Evening star., 1936-08-16

tContlnued From First Page.)
yesterday that the only approval
which the commission could give to
the transaction was "straight-out
gift without encumbrances."
The transfer to the Government
was made with the understanding
that the area would be Immediately
improved for a recreation center and
park" Settle explained. Such a de-
velopment, of course, would enhance
the value of the remaining Letter
acreage and enable the estate to SUBJ
divide it and sell it for building pur-
poses"
In that way, the farm. which has
been closed since Mr.. Letters death,
Is destined to become an asset instead
of a liability on the Letter fortune.
Advantage to Patrons.
The three-story country house will
prove a distinct advantage to the park
patrons. Built shortly before the
World War, the exterior is Of frame,
brick and stucco. and except for its
size is not particularly imposing.
On the first Of the three floors is a
huge dining hall. ball room and Ii
brary. A few paintings and large
tapestries are the only furnishings
One Of its attractive features is q wide
veranda equipped with an open air
fireplace. The veranda, screened
against insects, commands a view OF
the Potomac.
The Letter wine cellar was famous
in the days before prohibition, but 1,
now covered with cobwebs and the
racks empty Of bottles.
A survey of the 100 acres along the
water front. which have an average
width Of 900 feet, just barely brought
the mansion within the tract. The
estate no longer desired the house
which represented a tax burden
The inal negotiations involved ar
additional seven acres providing ar
access to the house by wide. paveo
roadway. in excellent condition, lead.
ing OF the Leesburg Georgetown
pike.
Should Prove Popular.
By reason of its easy approach from
the Leesburg- Georgetown pike, within
10 miles of Washington, the new Pc.
tomac park should be a popular rem.
devious for thousands of resident.
from the District and nearby Virgins
and Maryland. Being only mile.
above Chain Bridge, it is as conven-
iently accessible to Maryland subur.
banites as to those in Washington OF
Virginia
Now that the property has beer
turned over to the Office of Nationa
Capital Parks, Superintendent c
Marshall Finnan will Immediately cal
out c. c. C. workmen from the Roose-
velt Island camp to carry out develop.
ment plans.
1t is the intention Of the Govern.
ment to make as much use of the
beautiful site as possible. For thL
reason it will combine the facilities
such as are provided in Rock Creel
Park and the purely scenic treatment
as provided in national park like
the Shenandoah, for instance.
From the house, which is situated
out Of sight back of the pike, the lane
slopes steeply to the waters edge. TIL.
900-foot strip, extending mile and
half along the river. is heavily wood.
ed. Back of the slope are green pas.
lures and orchards. Several cabin.
are scattered through the woods.
Trails to Be Made.
According to present plans, trail.
will be made for horseback riders anc
numerous paths for mixers and nat
uralists. There will be secluded picrit
grounds such as provided IN the area!
along the Mount Vernon Highway.
Across from the lower end Of the
estate is popular Sycamore Island
now frequently used for recreation
purposes. The river has been damned
below this point to divert water into
the old Chesapeake 81 Ohio Canal
The dam has provided IN ideal hath
ing place and the shore Of the estate
is admirably suited at this point. no
only for bathing, but for canoeing
and boating.
Turkey Run, one of those Ineander'
ing Virginia creeks. flows through
portion of the upper part CT the estate
and could easily be converted Ito
wading pool for young children.
Officials said there Is no end to tht
possible usage made available by th'
mansion. For the present, it will b
used as a recreation center and tei
room, similar to the concession II
West Potomac Park.
The Government was no less fortu.
nate than the people who will Eaak'
use of this beautiful parkway in OBJ
tanning title to such a large amoun
of acreage for the Memorial Parkway
Other Tracts Acquired.
The next largest tract acquired b!
the Government Is 40 acres farthe
up the river, known as Stubblefiel'
Falls, on the Maryland side. In add
ton, another site of about 40 acre
below Great Falls has been purchased
so acres in the neighborhood Of Aque
duct Bridge and one-half interest u
some 100 acres more at the falls.
Some years may elapse before tn
Park and Planning Commission oh
tains title to grounds on the Virgini
side of the river to hook up with tn
acreage on the Letter estate. For tina
reason, the site will serve at this tim
as an independent park, equal in are
to the Geological Park.
Joseph Letter was the son OF tn
famous Levi zeigler Letter, Chicag
financier, who died in 1904 afte
amassing a fortune. He had q con
trolling interest In the great dry-good
establishment Of Potter Palmer, whicl
later became the Arm Of Field. Paine