Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-08-15
CAPITAL STARTS
VAST PARK PLAN
Preservation Of Historic
Sites Included in Project
at Washington

Washington.-With the appropria-
ton by congress Of the first INSTALL
ment of an authorized total of S33,0OO,-
900 for park purposes in and around
the National Capital, including the
George washington Memorial park
way, long-cherished hope is being
translated into a certainty.
without further delay surveys now
may be undertaken and preliminary
work begun on park project which
will reward the efforts of those who
hive been urging for years compile
tiCp of a program made years ago
for the Identification of Washington
and its environs.
Nothing like the proposed memorial
parkway in natural beauty and his
torlc charm, it is said, could be deyel-
oped anywhere else in this country.
No European city, according to the
late Viscount James Bryce, has 80
noble a cataract" in its Vicinity as the
Great Falls of the Potomac. which is
the browning glory of the 15-mile
stretch of the Upper Potomac valley
now forever preserved as a national
monument.
Dedications Expected in 1882.
Included within the parkway is the
Mount Vernon Memorial highway from
Washington to Mount Vernon, author
lied two years ago, now in process of
construction, and completion Of which
is promised in time for the George
Washington Bicentennial in 1892,
1t is hoped that dedication at least
Of the memorial parkway, which ulti-
mately win include also another high
way, from Fort Washington to Great
Falls on the Maryland side and a
bridge across the Potomac at or near
Great Falls may be a feature Of the
bicenteanial celebration.
The memorial parkway win extend
from Mount Vernon to q point above
Great Fails and viii include both
shores and the hill sides along both
banks Of the Potomac, the gorge in
the vicinity Of which Capt John Smith
300 years ago found "beares, deere
and other beasts" and argall, an ami
NAL which, from his description, prob
ably was a bison.
Canal Built by Washington.
Within its limits are the site and
remains of the historic "Powtomack'
canal, built on the Virginia side OF the
river under the direction of George
Washington, and traces of other engi-
neering works of the young Yirginian,
as wei as the spot where he camped
with Braddock.
The scenery of the entire area is
remarkable for its variety and gran
deur. 1t is a region OF crags and
cataracts, rock cliffs surmounted by
towering trees, wild valleys and wa
terfalls and runs, q roaring river and
quiet pools. rapids and rocks, cul-
minating far above the canyons lower
portal, in the Great Falls.
Then the Potomac plunges down in
a series of small fails extending over
a mile and dropping from terrace to
terrace, the roar of the rushing waters
contrasting with the broad and placid
stream ripping past the Lincoln Me
mortal a few miles away.
"The Potomac wrote James Bryce
''has two kinds of beauty-the beauty
Of the upper stream murmuring over
a rocky bed between bold heights
crowned with woods, and the beauty
of the wide expanse spread out like a
lake below the city into a vast sheet
of silver"
The Great Falls he referred as "a
magnificent piece of scenery which
you will, of course, always preserve. ="
Saving Of Falls to the Nation.
Only within the last few weeks
however, were the steps finally taken
to protect and preserve the falls from
sacrifice to power project, which
was averted by passage Of the Capper,
Cranton bill providing for the acquisi-
ton, establishment and development
of the George Washington Memorial
parkway as a requisite" to the "com-
prehensive park, parkway and play.
ground system of the National
Capital"
The act authorizes the Appropriation
of $1G,000,00O for the purchase and de
veloDment of lands within the District
of Columbia, and of S7,500,000 to be
expended on a ifty-fifty basis for LAND
to be acquired in the adjoining states
of Virginia and Maryland.
In order to make it possible to ac
Quire with a minimum Of delay prop.
critics which are daily and rapidly ris.
ing in value, it is provided that the
money may be advanced in required
amounts and reimbursed to the United
States without interest at the rate OF
S1.O00,0O0 a year by the district from
any funds to its credit in the United
States treasury, and also without In.
terest, by the two adjoining states
within period Of not more than eight
years. Of any sums in excess Of the
contribution Of the United States.
cramton's Plea for Historic Sites.
The bill was ranked as in emer.
gency measure BY Representative Louis
C. Cramton of Michigan. who first in.
PRODUCED it In the house in December