Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-17
WIRE FENCE BARS
PUBLIC FROM PARK
u. S. Puts No Trespass Sign
on Land Adjoining Fort Du-
pont, Bought for D. c.


National Capital Park Commission
for park purposes in the southeast
section bore signs marked u. ;.
Property. No Trespassing," which
were strongly backed by stout barb
ed wire fence, denying them TO the
use of the people for whom they were
purchased, was the question put up
to Maj. Carey H. Brown. assistant
director of the office of public build
ings and public parks and chairman
C tbs city and parks planning com
rrIitl.s. IA the .'ark commission, last
night.
although - admitted that the
signs said Just that, and the barbed
wire was intended to keep people out.
he said they didn't mean just what
they said and he thought perhaps
they should be changed to real that
1t was Z. S. property and Hrat >reeS
and shrubs We're not to be ttmv Sed
by those who Ventured on the pfSp-
erty.
The park adjoins old Fort Dupont.
on Alabama avenue, which is United
States property, loaned to the Dis
trict of Columbia for nursery pur-
poses, and this particular tract also
was transferred to the District. 1t
comprises 80 acres of land. No use
Blocked by Red Tape.
4 movement was once started TO
have this large plot of ground turned
back to the Office of public buildings
and public parks, but, according to
those familiar with the proposition. 1t
has been blocked at some stage along
the long line of official red tape. The
plot lies between Ridge road south
east and Massachusetts avenue ex-
tended and Is covered with virgin
timber.
The original Fort Dupont contains
about 13 acres. At the present time
the District of Columbia is using only
approximately three acres of this for
tree purposes, and it was pointed out
that the additional land is not needed
Tor the nursery.
Mai Brown explained that there
was no particular reason for turning
1t over to the District of Columbia,
except that the District employees
would keep an eye on it. He said
that the park police force was not
large ef -JsxS 20 patrol it, in conjunc-
ton with its o.cer work. and that the
District did not police United States
property. Maj. Esown admitted. how
ever, in answer t. a question. that If
it was uder District jurisdiction as it
is, and District civ william employees are
expected to watch 1t, that by the
same reason District police could
then be expected 10 guard it if 1t
were opened for park purposes.
No Need for Park Now.
He EXPRESSED the belief that there
was no need of opening the park now,
as the southeast had not developed
to the point where 1t needed a park
of this kind but suggested 1t should
be held until there was sufficient i'm
provement of the section. Mai.
Brown said that the signs did not
mean that people could not go on
it and use it; that they had right
to use 1t as long as they did no dam
age to the property. The signs Were
intended to prevent people from going
on the area and cutting down trees
for fireWood.
The question Of the use Of Fort
Dupont as a parkway by the people
also was laid before him. The sign
on the entrance to this reservation
= saws Fort Dupont" and not Fort
Dupont Park, and 1t has the ap-
pearance Of a private villa. although
it is the site of one of the historic
forts purchased because it was such.
The home on it is occupied by Supt:
I,anham of the District trees and
parking department.
There is a driveway through the
property and Maj. Brown said there
was no reason why the people who
desired to view it could not drive IN
and use it in the same manner that
they use other public parks. II Is
the belief of many people VINO drive
out in that section that 1t IS private
hnx
passing to drive into 1t.
Would Include Fort Davis.
There also is q movement to have
transferred back to the jurisdiction
of the public bildings and public
Parks Office the land included in Fort
park Office the head of Pennsylvania
avenue, purchased some time ago
This land has been transferred tenn
porarily to the use Of the Botanic
Garden. In it's present state II Is
nnsightly. and it was pointed out that
while there Is much cry about the
purchase Of lands around the gate
wavs to the Capital, here Is one that
is owned by the Government and has
been allowed to fall into dilapl
dated state by being used as dump.
Those familiar with the park
policing system point out that the
park land adjoining Fort Dupont can
be patrolled by the force, while It was
learned that if the Fort Davis site is
returned to the public buildings and
public parks Office funds may be
found with which to improve it and
make it into one Of the most slightly
entrances to the Capital, and thus
start in right there to improve the
lands included in the proposed drive
way around the National Capital
u,hich &. aventualiv to include all the