The Washington times., 1916-02-23
Purchase Of 4,l13,s1s Square
Feet Of Land Urged by I'M
provement Commission.
IS so PER CENT REDUCTION
Immediate Advancement OF
Funds Suggested So That
Work Can Begin Now.

OF Rock Creek valley from HooiosiSo'
Park to Potomac Park.
The plan proposed provides for the
purchase of 4113,s1s square feet OF Land
ut q cost OF N.t22,69o. This is re-
duction of nearly two million square
feet In the area and 81, 100000 in the total
cost an compared with the plan SUB
mitted to Congress in 1911.
II is pointed out in the report that
the Government already owns ~ per
cent of the land necessary to complete
this park. or nearly 100000 square feet.
This, added to the purchased areas. will
make an addition OF 162 acres to the
District parkways.
Signed BY McAdoo.
The Parkway Commission report IL
signed by Secretary OF the Treasury
McAdoo, Acting Secretary Of War Scott.
and Secretary OF the Interior Houston.
This commission urges that funds be
made Immediately available out or the
appropriation OF 81 10000 already In
force so that an requirement or land
may be begun aiong the entire length
OF the parkway.
posed 10 the separation of Rock Creek
and the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
by digging new canal bed through
two squares.
In an Introduction to the report the
at Is seldom that a large city has an
opportunity for effectively cleaning up
unsightly and insanitsry conditions as
those appearing In some sections OF the
lower Rock Creek valley by the pro-
cess of connecting two large park
areas and creating varied and inter
esting series OF park features along the
connections.
been presented to Congress for convert.
ing East Potomac Park Into. a great
public recreation ground; the drive
along its shores II already completed.
One may now enter great park st
lowing along the casterly shore OF the
basin, pass entirely around East Po-
tomac Park. and along the shore drive
Of West Potomac Park as far as
Fasby's point.
Becoming a Show Place.
West Potomac Park Is fast develop
ing into one OF the show places OF the
nation, with its stately marble memoir
ial TO Abraham Lincoln. but after
reaching Easby's point In going north
we plunge at once into the chaotic con-
dition of an undeveloped water front.
"Frcm the Calvery street entrance at
the Geological Park there In a park drive
leading through Rock Creek PARK to
the district line, distance Of about
six and one-fourth miles. so that only
the two and one-half miles Of the Rock
Creek and Potomac parkway is lacking
to afford O continuous parkway drive
CT fourteen and one-half miles Il the
drive OF Potomac Park Is included in
this.
Rock Creek Park, with It's vary
ing landscape Of delighttul wooded
stretches and interesting rocky gorges.
glades. has been open to the public for
ec'me years. and so has National Zoo
logical Park. whose many exhibits at
tract thousands of visitors.
nection between these two grodps ex-
cept by way of the city streets. II Is
true that one may ride In the saddle
or walk about half the way along n
valley, but the remainder OF the valley
In this intervening area is inaccessible
even to pedestrians because its natural
features have long since disappeared
under great dumrs Of ashes ashes and a.osty city
precipitously to the very streams edge"
Reviews Preliminaries.
The commission gives an extended re-
view OF the preliminary steps taken to
build this connecting driveway. which
assumed DEFINITE form in 1901. when the
commission on the Improvement of the
park system of the District recommend
ed the open valley project. This COM
mission was composed of Daniel II.
Burnham. Charles r. McKim, Frederick
Low Olmsted, jr., and Augustus Saint
Gaudens
did not bring results until 1913 when
Congress passed an act directing the
requirement of such land as might oe
needed for connecting Potomac and
ZcolSEiSSl Parks !, soo o0S authorizing an e1'
Steps haSH since been taken to ac-
quire holdings In the proposed park
area. Tho present survey was made
under authorization of IN amendment
to the sundry civil act OF March 5, 1915
appropriating 5000 for the work.
The Improvement plan is divided into
four sections. the first from Easby's
point to Il street. In the 1901 plan there
was provision for an overhead viaduct
a surface boulevard plan covering the
space from the east building line of
Twenty-severth street to the estab-
lished bulkhead line. There Is SDecial
tween the PENNSYLVANIA avenue bridge
and the river occupied by the Chesa-
neake and Ohio Canal COMPANY and the
Washington Gas Light Company
Scene of Dumping Ground.
Section covers the section from L
street to street. This has been a
dumping ground for years. and presents
an undesirable appearance. The bridges
also initiate against the Improvement
scheme The report doubts whether II
would be advisable to rebuild the N
street bridge on It's present site. II
rebuilt It Is recommended that the
Georgetown end be diverted to Olive
street.
Massachusetts, avenue. Rock Creek
flows at the base of a retaining wal
aluong Oak Hill Cemetery. Tho small
valley at the north end OF Montrose
Park connecting Lovers lane with the
parkway. the report says. would form A
romantic approach. while the newly
completed Q street bridge aids the con-
templated project.
Section extends from Massachusetts,
avenue to Geological Park. The main
boulevard would pass into this section
bv means of tunnel through the
Massachusetts avenue embankp ,ent and
lead into the handsomest part OF the
proposed parkway A park entrance Al
the west end OF the Connecticut avenue