Evening star., 1925-07-13
JOINING Of PARKS
GETS UNDER WAY
Sheriff. Starts Work on Link
Between Rock Creek
and Potomac.

Cleaning up ana removing OF debris
from Rock Creek and Potomac Park
way preparatory to opening up this
connecting link between the present
Rock Creek Park and Potomac Park
has been started, according 10 reports
received in the office of Lieut.. Col
&. o. Sheriff.. director of public build
ings and public parks Of the National
Capital.
Workmen have been engaged during
the past month IN cleaning up the
section of this parkway between X
and NJ streets Funds are available for
carrying on this work. and 1t IS
planned later in the Summer TO begin
the construction Of a roadway along
Rock Creek from the Connecticut Ave
nue. Bridge to the Potomac River.
Recreation Spaces Popular.
Reports received In the Office from
those in charge Of the various actfvi-
ties in the parks show that thousands
OF persons are taking advantage Of
the recreation facilities provided, and
the corps Of workmen is doing its VI
most to keep them in the very hest
OF condition. The drought during
June had its effect on the shrubbery.
but the general condition at the end of
the month was reported very good.
The trees and shrubs and lawns are
recuperating from the intense heat
and lack of rain.
The reports show that % of the
statues in the parks received attention
during the month and We're thoroughly
cleaned and many OF the public build.
ings are receiving their annual clean
ing and painting
The house on Tenth street in which
Lincoln died IS being wired for eIer-
tricity and the lighting fixtures will
"a Tlla Rad IH-ifh h IN, 81, ~
United States Government owns this
property, but does not own the
Oldroyd collection OF Lincoln relics
in IL.
Thousands Visit Monument.
Despite the intense heat during the
month of June. reports show that
%, 766 visitors mounted the stairs 10
the top of the Washington Monument.
This makes total of 6.913,316 per
sons who have visited the top Of the
great shaft since 1883. While the
elevator is out of commission. il is ex-
pected that work on the installation
of new one will be completed within
a short time. During this month all
of the tablets placed. there by various
States and organizations are being
given a thorough cleaning.
Figures are presented in the reports
showing the great numbers of persons
who take advantage Of the various
recreation facilities in the parks.
Base bali led, with S4,960 spectators
for the month of June, and 1924
players. The golf courses in the parks
during the month of June attracted
37,435 players. The heaviest traffic
was on the East Potomac Park course,
where a check shows l7,672 players.
The tennis courts attracted 26,304
persons during the month OF June.
The picnic groves in the parks were
used by 14,700 persons.
Efficient Fire Protection.
The efficiency of the fire protection
force in the public buildings was
shown by the report of R. A. Des-
peaux. The report showed that there
were only AZ fires in the public build
ings here and on Federal Government
property here during the year ending
June 80, as against 40 fires for the
previous year Thirty of these fires
were in so-called fireproof buildings,
with a loss of S227.19, while the II
others were in temporary buildings,
with a resultant damage of only
$55.75.
This WAS a reduction from last year
of $202.56, despite the fact that
number of additional buildings were
public parks Office during the year.
A tabulation of the causes of the
fires shows that cigarettes led, with
"a. The other causes were tabulated
as follows: Electric current, IL; light
ed matches, 8: lighted cigar, /; spOn-
taneous combustion, 3. The largest
loss was the fire at the Columbus
Statue at Union Station Plaza, when
the transformer was destroyed with
a loss of $100.
Commenting on the fire report, Capt.
w. L. McMorris. l.. S. A. Engineer
Corps, said that tine excellent results
achieved and the small amount of
damage resulting from the fires. all
of which were promptly eXtinguished,
are ample justification for the small
expenditure involved In maintaining a
special fire prevention service in the
public buildings.