Evening star., 1922-02-21
Rate by Mail-Payablc in Advance.
Maryland and Virginia,
The Senate for Parks.

Inc SENATE looked with favor yes
terday on three features of District
betterment which have been urged by
the people for many years. These
projects have to do with the preserva-
ton of scenery. expansion of the park
area, the reservation of "a fine wooded
hill tract as a park for Northeast
washington and the perpetuation of
two natural park areas which are not
only needed for themselves. but be-
cause they are appropriate, almost es-
sential, to the greater usefulness and
the development of Rock Creek Park
The bill which passed the Senate
yesterday provides for the purchase
OF the Patterson tract and the klingle
Good luck to the measure on its
further legislative course, The best
wishes of the people go with the bill.
1t is time to save d few more of the
scenic spots of the District. \ few,
not many, have already been with
drawn from trade and dedicated to the
people for all time, but in this the gov
ernors of the people have been short
sighted. The whole ridge to the north
of the city and all the civil war sites
from Chain bridge to Benning and
from the hills above Benning to the
mouth of OXon run, opposite Alexan-
dria, should have been taken for pub
lie uses. This was not done. and the
cost of doing it now would ne pro-
hibitive, though there yet remain a
number of the fort sites and connect
ing lands north and east of the city
which could be taken over; and which
perhaps will be reserved for the people.
The purchase of the Patterson tract
would be a big help in the park-exten-
sion plan. The taking over of the
Mount Hamilton tract, also northeast
Of the city, would be another step in
the right direction, and there is a
chance that that land. which lies be-
tween the Bladensburg road and the
Eastern branch, will become ma
tional botanic garden and arboretum,
and such a use of the land would pre-
serve it for park uses. AS the city
grows to the northeast, and the growth
has been quite remarkable in that di
rection within ten years, Mount Lin
coin, or that part of the ridge used by
the National Training School for Boys.
may be converted into park. This tract,
already owned by the public, presents
features that are not eXcelled by any
other tract in the District. From the
ridge extensive views may be had to
the north, south, east and west, and
the ridge was the site of one of the
important civil war defenses of Wash
teries.
The valleys Of Klingle and Piney
branches are necessary to the use of
Rock Creek Park by the people. The
streams are feeders of Rock creek,
and they have been much diminished
in volume by the building of sewers in
the Cleveland Park and Brightwood
neighborhoods and along 18th street,
but such flow as has been spared to
them should be saved. The deep val
securing in the course of thousands of
years are needed as inlets and outlets
Of Rock Creek Park and, as the great
park occupies a steep valley and the
tall hills that bound it. approaches are
needed from the east and west. and
will be more seriously needed as the
city builds northward.
The question of conserving the
waterhead of Rock creek, now sadly
slackening, is a question which en-
gineers and others are turning over in
their minds. The conservation of the
watershed of the creek, or a necessary
part of the watershed, is a question
that must be faced sooner or later. 1t
would ,be a great job, but it should be
undertaken while the upper tributaries
of the creek still run through farm
land.