Evening star., 1921-08-14

Early completion Of the magnificent
parkway planned as connecting
link between Rock Creek Park and
the Potomac Park driveway has been
virtually precluded by the depleted
rdition of the United States Treas
ury and the consequent necessity for
economizing in government expendi-
ture-. according to Col. c. o. Sher-
rnl, officer in charge of public build
fngs and grounds.
Up to June 80, 1921. total of
$75O.000 has been appropriated and
expended in the development of the
extensive parkway outlined in 1916
by the Rock Creek and Potomac
parkway commission. he states. The
United States now owns 80 per cent
of the area covered In the proposed
parkway. This leaves a total of
$550.000 remaining to be appropriat-
ed out of the original $1,300,000 au-
thorization.
Hopes for More Funds.
Col Sheriff. believes it to be doubt
full that Congress will take any steps
to hasten the completion of the pur-
chasing of this land, but he hopes
that sufficient funds will be appro-
priated to allow open market pur-
chases to be made from all the own
ers who wish to sell at reasonable
figures.
Since the approval of Congress was
given to the parking project appro-
priations varying in amount up to
expended for land within the TAX
ing lines" of the project, he points
out. The appropriation last year
was $2OO,OOO. which, together with ali
previous balances. was practically all
expended by June 80 of this year.
There have been some criticisms of
the operation of the parkway COM
mission from time to time, Col. Sher-
rtll says, due to the rather leisurely
manner in which this land has been
results prove the souRdness of this
policy, whereby the government has
been saving large sums of money. as
reasonable prices have been paid to
owners.
The preliminary plan for the devel-
opment of this parkway provides for
a continuous low-level drive, togeth-
er with walks, bride paths and deco
rative shrubbery throughout its
length.
Border Drives Planned.
From point just below Pennsyl.
Sanla avenue to the mouth Of Rock
creek, the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal and the creek occupy the same
channel. 1t is proposed to place the
creek and the canal in separate chan.
nels, with the main level drive car.
rled on the embankment between
them. Between Pennsylvania avenue
and Q street border drives on both
sides of the valley and substantially
at the same elevation as the abuttine
building blocks are under considera.
tion. Col. Sheriff. disclosed. These
border drives are intended to afford
splendid frontage overlooking Rock
Creek valley.
Between Q street and Massachu.
setts avenue, owing to the narrow.
ness of the valley and the fact that
the parkway does not enter upon ths
lands of the Oak Hill cemetery, nc
border drives are contemplated. From
Ma avenue to Calver,
street border drives on both sides OF
the valley are planned; from Mas.
sachuSetts avenue to Connecticut
avenue, on the east side>of the creek
Belmont road becomes a natural bor-
der road, which is to be ultimately
extended around the Calvert street
bridge. On the west side of the
CT eek, from Massachusetts, avenue to
2Sth street, Rock Creek drive be-
comes a border road and will prob
ably ultimately extend to Calvert
street.
Col. Sheriff. is of the opinion tina,
there is probably no more unsightly
portion of Washington, at the pres.
ent time. than the lower part of Rock
Creek valley. The contrast, he as.
serts, between the present condition
and the condition that will exis