Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-16

Rock Creek Park with Soldiers Home
and that Fort Stevens and the fortifca-
ton line from there to Rock creek should
be preserved as battlefield park"
In 1899 the Board of Trade reported
that the time had arrived for the adop-
ton OF some uniform plan for acquiring.
developing caring forsand Systematically
improving the parks of the District OF
Columbia and In that report one reads
that THE chairman Of the Senate COM
mittee for the District OF Columbia (Sen-
ator James McMillan) has in course Of
preparation bill for the creation of a
park commission, whose duty it shall be
70 look into the wants OF the entire Dis
trlct In the matter Of the location OF new
parks as well as the improvement of
those. already existing.
, In 1893 the project OF converting Rock
creek into sewer gained some promi-
Rossell. Engineer Commissioner of the
District of Columbia, assisted by Capt.
j.. In Lusk and Capt. G. ]. Fieberger and
d. E McConlb. superintendent Of sewers.
prepared plans for the conversion of the
lower creek into a sewer and the filing
in of-the valley between the banks. That
report was made in compliance with a
resolution of the United States Senate of
July % 1892
About the time of the crystallization OF
came into general public notice the plan
for suitable connection between Po-
tomac Park, the Zoo and Rock Creek
Park. In the latter part of 1900 plans
for the treatment of that part of Wash
ington lying south of Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and north OF B street southwest
and for the parking of lower Rock Creek
valley were prepared under direction Of
Brig. Gen. John NJ Wilson, chief of en-
gfneers. United States Army, pursuant
to the provisions of an act of Congress
approved June 6, 1900. These plans were
transmitted to the Speaker of the House
of Representatives through the Secretary
OF War together with a special report
by Samuel Parsons. jr., the landscape
architect. In transmitting the plans to
the Speaker of the House Elihu Root.
Secretary Of War. wrote: Il beg to call
especial attention to these plans, and
urgently recommend favorable considera-
ton and action
This act Of june 6. 1900, authorized the
chief of engineers. United States Army,
to make an examination and report to
Congress plans for the treatment Of
that section Of the District of Columbia
situated south of Pennsylvania avenue
and north of B street southwest, and for
a suitable connection between the Po-
tnmac and Geological parks, and in max
ing such examination and plans he is
duIHOTlZ6u 10 employ a IdHQScdpe dTcHi-
tect Of conspicuous ability in his pro-
fession, and for services and expenses
incident to said examination and report
the sum of $4,000 is hereby appropriated"
The immediate supervision and eXecu-
ton of this work was assigned by Gen.
Wilson to Col. T. A. Bingham, Corps of
Engineers. L. s. A, then the officer in
charge of public buildings and grounds
OF the District of Columbia, and to Sam
uel Parsons, jr.. of New York. Mr.. Par
sons In his report to Col Bingham wrote:
Concerning the parkway from Wash
ington Monument to the Potomac and
Geological parks, it should be said that
as far as the beginning of the precipitous
portion of the banks of Rock creek
formal arrangement of foot paths, drives
and bride roads Is secured, whereby the
house lots are reached by two roads. one
on each side Of the parkway. The space
Of 800 feet in the middle Is occupied by
a park drive, by foothpaths and a bride
road. each of which takes a direct course
parallel with the adjacent houses, as
shown in the accompanying detail plan.
hillsides of Rock creek 1t is allowed to
seek the easiest grades. 1t occupies
large portion of the picturesque slopes
with the winding curves of it's drives and
bride paths ending at the boundaries of
the ZoOlogical Park at the junction OF
Cathedral avenue and Connecticut ave-
nue., where 1t completes its course in an
entrance so enlarged as to include all
three avenues.
w. v. Cox, secretary of the joint COM