Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-02

consin avenue, from which the cars run
to Tenleytown and Chevy Chase, with
Massachusetts avenue, which is now be-
ing extended into the country. At that
point just opposite where the Episcopal
Cathedral is to stand, there is one part
which l think affords the most beautiful
general view of Washington. You look
down upon the city, you see the striking
buildings, the Capitol the Library. State,
War and Navy Department and the post
office. the large buildings along Pennsyl-
vania avenue. and beyond them you see
the great silvery flow of the Potomac and
the soft lines fading away in dim outline
in the far southeast. 1t is a. beautiful
view. 1t is a view that reminds me of
the fine views of Rome that the traveller
is able to obtain from the other side of
the Tiber.
Passing of Ideal Beauty Spot.
"All that piece of land is being cut up
and according to present appearances
houses will be built there Immediately
and after two years nobody will ever see
that view again. There may be other
views of Washington that are as good,
but to my mind there is no view more
beautiful than that. 1t is view that
speaks not only to the eye. but to GER
tain extent to the imagination. I am
afraid. however. that it is going, al
though it ought to have been kept as a
pubic park ana the houses DelOW kept al
such height that if they. We're to be
built they would not obstruct the view
from above.
''Of course. it is to be regretted that all
of that land on both sides of Massachu-
sets avenue was not kept for the Wash
saddest things L have seen, the way in
which that beautiful bit Of woodland
country between Massachusetts avenue
and Connecticut avenue, where some Of
~ 70 foNr rif inn
under the leafy boughs, listening to the
ripping Of the little streams that puzzled
down the hollows-to know that that is
all to be built up. that that Is all to go.
L am afraid 1t is irretrieVably gone al
ready. and the only thing for you to con-
slider now is the possibility of Saving
point of view on the highest ground.
From that l want to turn to say some
thing more about Rock creek. Rock creek
l think Is unequalled in any other city.
In what city in the world can a man
within less than ten minutes by car and
within a quarter of an hour on his own
feet. reach a beautiful wild. rocky glen
such as you would find nowhere else but
in the woods of Maine or Scotland; a
glen with a broad stream and wild woods
looking down on each side, where you not
only have a road at the bottom for peo-
pie who loll in their automobiles to use,
but inexhaustible paths where you can
force your way in Tickets and catch
yourself in climbing UP and down, and
even, il you like to try your muscles, like
our former President Roosevelt, you can
do so by climbing steep rock walls which
are quite difficult
Scenic Effects Marred.
''All that you have in Rock Creek Park
And yet 1 am told that good deal of the
land behind Rock Creek Park is sold
and the beauty of a portion of the park
has already been spoiled to a great eX-
tent, at the place where the Mount Pleas
ant road goes down into the park, by the
of a row of houses. | do not
know why that was allowed to be done.
A great deal of land which lies behind
Rock Creek Park. on the left-hand side
as you go up and the right-hand side as
YOU come down. great deal of that
land does not belong to the District, l
to the beauty of Rock Creek Park that it
should not be built upon.
THE builder has been stealing steadily
forward into the park. Before long that
pretty piece of ground is likely to be
covered with buildings. There is still
time to stop that. There Is still time to
see that all that is untouched by build
cut avenue and Rock creek on the one
side. and between Rock creek and the
continual ton of Georgia avenue on the
other or at any rate the valley. which is
now wooded, shall be kept forever as a
part of the Rock Creek Park
Il should like To go even further al
though perhaps | am indulging in aSpira-
tons not warranted by what may rea-
be expected in the way of appro-
priations. and consecrate the whole Rock
creek valley for ten fifteen miles above
Washington to the public. 1t Is beauti- l