Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-05

Macdonald, and his assistants, with the advise
of Gilmore Clarke and the immediate per-
sonal direction Of Mr.. Wilbur H. Simonson IS
Landscape architects, it Is a permanent example
to State and local authorities Of the best that
the art Of road building can do.
An opportunity exists for q similarly delight
full, If much less expensive, drive on the MaTys
land side of the river terminating at Fort WASH
ington-designed by Maj. LEnfant and re.
markably perfect example Of fertilization in
the early part of the nineteenth century and
almost a museum piece in the history of the art
of fortification in America. However the con-
struction Of this road was explicitly postponetA
by law to such time as it could be done as part
of the Federal-aid road program; but when its
cost is justified and it is built, it will constitute
the eastern half, with the Mount Vernon High
way as the western half OF % loop
from the city of Washington, one of the most
delightful drives in the United States, passing
a succession Of beautiful and impressive views
and dotted with picnic grounds. camp sites and
recreation areas and facilities where the tired
business men and workers of our land can ind
new vigor and inspiration.
Whereas the tidewater section is largely in
the midst of the works of man, the river valley
upstream from the City of Washington is the
most picturesque and varied natural playground
contiguous to any large city. While some cities
may have access to some grander scenery, and
others may have single features of greater indi-
vidual importance, certain 1t Is that none has
such charmingly rugged area so near at hand
which combines so many kinds Of potential
recreation. The turbulent Potomac River with
its falls and rapids and rocky banks, varied
with quiet lakelike pools its rich and varied
fauna and fora, its wealth Of wild birds and
wild flowers its great trees and torrential trcu-
taries its magnificent views and, in contrast,
the quiet picturesque seclusion of the old Chesa-
peake & Ohio Canal!
Here the enterprising and the tmid canoeist
can both find the kind Of sport best fitted to
their individual tastes. The oGnithologiSt, the
biologist the geologist and the amateur natu.
ralist can find the wonders Of Nature in the
north temperate rome gathered together on ex.
hibit for them On Plummers Island the scien-
tifc plant lover can find collection Of plants
and wild flowers gathered With love and tended
with care through Q quarter Of . century b.
his brother workers.
THE student Of engineering Or history can
! here regale himself with the study Of the
remains Of the old Potomac Canal and locks,
built in 1876, under George Washingtons ewu
supervision and on which James Rumsey,
inventor Of the steam boat, long bsfore Robert
Fulton's time, was engineer in charge Of con-
struction for several years; or with delightful
walk along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal on
the Maryland shore, initiated by John Quincy
Adams in 1928 and, as . later example Of
American canal development, q monument Ia
the skill and daring with which . solution Of
the transportation problem was sought in the
early days of the new Nation; Or with an In
spection Of the conduit bridge across Cabin
John Creek, built by Gen. Meigs when Jeffe1sen
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