Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-28
.$2,0DQ,OO0 ASKED
T0CARRY OUT PLAN
Of M'M|LLAN PARK
Acreage Needed and Other
Details in Bill Submitted
to D. c. Heads.

purchase of more than two milllor
dollars worth of land needed to car
ry out the Mcmillan Park plan in the
National Capital was presented to
the Commissioners today by a com.
mittee of the Board of Trade, with
the request that they urge it's enact
ment by Congress.
The proposed bill was read at a
hearing in the office of Engineer
Commissioner kutz and Endorsed by
represen tatives of the Chamber OF
Commerce, Federation of Citizens AS
sociations and other civic bodies.
Others mt Hearing.
In addition to the District Commits
sioners, the hearing was attended by
Maj. Clarence S. Ridley. in charge OF
Charles Moore, chairman of the fine
arts commission.
In summing up the case for the
Board of Trade, F. G. Coldren de-
clared the people of the District
have confidence in the ability of the
board of Commissioners as now con-
stituted, and they expect big things
from this board"
Seven Projects in Bill.
the proposed bill are:
First, the Patterson tract. fronting
on Florida avenue northeast west OF
Gallaudet College. Area, SIG acres.
Assessed value of land on two thirds
basis, $2S6160. Estimated actual
value, s42s.24O.
Second, Mount Hamilton tract. east
of Bladensburg road. Area. 449.33
Assessed value. $160.011. Estimated
actual value, s264,360.50.
Third, Dean tract, Connecticut and
Florida avenues. Area az acres
Assessed value of land and improve
ments. $416.425. Estimated actual
value. 100000.
'Fourth-Klingle ford tract. near
Rock Creek Park. Area, 9.24 acres.
Assessed value. $5S,S56. Estimated
actual value, $SS,2S4.
Tract Worth 100000 Included.
"Fifth-Land for the extension of
Piney Branch parkway to the Dis
trict line. Estimated actual value of
land. 100000.
"Sixth-Tracts included in sites of
the old forts across the north of the
city from Rock Creek Park to the
Anacostia river, including land for
Fort drive. Estimated actual value,
$4,000.
'tSeventh-Lands required for ex-
tension of Fort drive and parkway
from Fort Davis to and including the
site of Fort Stanton, Anacostia. Es-
timated actual value, $56,OO0. Total.
$2.777, ,SS4.50.
What the Bill Provides.
The proposed bill. which is intended
to carry out this park plan, provides
for the purchase of the land and the
payment for all condemnation pro-
ceed1ngs one-half by the United States
and one-haf by the District of Colum-
bia.
Charles S. Bundy, chairman of the
committee on parks and reservations
of the Board of Trade, directed the
presentation of the case for all of the
ORGANIZATIONS. In opening the hear
ing he recited az history of the de-
velopment of the park system of the
National Capital from the laying OF
of the city by Gen. washington and nd
Maj: L'Enfant to the present day. He
dwelt at length upon the Mcmillan
plan and the repeated efforts that
have been made to convert it into a
reality.
While the great war was on" said
mr.: Bundy, the door was closed
against all appeals to Congress in be-
half of parks, however desirable they
might be. But now the war is over
and the necessities of government are
in great part abated, the time is pro-
pit1ous for the government to resume
the prosecution of the park commits
sloners' plan for a systematic and
adequate park system for the Dis
trict"
IndOrsed by Citizens,
After Messrs. Bundy and Coldran
had outlined the seven proiects as a
whole, other representative cftizens
spoke briefly in behalf of the individual
items.
Evan H. Tucker of the Northeast
Washington Citizens Association, told
of the advantages of the Mount HamiI-
ton tract for the new Botanic Garden
He said it would COVE a much needed
dignified entrance to the National
Capital from the east
William F. Guide of the Chamber of
Commerce Endorsed the park plan in
general and also spoke particmIa riv
as a florist of the need for new
botanic garden at Mount Hamilton.
He said the present Botanic Garden
near the Capitol is not befitting a ma
ton of this size.
DR.. Percival Hall pointed to the need
for park and playground SPACE for
the thousands of residents Of the
northeast. and said the Patterson tract
at 5th street and Florida avenue was
the logical place. He called attention
to the swimming pool and other i'm
provements made on this property
while it was occupied by the soldiers
as Camp Meigs during the war.
d. II. York spoke along similar lines
for the Trinidad association.
Cites Greatest Need,
Charles Moore. chairman of the
Fine Arts Commission, said in his
opinion the greatest need at present
is the carrying out of the idea of a
driveway connecting the old forts
around the northern end of the city
Mr.. Bundy, after presenting the park
plan. spoke briefly of the necessity for
purchasing additional playground
space. He said the Board of Trade is
strongly in favor of adding to the
municipal Fairgrounds as soon as the
land Gan be acquired.
PRESIDENT PARDONS MAN.
Howard w. Showalter, Former w,
Uo PorLor n r. r