The Washington times., 1913-01-25

that the land in 1903 was worth 81. 80
an acre. a statement which I never
made. All i said to the committee was
| that I had been informed by Charles
]. Bell. one of the trustees Of the tract.
that It was then assessed at $3.50 an
acre. Mr.. Sims rings the changes on his
assertion that I said the land was
worth III, 80 an acre, and so claims
| that the dedication of the ravine by the
owners in their villa tract project
amounted to
nearly 100000 worth of real estate.
Member of Congress Owned Land.
After that Mr.. Sims says that was
not candid or frank. because i did not
volunteer the information when he bill
was pending that q member OF the
House had an interest In the smallest
of the three portions, including about
two acres. The fact Is that had more
difficulty in getting the option on that
small tract than on either OF the oth-
ers, because that very member of Com
gress was the most unwilling Of all IN
terested to let me have II at what he
held was one-hak Of its then value, In
1905. He would not allow his trustees
to give the option until he had been per-
| sonaliy importuned. OF course re-
ferred Congress to Just what I had.
the options with trustees Tor the three
separate portions of the tract The
sell at the price. and was very glad
when the options lapsed. He immedi-
ately sold part Of II for more than
twice the option price. Even Mr.. Sims
has the grace to say In this connecton
that
the member of the House who
owned part of the land was Offering
to sell It to the Government through
that option at q loss, which was no
discredit, II the facts had only been
known.
SAYS Park Did Not Help Land.
Representative Sims then proceeds to
comment upon statements made be-
fore the committee as to land that I
bought on sixteenth street bordering
Rock Creek Park many years after that
park had been acquired by the Govern
mept. and the rise In value which has
taken place in that land. Mr., Sims was
not. of course, candid or frank enougn
to say that the rise IN value was aue
to the extension of the Fourteenth street
car line, and not to the opening OF
Rock Creek Park, which. like other
parks, does not OF itself enhance the
value Of adjoining property.
II is difficuit to credit at face value
Mr.. Sims statement In his speech re-
ferring to my efforts In trying to Sc
cure for the Capital the 10o-acre park:
have not the slightest disposition
no quarrel with him. Il have no rea-
son to quarrel with him. He had
right to do this thing and to pursue
his own course.
when shortly afterward, in the same
speech, he tries by what he thinks. ap-
parently, 10 sarcasm, to impugn my mo-
tiycs and deprive me Of my share Of
the credit for the park Improvements
Of the National Capital.
Mr.. Glover Father of Park.
He claims'-says Mr.. Sims Of me-
"to be the father of Rock Creek Park.
the father Of the movement" Yes. I
do so claim, and have the right to
have my claim allowed, in view Of the
years Of persistent effort, In season and
out of season. which I devoted to this
public service. did have the bills
introduced; did press them; did have
the act approved by the President: /
did recommend to President Harrison
Rock Creek Park Commission, whom
he appointed. r. Ross Perry, H. ".
Boynton. Samuel p. Langley, secretary
of the Smithsonian. This is all we'll
known history here.
II i need to offer any proof of this, al
low me to offer this letter from one who
has now passed on to his reward. the |
late John ]. Hemphill. OF South Caro- |
lima, who did so much for washington
when he was chairman CT the COM
mittce.
House OF Representatives.
October /, 1880
My Dear Mr.. Glover-The bill to
establish Rock Creek Park. which
passed Congress only after the most
strenuous efforts, has been approved
by the President. and is now a law.
AS It was at your request that this
bill was introduced. setting aside this
beautiful section of the country as
a park for all time, desire to con-
gratulate you on the final approval
of the measure, and to say that
your earnest. intelligent. and untir-
ing efforts during the entire contest
II would, In my judgment, have
failed to become a law. i
Your valuable work in behalf of
this great pleasure ground at the
National Capital ought to be known
and long remembered by the many
thousands who shall hereafter enjoy
IL. Yours most sincerely,
JOHN ]. HEMPHILL.
Quotes An Editorial.
Again, the washington Evening Star |
said in an editorial about the same
time: