The Washington times., 1913-03-12
plan TO RECOVER
LAND IN VIRGINIA
A. B. CasseIman Tells Chamber
of Commerce Creation of
Park Is Only Way.

That there is no hope of the District
of Columbia ever regaining possession
of any part of the Virginia territory
re-ceded to that State in 1886, and that
the only practical solution of the prob
lem of gaining Government authority
over that part most contiguous to the
District is by the creation Of a park
along the banks of the Potomac on the
Virginia side Of the river, was the
declaration of Amos B. Casselman, Of
the Pension Office, in an address before
the Chamber of Commerce last night
Mr.. Casselman reviewed the efforts to
bring back the Virginia territory origi-
nally in the District, and showed how,
in his opinion. it never could be re-
gained under its former conditions. He
said that George Washington had made
a mistake in the beginning in taking in
Alexandria city as a part Of the Dis
trict, and that another mistake had
been made later by Congress in re-ced-
ing more than Alexandria city to Vir-
ginia. The city had always been ad-
verse to being a part of the Federal
District, he said, while the sentiment in
the county has been to the contrary.
He pointed out that the county had
recently entered upon a period of great
expansion of population, and that soon
1t would be too late to get the land
necessary, even for a park.
Urges Chamber To Act.
The speaker urged the Chamber to
take up the task Of bringing to the at
tention of Congress project to acquire
the strip of territory along the river.
facing the District, for the purpose Of
the land from deforestation and the
banks Of the river from destruction by
blasting and quarrying operations. He
declared that the park Development Of
the Capital could not be complete unless
the Virginia palisades were preserved,
and showed how they were fast being
destroyed for park purposes. Mr.. Cas-
selman urged abandonment of what he
regarded as an impossible task of trying
to bring back the original territory. and
instead the centering of effort upon the
acquisition of the strip for Govern
ment reservation.
Upon motion of Henry B. F. Macfar-
land, the work of arousing public opin-
ion upon this project was turned over
to the committee of 100 on the future
of Washington, and a vote
of thanks given the speaker.
Park matters absorbed a good share
of the attention OF the Chamber. WILL
lam ]. Latimer presented to the Cham
Der a map of the land to be acquired for
the connection Of Rock Creek and Po-
tomac Parks. d. ]. Kaufman and Mr..
declared that the enactment
of legislation for this connection was
one of the most important advances
made by the District,
Will Distribute Speeches.
The Chamber will print and distribute
the speeches of President Taft and
Theodore Noyes, delivered at the recent
banquet to President Taft. A motion
this action was made by
Chaplin Brown.
A vote of thanks for his part in
bringing about a Public Utility Com
mission for the District was given Mr..
and another vote Of thanks
was given members Of the Chamber
who had served on inaugural COM
mittees.
In the discussion on the first motion
Charles w. Darr expressed the hope I
that the Public Utility Commissioners
would give early attention to the SUBJ |
ject Of universal transfers.
A buffet luncheon was served after |
the session, which was attended by |
about 200 members. |