The Washington times., 1913-03-05
PLANS TO FURTHER
BEAUT|FY CAPITAL
Board of Trades Committee
EIated Over Efforts For
Park ExtMsion.
By GEo<GE H. GALL.

Highly elated over the successful con-
ciusion of their efforts in behalf of the
extension of the park system of the
District, members of the special park
commission committee of the Board Of
Trade. are now planning to carry on
sir propaganda for further beautifi-
cation of the Capital
The signature of the public buildings
bill by President Taft yesterday morn
ing marked the end of struggle for
an appropriation for the Rock GREGG
Potomac Park connection in which the
committee has been engaged for the
paue two months. The committee will
make its report 10 the directors of the
Board of Trade ON Friday afternoon.
The campaign IN behalf of execu-
ton of the outlying park system of the
District, as recommended by the Park
Commission. was commenced in Octo-
Der. upon the election of Arthur c.
Moses to the presidency. Upon the re-
tirement of Mr.. Moses and the election
Of E. H. Droop in November. the board
Of dire tors created special commit
tee Of about LIS members and named
Mr.. n oses as chairman. This special
comm tee continued the work In a gen.
erai way until after the New Year.
when it centered its attention upon one
section Of the park plan, the connec-
ton between Potomac Park and Rock
Creek Park.
Wanted Bill Amended.
The wetmore bill. which passed the
Senate over a year ago, provided for
this connection and carried an appro-
priation of S2,3oo.0Oo. The committee
bent It's efforts to have this bill. which
was In a pigeonhole in the House Com
inittee ON Public Buildings and Grounds,
added as an amendment to the public
buildings bill. 1t was shown that IN
view of the passage of the Lincoln
memorial bill this particular part of
the park system was the most imme-
iis4ely important, as 1t would provide
a needed appropriate approach from
tn west to the 100000 temple to
Lincoln In Potomac park. Without
committing itself at all to the other
District items In the bill the committes
urged that this item be retained and
oGorts to this end were sustained un-
M YeGterdaY, when the bill carrying the
ite(n although reduced in amount OF
appropriation, had been signed by the
This psrt of the Park Commissions
plan for the outlying park system oil
the District was recommended Tor exc
cution twelve years ago as one OF the
most important In the whole scheme
The valley of Rock Creek even then
was fast filling up with dump refuse
and threatened to destroy entlreiy tne
beauty of the valley.
Was Fought In House.
The project was bitterly fought In the
House in several sessions, however. and
IL was charged that a real estate ring
was back of the scheme. After the
item had been put into the bill by the
Senate some members Of the House as
sailed It, But even though the other
big District items in the bill failed, this
one was finally retained.
Chairman Moses today expressed him
self as extremely gratffied with the out
come of the struggle.
when suggested that we try TO get
this item from the present Congress"
ne said, II had only the remotest hope
that we would be able to succeed. 1t
il, therefore, especially gratifying to
have our efforts thus happily concluded.
We should not be unmindful OF the great
assistance of President Taft. He help
ed us even to the minute when he was
moved to sign the bill because the Dis
trfct item was in IT, The measure
means q great advance in the beauti-
fication of the Capital, and will prove
a great impetus TO our work for the
balance of the park system"