Evening star., 1926-12-05
FORT DE RUSSy
. TOBE RESTORED
90.
~ III
s@sse Ill NR
hHIh .NIINv
Surrounding Section in Rock
Creek Park Being Cleared
to Open Area.
RY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.

Plans have been perfected and are
being carried out under the ONCE OF
Public Buildings and Public Parks OF
tho National Capital for making ac-
eesAfble more of the beauties OF Rock
Greek Park and TO give some OF the
wild. neglected sections a more CIVIL
ifed appearance. A corps OF work
MEN under the direction Of Frank T.
0s rtside, chief Of the parks mainte-
nance division Of the office. has start
ed to work TO clear up the section
bounded by Military and Da Danielsroads.
in which Is located one OF the old
Civil War forts. De Russy.
This entire area Is to he cleaned or
uoderhrush and scrub trees, so that
the larger and more worth while spe-
cies will he given a chance to grow.
Tons Of honeysuckle are being cut out
and burned. and in this area are cords
of dead and fallen timber which have
been allowed to accumulate over
long period of years. leaving this sec
tion of the park more or less unkempt.
In this area is what is said to he the
finest grove of cedar trees for miles
around this section. and to give them
a cha nee Lieut.. Col. L. s. Grant. Sd.
In charge Of the office. had much of
the scrub pine cleaned out Of this
grove early in the Summer.
Will Use Wood.
In clearing this section the park ex
perts will cut out timber, which will
omen up some of the vistas and make
them attractive to the hundreds OF
people who use the adjacent roads.
The cords of wood which are being
cleaned out of the section are to he
salvaced and used for various pur-
poses in the park. Some Will be used
for rhe construction of bridges. some
for the construction of cabins, while
other wood will be cut up for fire
wood to be placed close to the many
camping spots, where camp fires are
provided.
While cleaning out this area the
workmen will take care Of any wild
flowers and flower bearing trees. These
will he taken up and placed in sec
tons Of the park where they will
show to better advantage from the
roads. In this area the experts expect
to get number Of dogwood trees,
which will he placed along the road in
the park selected for lining with these
trees.
Fort De Russy is to he restored as
far s possible. and the road leading
to it from Daniels road is to he i'm
proved, so that visitors to the park
will be able to get a glimpse of how
the hrea StWOrks we're thrown up for
the defense of the Capital during the
Civil War. While these breastworks
have been leveled to some extent, it is
believed that the old lines will be
found. and will be restored and
grassed.
Parkway Is Improved.
From the plans which have been de-
veloped for this section of the park
and other parts Of 1t, it is believed
that in the Spring the parks will pre-
sent an appearance more beautiful
than ever before. Theusa nds of pounds
of grass seed have been put in the
bare places and tho earth enriched.
The park maintenance division has
completed also some Of It's plans for
beautifying that section of Rock Creek
and Potomac Parkway near the gas
houses in West Washington. the idea
in mind being eventually to entirely
hide the great gas tanks from persons
using the parkway. Considerable grad
ing also has been done there, where
there had been much dumping to COM
plete the necessary fill. Already a re-
markable improvement is shown in
what was otherwise a. very unsightly
condition. Flowering shrubs have been
planted and these will bloom in the