The Washington times., 1913-03-19

Attorney General Requested to
Proceed With Work on Prof.
ect Without Delay.

No time will be lost in gaining for
Washington a magnificent new park
highway-that of the Rock Creek valley
from the Connecticut avenue bridge to
the point where ii reaches the Potomac.
Within the next ten days Attorney Gen.
eral McReynolds will start condemna-
ton proceedings in accordance with the
Congressional act passed at the last ses-
sion.
The commission, comprising Secretary
of the Treasury McAdoo, Secretary of
Agriculture Houston, and Secretary Of
War Garrison, appointed by Congress
20 manage the project of boulevard
conversion, met yesterday and request
cd the Attorney General to proceed with
the condemnation without delay. Be-
sides the commission. Senator Root
and former Senator Wetmore, Engineer
Commissioner Harding, Lieut.. j. J..
Balm, Corps of Engineers; William p.
Richards. Assessor of the District: II.
G Gauss and Reeves T. Strickland, of
the Department of Justice, were pres
ent.
Provides Outlay of SI,3oo,ooo
An initial outlay of 100000 for con-
deinnation purposes was authorized by
Congress. The land to be included COM
prises I5o acres, of which about so is
already owned by the Federal Govern
uent. Much of the property. IS covered
by disputed titles, and besides condemn
ing such property as is known to be pri-
vately owned, the Department of JUS
tice will have to proceed to quiet title
In each case where there is dispute.
Before Attorney General McReynoIds
will be able to proceed with the con-
deInnation, the District engineers will
have to make surveys and prepare data
sc n hG tf1e.
involved rests. Melvin {. IIazen, Dis
tEict surveyor, says il viii probably
take months TO make the surveys end
compile the data 10 be requested by the
Department of Justice. lie does not
think his present force .s> large enough
20 complete the work without help. II
is not expected that the condemnation
litigation in the courts will be compIet-
cd within twelve months.
For the City Beautiful.
The taking over Of the western end
OF Rock Creek Valley, for another link
in the system of boulevards in the Capi-
tall is a most important step in the
Identification of the city. The boule-
ward will connect Rock Creek and
Potomac parks, thereby making a con-
tinuous journey from Capitol square to
the northern end Of Rock Creek Park
possible without touching any of the
thoroughfares of the city. The park
system, when complete, will bring the
Soldiers Home grounds in the circle
OF boulevards, and making a circular
journey along the District boundaries
possible. 1t will probably be the most
magnificent boulevard system in the
United States, ii not in the word.
Il should call your attention TO the
fact that you have for your guidance
iiI determining the questions that may
arise in the performance OF your duties
under this act, the full plans and esti-
mates for the treatment OF the valley
OF the Rock Creek. made under the
District appropriation act. for 1903.
That act contained an appropriation
for the preparation of plans and esti-
mates for the treatment of the valley
OF the Rock Creek, both by the open
valley method and by conduit. 1t pro-
vided that plans and estimates should
be prepared at a cost of $500 That
work has been done IN accordance with
the appropriation act by the District
Commissioners, ana all these papers are
in the office OF the engineers of the
District, and there was submitted re-
port" said Senator Root.