Evening star., 1925-12-03
RN WILL. r. KENNEDY.

compete inc purchase 0t lana dn'
thorized u years ago. 50 that Eock
Creek Park may he connected with
the Potomac Park along the river
front. Congress is asked in the budget
for an appropriation of 5000 900.
In order To purchase land running
10 the top of the hills alOnc Rock
Creek Park and to proteCt the water
shed of various creeks flowing into
II and in order 10 make a connecting
parkway through the recently ac-
ouired Glover. Archbold and Normeut
tracts with the projected palisade
drives on both sides of the Potomac,
the National Capital Parks Commits
sion plans 10 spend during the next
year some Of its apprOpriation-whiC
will ne hetu cen $500 400 allowed by
the Budget Bureau and S1.10o.00 au-
thorized ny the act creating the com
mission.
Link Park With Bridge.
This development Of the park sys-
tenn would link il with the new
Arlington Memorial Bridge. with the
CONTEMPLATED Mount Vernon houle-
ward, with the Lee Highway. with the
palsade drives to Great Falls. with
the riverside boulevard planned when
the Washington water front has heen
improved. and would greatly relieve
traffic on now cOngested thorough
fares. Il means an important park
system and connecting drivewayS in
the western part of the National
Capital.
Congress provided in lS9? for the
purchase Of 10 acres Of land in the
VALLEY Of Rock Creek for the purpose
cf establishing the National ZooIocical
Park. and the next year special act
was passed authorizing the purchase
of 2.000 additional acres. extending
from the northern boundaries Of the
geological Park to the District line.
Rock Creek Park occupies the
valley of the creek from the Zooloc
ical Park northward 10 the District
line. including an area Of sos acres
varying in width from less than 30n
yards 10 little over a mile with
total leneth Of about four miles The
valley is crooked and narrow and
fanked by steep. high and thickly-
wooded hills. In the southern por-
ton of the park some of the hill
tops are comparatively level. but
with the exception Of these limited
nlateaus and a few narrow strips of
bottom md alonc the creek the whole
area is hilly in the extreme Most
Of the land Is timbered nd much of
the wood is Of considerable age and
beauty. especially in the narrow A nd
Eorse-like portions or the valley. offer
Ing some very beautiful sylvia
scenery.
The Rock Creek Park Commission
was created in 1919 and 10 date. 81.
100000 has heen spent in acquiring
- per cent of all the land authorized
BY Congress In he acquired in the
valley. which gives a strip M the
valley on each side of Roch Creek
from Potomac Park to the geological
Park.
Nearly . years ago the Park Cop,.
mission looked upon the Zoo c block
Ing 2 physical connection between
Rock Creek and Potomac parks when
the gates of the Zoo are locked AT sun
down--so they recommended the &C
QUESTION of klincle VALLEY. on the
west side and Piney Branch Valley on
the east side. The purpose Of making
park drive through klingle Valley
was 70 detour around the Zoo after
nightfall.
A Continuous PART, Drive.
Through the efforts of CAPT. Fed
nond D. Stephens Of the Budget Bu-
reau, the Zoo authorities have granted
70 Col Sherrill's office the partial
use OF certain roads in the southern
corner of the Zoo and in the future
will turn over all on the east side
Of the creek for the purpose Of max
tnE continuous park drive from,
Rock Creek Park to Potomac Park.
The Zoo gates would then he moved
10 the west side of the creek SO that
on days like Sunday. Easter Monday
and similar oCCa sions. when the Zoo
Is crowded with children. all automo
bile traffic could he diverted at the
outside gates. In this connection il
sized Z Of
very few geological parks in the coun.
try in which automobile traffic is al
lowed at any time
When these plans are carried ont
there will he developed a beautiful
parkway through which automobilists
Can drive from the District line on the
north, right through 70 the Potomac
River and along the speedway to the
water front drive on both sides of
Potomac Park east. 1t will also con.
nect with the proposed boulevard
along Washington Channel on the city
side. past the Navy Yard and 10 Ana.
costa Park. which is to he one Of the
finest waterfront parks in the whole
country. 1t would also connect with
the Palisade drive TO Great Falls and
the projected memorial boulevard TO
Mount Vernon.
congress recently authorized the ac-
land known as the Archbold tract and
r. the Glover tract, dedicated to public
park use by Anne Archhold and
Charles c. Glover, and later the Park
Commission purchased from Clarence
Norment another large tract. all three
of which are west of the Rock Greek
and Potomac Parkway connection
Even members of Congress. much less
individual citizens. realized what the
IL
with these tracts.
The Archbold tract comprisinc
about 1872 acres. is a strip on the
vest side of Arizona avenue running
from Reservoir road on the south to
north of L street. Miss .Archbold has
also promised a future dedication of
similar strip on the east side of Ari
zona avenue. on condition that her es-
tate is subdivided. This additional
tract is between Forty-second street
and Arizona avenue.
Adjoining this Archbold tract on the
north is the Glover tract. of more than
IS acres, in series Of strips on both
sides of Arizona avenue stretching
north of JeWett street on the west and
Massachusetts avenue on the east.
Acquires Norment Tract.
Then the Park Commission acquired
by purchase the Norment tract. which
runs eastward from the juncture OF
the Archbold and Glover tracts, from
Forty-second street between Ulm place
and the north side of Y street, and
north of the new Burleith subdivision
TO Thirty-fifth street at its juncture
with Wisconsin avenue. just north
west of the site for the new junior
high school and three squares north
of the Western High School.
The Park Commission considered
Ia IL nd hef Tween III he