Evening star., 1922-02-03
WOULD BUY BEAUTY
SPOTSF0RD.c.PARK
Senate District Committee
Recommends Prompt Pas
sage of Ball Bill.

Recommendations for tho prompt
purchase of Klingle Ford Valley
Park. Piney Branch Valley Park and
the so-called Patterson tract were
contained in the report of the Senate
District committee urging the passage
Of the Ball bill. The,report was pre-
sented to the Senate this afternoon
by Senator Ball. 1t was pointed out
in the report that contractors and
builders are now invading this terri
tory and that unless Congress acts
promptly the beauties Of the proposed
tracts, which are to be a part of the
park drive system of the District OF
Columbia, will be destroyed and
prices for their purchase viii, be pro-
hibitive.
Needed for Rock Creek Park.
The report points out to the Senate
that the KiingIe ford project is
greatly NEEDED as an approach 10 Rock
Creek Park for the large population
west Of the valley. 1t Is also needed
fsr a parkway To connect upper and
lower rock Ireek PARK. WIInIn the
past few months a brick dwelling
faS been constructed within the lines
OF the proposed klingIe ford drive,
! which even now would make itrneces-
,sary Tor a change Of route to avoid
the purchase of this building. Lands
in the upper end OF the project
deemed essential to carry out the
PARK pan, IL ~as asserted, have re-
emily been acquired by two con-
tractors and builders. VINO have al
ready commenced extensive building
Operations.
Ihe senators were Informed, how
hn
agreed to suspend operations if Con-
gress proposes to carry out the prof.
ect. but they viii not wait indc.i-
nitely.
Land Covered With Forest.
The finey Branch valley project
| should by all means be developed
as natural parkway, the report
says. At the present time there is
. nothing to prevent the owners from
completely filling up this valley to
, the ie.el of l6tn street. even to the
eAtent of blocking up the openiu.
under the Tiger bridge at 10th stree.
Inns land is covered by peautlfui
| forest, furnishes natural extension
TO Georgia atenae and a cohnec. iTs
| link win the proposed civil war fort
drive.
| The attention Of the Senate was
called to the fact that there has
!
the past few weeks and unless i'm
mediate action is taken there is no
/ possibility of preventing destruction
! Of the project.
The report further says that the
I residents of the section in the vicinity
OF this project. when completed. will
be able to reach the business section
! OF the city by park driveway, thus
, avoiding the traffic and congestion
of the busy streets and the danger
of crossing more than fifty inter-
sections in order to get down town.
| To permit this project TO be destroyed.
! says the report. by building opera
| t'ons. now intimately threatening il.
"wonld be nothing less than calam-
| ify."
| Would Re Gigantic Playground.
! The Patterson tract would furnish
a gigantic playground for the people
of the northeast section Of the city
the report says. It overIooks- the city
and river and is almost entirely COW
cred by virgin forests. the largest
tract of forest land within equal dis
i tance of the Capitol. The committee
has cement swimming pool in the
| center constructed for the soldiers
when it was used rs Camp Meigs. The
report further calls attention to the
! TACT tnat II is 10eal TOT dthletlc ana
playground purposes. and is urgently
needed BY the high and grade school
pupils of the northeast section for
Fairgrounds. base ball diamonds. atm
lletic sports and military drills.
On the latter point il calls attention
to the fact that it is located on direct
istreet car line connection for the Tech
F.; and Business High schools. which now
have 40 drill grounds. If not acquired
HOW, the committee warns, it will be
fused for commercial purposes, or tho
cost OF acquisition will be greatly in
creased.
Favored by Comm mfsxfoners.
| These projects have been repeatedly
recon n1ended by the District Commits
!sioners. it was pointed out. ard in jan
uary, 1891. the Senate passed a bill,
providing for their purchase, but il
failed to become law,
| 1t is probable that the bill to pur-
| chase these tracts will be brought up
in the Senate within the next few
days. as Senator Ball has announced
he intends to bring pressure in the
Senate for the passage of the measure.
! realizing as he does the necessity of
prompt action unless these projects
are to be destroyed entirely for park
purposes.