Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-01

L
is being sought by industrialiSts for
power uses and by governmental plan
nerS for preservation rs a park is con-
tanned in an article in the March issue
of the National Geographic Magazine.
written by Gilbert GroSvenor. president
of the National Geographic Society.
1t is an argument for the preservation
of this area as parkway, an area
which he says aboundS in tradition.
and is valuable for biological study.
The latural Beauties and wonders
are described by the author. who also
gives quotation from writing OF
| ton of Great Falls. Mr.. Grosvenor'S
article follows:
THE rock-hewn gorge and magnifi-
cent falls of the Potomac River are
the most striking scenic features in
the vicinity of the National Capital.
The broad calm stream that flows by
Potomac Park. separating Washington
and Virginia. narrows suddenly above
the city. It's shores change from bot
tom lands and gently rolling hills to
take on the sterner aspect of palisades,
cut at frequent intervals by deep gull
lies. through some of which small
streams enter the river In tumultuouS
cascades.
hdStneS arc Stccps
"Cn the Virginia side. where the cliffs
rise almost sheer from the waters
edge. these ravineS are so steep and so
numerous that a journey along the
bluffs entails more travel vertically than
in horizontal direction.
Just above the ruins of the old Aque-
duct Bridge, which formerly carried
canal across the river. the trio OF jagg-
ed rocks known as The Three Sisters
recall a romantic legend of the Red
Men who once roamed these rugged
shores.
According to the tradition. these
rocks mark the place where the three
daughters OF an Analostan chief were
caught in a whirlpool and dragged to
their watery grave. They were pad
ding across the river. so the story
goes, to a secret trySt with their Pow
hatan lovers on the Virginia shore. but
the river demons interviewed and, after
accomplishing the destruction of the
sisters, caused the three gloomy rocks
to rise from the spot where their bodies
sank beneath the waves.
THE Virginia and Maryland shores
converge rapidly as one journeys up
the river, until few miles above
Washington they are separated by less
than 100 feet Of water. now swift and
turbulent.
"Ahcve Little Falls. which is series
of rapids, the river widens again.
Numerous ISLANDS sp.ngle the Maryland
shore. while Virginia's C!.-s become
wilder and more rugged. The waters
pursue a more leisurely course here.
but it is only temporary calm before
the storm. and IS miles above the
Capital they gather for majestic
,,1,nra oyor u,o1l NJ Mite Crhfrh
all the Potomac's ages Of work has been
unable to wear down.
Impressive Grandeur.
These falls offer scene of impress
sive grandeur. Heaps of rocks are scat
tered about-enormous granite powders
and jagged reefs Of gneiss-as II some
Titan of long ago had vented his wrath
by upheaving the crust Of the earth it
self The wildness of the place, as the
waters churn and boil in their never
ending warfare with the rocks, Is COM
parable only TO some of the larger
mountain canyons of the West, and is
hard to conceive as being within few
miles Of the Capital City.
Normally the river here tumbles
through rather narrow channel in its
race for the Chesapeake. but when
Spring melts the mountain SHOWS and
deluged valleys pour their overlooking
streams into its upper reaches the falls
become swirling flood that RACES from
heard for miles.
The old Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
which paralleled the Potomac from
Georgetown up to and on beyond the
falls, was begun about the same time as
the Baltimore g. Ohio Railway, and
there was once a keen rivalry between
them for the freight traffic between
Washington and Cumberland. But the
Iron horse" outdistanced the faithful.
Flooding mules OF the towpath. and the
canal Is no longer in operation.
However, transportation's loss has
been the gain of thousands who know
and love the hike along the towpath
with its great trees and thickets firing
ing the still waters OF the canal, while
here and there a moss-incrusted rock,
bolder than the rest. juts out like some
miniature Lorelei.
.setreat for Bird
Birds frequent the vicinity .y~ sour,t-
less thousands. Wrens, sparrows, war
blers, thrushes and myriad other varie-
ties haunt the thickets. Kingfishers
seek their prey along the waters edge.
Mocking birds are permanent residents
OF the woods. and the CHEEKY whistle OF
the lordly cardinal may be heard at
almost any time OF year. Indeed, at
certain seasons this magnificcntly
caparisoned songster Is encountered in
fiocks.
Where Cabin John Creek comes
down 10 the river man has carried a
road across the precipitous valley on
one OF the worlds largest single spans
Of masonry. In the Bpringtime, how
ever. this valley itself is OF far greater
interest than It's bridge. Ferns and
Wild flowers adorn 1t In profusion, and
the delicate pink blossoms Of the laurel
and nOtched white flowers OF the dog
wood dapple the greening hillsides har-
moniouaiy.
One Of the many interesting features
OF the Potomac gorge Is It's peculiar
situation biOiogically. In the cool
shadows OF its steep cliffs the fauna
and fora Of the upland regions impinge
upon those of the coastal plan 10 pro-
vide one OF the most engaging and pro-
ductiYe fields for biological study In the
East.
''Piummer Island. In the river above
Cabin John, for more than tWenty-fiv
years has been In the possession Of the
Washington Biologists Field Club and
has served as a station for the OBJ
sefyation OF wild life. An amazing
| number Of new species Of plant and
| insect life has been discovered on this
Island ard every precautton IL taken
| ~ protect IL from depreciation and 10
| preserve It's value as a natural biol0gi-
| cal laboratory.
Popular with Canoeists.
Despite the fact that the river is
! mostly very swift in this part Of It's
| coiIfa. there are areas Of calm water
| which are the isummer haunts Of num-
| berlrss eanDeists and swimmers. The
| holder spirits among The deyOtees Of
| the paddle venture beyond W shoot