Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19

and the cost of these lands will ma
terially increase from year to year
Areas May he Lost.
Again, many desirable tracts OF land
may be solidly built up through the
spreading out OF the city and thus lost
for park purposes, and even il acquired
at a later date at a much greater cost
and the buildings removed, ell OF their
natural beauty would have been de-
stroyed.
amount estimated as necessary to COM
plete our park system is made imme-
diately available, thus enabling the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission to acQuide such sites as are
needed before prices further advance or
before all their natural beauty has been
totally destroyed.
II the commission can purchase all Of
the land necessary to the completion OF
our park. parkway and playground syS-
tenn within the next year or two, instead
Of having to purchase it under our pres
emit piecemeal system of a million dol
lars worth year, the money thus
saved will 60 long way toward de-
velopment the lands thus acquired.
Budget VIII Not Re Affected.
The SIC, ZOO, 900 that is to be advanced
for the acquisition of lands In the Dis
trict of Columbia for park and play
ground purposes Is to be paid back into
the Treasury of the United States At
The rate Of 81, 00o. 900 a year, the amount
Of our present annual appropriation for
the purchase Of park lands. It will thus
be seen that Mr.. Cramton's proposal will
not increase the District budget one
penny, but that 1t will actually save
money to the taxpayers Of the District
Of Columbia.
The question Is sometimes asked.
do we need TO enlarge our present
park SYSTEM" In my opinion we do.
To prove this I will cite Just q few fie-
ures taken from the 1928 annual report
Of the director of public buildings and
public parks Of the National Capital TO
show to what extent our parks were
used during the year 1928 for athletic
sports Of one kind or another. The
sorl1an Grounds and Rock Creek Park
were used by nearly 1000 players, with
over 1000 spectators: the athletic fields
In the Monument Grounds and Rock
Greek Park by 1900 players, with
10000 spectators.
$4,000 Golfers Ont.
The golf courses had over 320,0 900
players the tennis courts nearly 243,o00
players; the base ball diamonds, over
los, 900 players. with 372 900 spectators:
the foot ball fields. 40 1000 players, with
10000 spectators: the basket ball
courts. 2,400 players. with 1000 spec
tators; the croquet courts, 4.700 players,
nNA H.
neld, $40 players, with SO 900 spectators.
Cricket, hockey, lacrosse. quoits. rogue
and many other sports also had their
players and spectators.
In addition to these regular athletic
features. many special events that draw
record crowds are annually held In our
parks. 1t Is estimated that so 900
children and parents participated III
the 1929 Easter egg rolling on the
White House and Washington Monu-
ment Grounds and In Rock Greek
Park. and that over $4,000 people at.
tended the fireworks display on the
Monument Grounds on independence
day last July 4. Band concerts, drills
and other events also draw their
crowds.
All Well PatroniseA.
From the above 1t will be seen that
our parks are we'll patronized, and that
as the city grows In population 1t
should also grow in park area. Willis
We are building, let us build for a CITY
OF q million people, because the popu-
lation Of Washington will reach The
million mark at no great distant date.
Let organized Washington again put
its shoulder to the wheel and work for
the enactment of this bill into law
early during this Congress in order that
some of our delightful wooded areas.
and charming valleys may be acquired
before their natural beauty is destroyed.
Representative Cramton has truly said
that we can build the artificial at anv
time. but that we can never replace
natures beauty spots once they have
been destroyed. To this say, Amen"