommended the pur-
chase of the properties included In
both bills, and for the purpose OF
simplifying the matter. your commit
tee have combined them In one Dill,
the passage of which Is recon-
mended.
Calls Speech Attack on Honor.
II would seem Incredible, IL we did not
have the speech before us in the Con-
,ressional Record, that after all this Mr..
Sims should make next, in his treatment
,f the matter, what Is really the gravest
attack on my honor of any that he has
made, either on March lsos or on
January Is. 1913 That 1t is IN the iorm !,
IF an insinuation, an innuendo, makes II
worse. He did not dare make the direct
charge that II was possible that ] might
nave made a million or a half million
If dollars out Of the transaction. Know
ne the facts. as he assuredly did, such
|, direct charge was too much even TOT
1im to make. But to cover up the ad-
nission which had been wrung from him
hat he had misrepresented the facts.
nisled the House, and 30 defeated the
,Hj. and deprived the National Capitai
N a beautiful park Of 100 acres. ne IN
Iinuates this covert charge into the Rec
,rd. I have read II to the committee.
T. restrain my natural indignation ana
content myself with pointing to the text
n the option contract as the all-su1nci-
mt answer, an answer also which was
,erfectly accessible to Mr.. Sims or any
,ther member Of the House at all times
rom the date of the first contract, the
th of March. 1906. to the present DAY.
Says Sims Wants Credit.
After this Mr.. Sims makes an at
.empt. more ingenious than ingenu-
,us. to claim that he is entitled to
.redit for securing, by the defeat of
he bill. the dedication by the owners
II the principal tract that II sought
% acquire Of q small portion, about
Of the 100 acres. which por-
ion, as he says.
is a gulch, a deep ravine, between
precipitous hills. -r
IL must be clear to every one who
kinks at all that the subsequent ac-
ion of the owners in setting apart
or. the purposes of their suburban
lila sites a portion of this tract suit
lble only for park purposes, as a small
park, affords no adequate. compensa-
ion to the National Capital for the
oss of the natural beauties of 100
,cres now inevitably altered for COM
nercial purposes.
The report of the District Commits
,ioners to the Senate Committee on
he District Of Columbia upon the bill
o acquire this addition to Rock Creek
Park. under date OF March II, 1906,
loses with these words:
Commissioners Recommend Bill.
The Commissioners recommend
the passage of this bill as being a
measure of public benefit. The land
is located within easy access of
large population. 1t is eminently
suited TO park purposes on account
of the hilly character and the mag
nificent trees, which could not be
grown in many years. 1t Is today,
although private property. used by
many persons as a park, and with
the rapid increase OF population
will certainly prove of the greatest