The Washington times., 1925-04-15

6, 900 Acres At Meade and
Humphreys Are Set Aside;
Othrs to Be Obtained

Two national forest sites, set
aside today on the lands of Camp
Meade, Nd, and Fort Humphreys,
Va, will become a part Of The
National Capital park system, ac-.
cording to plans now under con-
sideration. Both forests, totaling
nearly 5000 acres in area, even
tually will be connected by park
ways and park boulevards with
the District park system, it is
planned.
1t is probable that within the
next year these forests will be
augmented by turning over to the
National Capital Park Commits.
sion for inclusion in the District
park system Of the sites Of Fort
Hunt, Va, and Forts Washington
and Foote, in Maryland.
Great Plans for Future.
Plans of the National Capital
Park Commission, acting In CO.
operation with State commissions
in Maryland and Virginia, call Tor
continuous parks along both sides
of the Potomac from below Mount
Vernon. to above Great Falls and
from Washington to Baltimore.
The Meade National Forest even
tually will become one of the most
beautiful and most important por.
tions of the Baltimore park boule-
ward.
The parkway between Washing
ton and Baltimore is to include
some of the most beautiful scenery
ing portions Of the valleys of the
Anacostia, Patuxent, little Patu&.
ent and Patapsco rivers.
While much of the forests on
both the Meade and Humphreys
reservations has been cut away, re-
forestation will begin as soon as
funds can be made available.
The two areas will soon become
the largest areas of natural scenic
beauty east of the unsettled por-
lions of the Blue Ridge mountains.
Big Trees Beautify One.
Tine Humphreys forest is re.
garded as one of the finest in this
portion of the county.
1t Is largely covered by a dense
growth OF big trees, many of which
have stood since Washington time.
The tract, OF 5000 acres, includes
sharp bluff rising from the river
shore.
The site includes the old Belvoir
estate, on which was the home Of
William Fairfax, where George
Washington often was a guest.
The forest which has been pre-.
served by it's designation as
national forest was the scene Of
many of the FOX hunts which
started from Mount Vernon.
Fort Foote, on the Maryland
shore OF the Potomac, probably will
be set aside for park purposes soon
after Congress convenes.
1t was preserved when offered
for sale recently by the prompt
action Of Secretary of War Weeks,
who recognized it's value as a park.
The site extends along the river
for three-quarters of mile and
Is densely wooded It has been
Fort Hunt. on the Virginia shore,
probably will be designated as q
park by Congress.
With completion of the Arlington
Memorial Bridge. efforts will be
made by the National Capital Park
Commission to create the proposed
Mount Vernon parkway and me-
mortal boulevard, which will con.
meet with the Fort Hunt and Hum.
phreys forest sites.
The cliffs and bluffs, small water
falls and forests on both sides of
the Potomac for miles above and
below Washington are to be pre-.
served and replanted. as far as
possible, where they have been de.
stroyed.
1t is the ultimate hope of the
park commission to create a double
park drive system to Baltimore, in
cooperation with Maryland and
Baltimore officials.
Route of Boulevard.
One Of the boulevards will follow
Rock Creek to it's headwaters, east
of Rockville, and then will extend
to the northeast. including all the
points Of scenic beauty
along that route.
The other route, which probably
will be the first completed, will
extend from the northern terminus
of Sixteenth street northwest,
through the forested valleys of
the Northwest branch and Paint
branch of the Anacostia river, and
the Big Patuxent, Little Patuxent
and Middle Patuxent and the