Evening star., 1913-06-21
OX0N RUN TRACT
WANTED FOR PARK
Suggested to Commissioners
as Only Unreserved Area
in That Section.
PROVISION FOR SURVEY
REGARDED AS PROBABLE
President of Congress Heights Pub.
lie Improvement Association
Urges the Purchase.

Consideration will be given by the Dis.
trict OF Columbia Commissioners to tho
proposal for the establishment Of a pub
lie park in the territory adjacent TO
Oxon run, south of Anacostia, which is
the only unreserved tract of land in that
section Of the District suitable for park
purposes
The plan was presented informally to
Engineer Commissioner Harding today
by w. w. Price, president Of the Con-
gress Heights Public Improvement Asso-
citation. Mr.. Price said that his associa-
ton is compiling data as to the need of
the improvement and formally will pre-
sent recommendation to the Commits
sioners later
The Minnesota Avenue Association al
ready has indorsed the project which is
popular one with residents of Southeast
Washington. Mr.. Price suggested that
now Is the time to acquire the property.
as the land can be bought at low rates.
May Order Survey.
There is a possibility that the Commits
sioners may order a survey of the tract.
with the object Of considering it among
the possible park acquisitions of the near
future.
District from Rock Creek Park. thus bal
ancing 1t geographically. and. in the event
1t should be acquired for a park, the Dis
trict would have two reservations uRsur-
passed in point of natural beauty and
facilities offered for public recreation and
pleasure.
Park needs of the northeast section of
Washington are assured of being given
close attention by the Commissioners in
connection
next estimates of the District.
Commissioner Harding already has be-
gun consideration Of the program of i'm
provements of this character to be in
| cluded in the budget. That official. it Is
known, is considering the advisa bility of
| abandoning, for the present, at least, the
plan for the acquisition of Mount Haml
ton for park purposes and recommending
that In lieu Of this area the Patterson
| tract, lying north of Florida avenue be-
| tween New York avenue extended and
the Columbia Institution for the Deaf, be
acquired.
| The last estimates included an item of
$4,000 for the purchase of Mount Hamii-
ton. consisting Of eighty-one acres. lying
east Of the Bladensburg road and north
of NJ street northeast.
Should the item be eliminated this year
] II will be because of the fact that the
Commissioners consider the Patterson
| tract to be the more ideally located for
| park purposes, fnasmuch as 1t is consider
ably closer to the built-up portions Of the
northeast section of Washington.
Million Dollars for improvements.
| 1t is estimated that the Commission
ers. when they commence preparation Of
| the budget, will have available for i'm
| provements approximately one million
| dollars more than has been the case in
| any previous year. This will be due to
| the fact that payments by the District
on its financial obligations, consisting
| principally Of its floating and bonded
! debts next year. will be less by half a
| million dollars or more, as compared
with payments made during the present
! fiscal term.
This saving of half a million dollars.
which applies to District revenues will
| be doubled under the half-and-halt
plan by which Congress appropriates
for the municipality. SO that when the
Commissioners begin consideration OF
the budget they will find that they have
more money for needed improvements
ftran has been the case in any previous
tlW elve months.
| 1t is not unlikely that the Commits
| sioners will include in their estimates
| a. generous program for park inn
provements. Street improvements also
are to be appropriated for on as liberal
| a scale as possible. Work on the budget
| will start in earnest by the middle of
next month.