Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-23
SEVEN NEW TRACTS
WILL ADD TO PARKS
Grant Announces Acquisition
of Areas to Expand Capitals
Parkway System.

Seven important tracts of wooded
land, which will form new links in
the great system of parks projected
for the identification of Washington
have Just been acquired, according to
an announcement last night by Lieut..
Col. u. s. Grant, 3rd, executive sec
rotary of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. The total
area purchased cost approximately
$61 900.
The new park areas for the most
part lie adjacent to Rock Creek Park
or along its tributaries and due TO
their present good condition of foresta-
ton, it is said, comprise additions of
unusual beauty to the park system.
These acquisitions in some cases. also,
virtually complete the purchase of
sections of the District which were
plotted out for eventual appropriation
for park uses.
Prices Exceed Limit.
Purchase of these new areas was
accomplished only in two cases at
prices within the limitations set by
Congress in an act of the last session
prohibiting the paying of price that
is in excess of % per cent of the as
sessed valuation of the lands in ques-
IlOIl. III i've Vi Tue pal N ACQUISITIONS
the price paid is above this limitation
and the purchase was made from a
fund of $4,000 which was exempted
from the limitation provision when
Congress appropriated it to the use
of the park and planning commits
sion.
In the two instances where the pur
chase price was not in excess of the
limit. it was pointed out, the land was
acquired from owners who could have
exacted a much higher figure, but who
We're motivated by a spirit of public
service to keep the price to moder-
ate figure.
S37,144 Is Purchase.
Additional purchases costing beyond
the IS per cent excess, however, will
be necessarily limited in number mas
much as virtually all the remainder
of the special fund of $4,000 has
been obligated in negotiations already
under way, officials of the commission
explain.
The largest tract among the latest
acquisitions comprises SIT ASS square
feet lying along the north part of
Soap Stone Creek Valley, which ex-
tends from Connecticut avenue to
Rock Greek Park. This addition was
purchased for $37.144 or 7 cents
q square foot. 1t was obtained with
in the price limitation fixed by Con.
gress. The National Capital Park
and Planning Commission now has
taken over more than half of Soap
Stone Valley and negotiations are be-
Heved under way for the remainder.
Connects Two Tracts.
Another unusually important
ANntYicifiAYa xxrnc fhaf ~ onf nf I
14S square feet lying in the lower part
OF triangle on the west side of Wis.
consin avenue extending over to
Thirty-fifth street, which is part of
the parkway connecting Rock Creek
Park and the area donated some time
ago by c. c. Glover, ST., and Mrs.
Anne Archbold. The new addition
was bought from Robert D. Weaver
and other members of the family who
made what commission experts said
was a. very modest offer of $4,000.
The area formerly donated by Mr..
Glover and Mrs. Archibold comprised
more than 100 acres, running more
than a mile in length. situated In
Foundry Run Valley.
Fort Bayard Purchase.
Another of the new purchases was
Q tract of land at Fort Bayard, con-
tanning 1857 square feet and costing
$500. This land lies along River
road near the District line. A second
tract at Fort Bayard, containing 1881
square feet, cost $1,000.
An area containing 1928 square
feet in the lower part of Klingle Ford
Valley just north of the National Zoo
logical Park was purchased for $500.
Another park area west of Foundry
Run Valley just north Of Reservoir
road, having $500 square feet, was
acquired for $4,000, and the seventh
or the acquisitions was a wooded val
ley along a stream running from
Conduit road to Potomac avenue on
the banks Of the Potomac, containing
$4,000 square feet and costing $500.