The Washington times., 1917-01-05
Suggestion for Beautifying
Route to Baltimore Is Given
- Public Endorsement.
FAVORED BY COL. Harris
Melvin c. Hazen Believes I'M
provement Would Be Benefit
!. to Both Cities.

have q national park between wash
ington and Baltimore, public officials,
other individuals, and representatives
of great civic organizations have
given hearty Endorsement to the pro-
posal.
Col W. W. Harris, superintendent
of public buildings and grounds, gave
his strong endorsement to Mr.. Quick's
suggestion. Colonel Harris points to
the western shores of the Chesapeake
as ideal from a scenic standpoint and
historical association for the location
of q great national playground.
Mrs. John Dickinson Sherman, Of
Chicago, chairman of the conseGva-
ton committee of the General Fed
Grafton OF Women's Clubs. approves
the plan, and is going to make a per-
sonal investigation Of the territory
and report to her committee.
Under Eyes Of Congress.
Glenn Brown, a Washington archi-
tect Of national note, argues that the
territory In question would not afford
an admirable park, comparable to
those in the West, but would be under
the eyes of Congress as an object
lesson in the possibilities Of such
parks.
Richard B. watrous, secretary of
the American Civic Association, COM
mendeds The Times for giving public
fly. to the movement.
Melvin c. Hazen, District surveyor,
relieves the park would be Of inesti.
mable benefit to both Washington and
Baltimore.
Colonel Harti Enthusiastic.
Colonel Harris was enthusiastic in
his Endorsement Of the suggestion Of
Mr.. Quick.
Long stretches Of land along the
western shores of the Chesapeake Bay
afford highly desirable tracts for the
location Of national parks" Colonel
Harris said. 'The beauty Of that coun-
try is not generally known; 1t is not
accessible.
Take the land about old st. Mary's
city. That was the first capital OF
Maryland. There are hills and seen
cry that, for its kind hardly can be
surpassed. All that remains on the
site OF that old city now are a few
holes where the buildings were, and
q few markers to show the location
of the old State house and churches"
Would Net Interfere.
A national park in this vicinity,
Colonel Harris said, would not inter
fere with the development of Wash
4ngton.
"The plan for washington's future
is now so well formulated" he said,
that nothing in the way Of a ma
tionsl park is likely to check it. OF
course, it goes without saying that
such a project should not be allowed
TO interfere with the development Of
the plan Of Washington.
1T is not generally known that
Rock Creek Park originally was
bought to be a great national park,
just as Yellowstone Park, but that, |
through the establishment of the rs
cal relation for its maintenance, by |
which the District paid half for its
support, It was Invested of its ma
tionaI aspect and became a municipal
park"
Colonel Harris pointed out that
there are now no great national parks
In the East, except those of the APP
palachian Mountains, formed to, pro-
tect the water supply. These lie in
North and South Carolina.
Place Il Appropriate.
"If such q park were to be estsb-
lished along the Atlantic 'seaboard
he said, 81 can think of no
place which would be more appro-
PIRATE because of its proximity to the
National Capital, and because of the
scenery which permits such park de-
than this land in Maryland,
now isolated and sparsely inhabited.
LAS for the National Capital, 1t
should always be in the forefront of
any discussion of such projects. We
are only beginning to realize its op-
portunities. Think of it, city placed
here, seemingly in an effort to en-
barrass George Washington, for the
site was designated as the location
for q National Capital, Congress au-
its establishment, and ap-
not q cent of money at
nrst for its development.
There are so many things unique
about Washington that doubt
many OF its people know
them all Just for example, do they
know the Government owns the
streets, in fee simple. and not only
the streets. but the entire space
from building line to building line.
across each street?
The National Government has a
real interest in the National Capital
and IT is now taking a proper pride
In developing it,"
HaEen Lauds Project.
The plan for the establishment OF
| national park between Washington
Ind Baltimore. was described by Mr..
Iazen as q magnificent project, that
las the added advantage OF being very
PRACTICAL"
Mr.. HaEen, said that such q park
would extend from a juno
ion with the northern part of Rock
creek Park, in the northern apex Of
he District to the suburbs Of BaIti. |
more.
This would be Q distance of ap-
thirty-five miles, and IL /,
park one mile in width was &C
Iuired, a park area OF approximate I
y $4,000 acres would be provided.
AT present values, such an area
could be bought for $780, !
go, which would be remarkably {
heap for such q national park as c
hat proposed The chief advantage '
4 such . park Is that 81 would be !
. the center Of . large population.